Recently I watched one of my favorite movies:<\/p>\n
“The Count Of Monte Cristo”<\/strong><\/p>\n It’s about a guy (Edmond Dantes) who has it all — a hot fiance, a great job, and loving friends. Then, one day, he gets betrayed by a jealous friend and a government goon who throws him into prison for 16 years until he escapes to get his revenge.<\/p>\n Anyway, it’s a great flick.<\/p>\n And my favorite part is probably the birthday scene.<\/p>\n There’s no adventure, fighting, or “swash & buckle” in it.<\/p>\n It’s just a toast, where Edmond tells the boy:<\/p>\n “Life is a storm, my young friend. You will bask in the sunlight one moment, be shattered on the rocks the next. What makes you a man is what you do when that storm comes. You must look into that storm and shout as you did in Rome. Do your worst, for I will do mine!”<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n I REALLY dig that quote.<\/p>\n It’s not only inspiring… but it’s true.<\/p>\n Especially in business.<\/p>\n For example…<\/p>\n One day you’re sitting high and pretty, with plenty of cash to pay your bills, bang out some debt and tuck away a little dough into savings… only to get slapped with a fat unexpected tax bill that puts you back in the “hole.”<\/p>\n Or maybe a big money JV you counted on falls through.<\/p>\n Or your computer is hacked and your identity stolen.<\/p>\n Or your merchant account is suddenly shut down.<\/p>\n Or… or… any one of a MILLION terrible things that can happen at any time, to anyone, for no reason.<\/p>\n Yes, freak “storms” like this DO happen.<\/p>\n And like it or lump it we ALL get nailed eventually.<\/p>\n Lightning WILL strike.<\/p>\n It’s just a matter of time, my friend.<\/p>\n Question is, how will you deal with it?<\/p>\n Will you curl up into a fetal position and cry for your mama… or stare into its eyes and tell it to “do its worst”?<\/p>\n The choice is yours.<\/p>\n And you know what?<\/p>\n It’ll be one of your life’s defining moments.<\/p>\n More:<\/p>\n There’s an even more powerful business (and life) lesson in this movie.<\/p>\n A lesson that, if you take it to heart and apply it in your life, you will have no choice but to become far more successful than anyone you compete against — financially, emotionally, physically, and in every other way.<\/p>\n Anyway, I rap about it on tomorrow’s “Ben Settle Show” episode.<\/p>\n Until then, download prior episodes here:<\/p>\n