You know, sometimes adversity can be invisible. It may be our internal fear creating call reluctance or when a prospective client rejects our insurance recommendations. So, how do you overcome adversity? The following are my two favorite strategies that work to overcome my daily adversity. However, they only work if you do the work. And if you do use them, over time they will become a way of living your life just like MDRT.

The first strategy that works well for overcoming excuses is called the Thought Zapper. Moving beyond our adversity grows harder when the excuses win. All of us use excuses. Excuses are a natural part of life. They typically show up first, and it’s up to us to overcome them with our thoughts and actions. The sooner you act, the faster the excuses go away, and the more success you will have. So, what’s a Thought Zapper? Well, it’s this rubber band I have around my wrist. [visual] When the excuses show up, and they always do, I pull back on the rubber band and zap away the excuse. For example, I like to make 10 phone calls to start my work morning. There are times when I hesitate, and the excuses take over. Excuses like, “Hey, look, I made the calls yesterday. I can make the calls later. You know, this first call is to Mr. Big, and he won’t want to speak with me.” I pull back on my Thought Zapper and zap away those excuses. Believe me, a few of those zaps and you’ll be in the right mindset to make the calls.

My second strategy to overcome adversity is to focus on daily victories. Daily victories are activities in your personal and professional life that can be accomplished throughout the day. They continually reinforce positive energy. They build on each other, and they contribute to your long-term dreams and goals, one victory at a time.

So how do daily victories work? Well, for example, I use daily victories to improve my health. Every morning I go through my exercise routine. One of those exercises is a six-minute plank. What’s a plank? A plank is like a pushup without the push. The six minutes? Well, every victory needs a reward. My cup of coffee is my reward for doing my planks, and it takes six long minutes to brew my coffee. In my professional life, I use daily victories to accelerate my behavior and to have some fun. It’s like the gamification of my workday.

If it’s 8:30 a.m., then I’m making my 10 phone calls. Victory equals reward. If it’s Tuesday, then I have my five appointments, and, when the last one is finished, victory equals reward. And if it’s 7:30 p.m., then I read for 30 minutes. Victory equals reward. And the rewards can be as simple as a cup of coffee, a snack, a break from work or even a phone call to a friend.

As my father always said, “Dinner before dessert.” These are simple behaviors that have powerful results. By using the Thought Zapper and the daily victories, you will overcome your excuses and the invisible adversity. Imagine living a life of ongoing daily victories leading to a life of fulfilled dreams and goals. Now that’s the MDRT way of life.

John F. Nichols, MSM, CLU, is a 19-year MDRT member with two Court of the Table and 12 Top of the Table qualifications. He serves as president of Disability Resource Group Inc., a national insurance and consulting agency that he founded in 1999. He is a frequent speaker at an array of national and international meetings, including conferences for MDRT, NAIFA and more than 500 state and local programs.