Midweek Momentum: Chaos, Growth, and a Wall We Had to Fix

Hi friend,

Some of the best stories don’t come from perfect days. They come from the unexpected, the messy, and the moments when everything seems to go sideways.

Think back to the moments in your life that stand out the most. The days where things didn’t go as planned, where you had to figure things out on the fly. Those are the ones you tell over and over again.

It’s easy to get frustrated when life throws you a curveball, but what if you saw those moments differently? What if, instead of an inconvenience, you saw them as the moments that make life interesting?

Next time things don’t go to plan, remind yourself—this might just be the story you laugh about later.

STORIES FROM THE PATH: DRYWALL AND DETERMINATION

During my time as a taekwondo instructor, I had plenty of memorable moments, but this one stands out for all the wrong, and right, reasons.

One day, a student managed to break a wall in the dojang. To make matters worse, the master wasn’t there at the time. When he returned, let’s just say he wasn’t thrilled. He immediately ordered my friend and me to fix it, even though we had no experience with drywall.

And here’s the kicker. We had a three-mile trial for black belt testers scheduled in just 16 minutes. So there we were, two clueless, sweaty guys with a pile of drywall supplies, racing the clock to patch up the wall before sprinting off to complete the run.

As chaotic as it sounds, the experience was strangely exhilarating. We laughed through our exhaustion, figured things out on the fly, and somehow managed to patch the wall and hit the trial on time. It’s a story we still laugh about to this day.

Life’s unexpected challenges often make the best stories. You don’t need to be an expert. You just need to be willing to try, learn, and find humor in the chaos.

YOUR SHORTCUT TO HANDLING CHAOS BETTER

When things don’t go as planned, most people get stuck in frustration mode. But the most successful people adapt fast and find a way forward.

I put together a Rapid Problem-Solving Guide that helps you reframe unexpected challenges, think clearly under pressure, and make the best of any situation. Whether it’s work, personal goals, or something completely random, this will help you stay in motion instead of getting stuck.

Download it here: [Lead Magnet Link]

The sooner you can shift from "why is this happening?" to "how do I make this work?" the faster you'll turn setbacks into stepping stones.

QUICK WIN: THE “JUST ONE” RULE

Feeling stuck or overwhelmed? Try this. Focus on just one task. Not the whole to-do list, not everything on your plate—just one thing.

It doesn’t have to be the biggest or most urgent. Starting anywhere helps you build momentum, and that’s often all you need to turn the day around.

Give it a shot today. Pick one thing, complete it, and let the progress carry you forward.

Stay focused (or at least pretend to),
Jonathan

P.S. What’s one insight or idea from this newsletter that resonated with you? Hit reply. I’d love to hear your thoughts.