By Daniel Johnson

The obstacle is the way

Just a week before SCA started I was presented with the opportunity to win a scholarship.

The SCA represents a huge opportunity but one which is by no means convenient or easy to take up, especially on short notice. 

So naturally it’s been an uphill struggle since day -7. My peers knew they wanted to do this months, maybe even years ago and here I am at 25, a complete newbie to advertising and already behind, under funded, unpaired…

This is probably why many others who were presented the same opportunity were very deterred from really going for it. I think it’s very reasonable to react with disappointment and feel unable to cease the opportunity….

But when Marc spoke to us of the awards that SCA wins, the lives and successes SCA students go on to live. I felt immediately (despite all rational) that my plans, my goals had instinctively shifted. 

My desire shifted from “get a job” to “surround yourself with the best”

Even though it made no sense and seemed financially and emotionally impossible at the time, I knew that I had to do it.

I trusted and still trust that I’ll figure it out. 

                                      Why?

Because any worthwhile pursuit is paid in discomfort, sacrifice and discipline.

The discomfort of rejection.

Sacrifice of our greatest resources (time).

And discipline. The actions that feel limiting. But are actually the greatest enablers or our will.

Because its pressure that creates diamonds…

So I threw everything I could into my presentation, got a place at SCA. Then I proceeded to panic about my financial situation and more importantly catching up.  

                                  But I’ll figure it out…

“The obstacle in the path becomes the path. Never forget, within every obstacle is an opportunity to improve our condition.”

“Wherever we are, whatever we’re doing and wherever we are going, we owe it to ourselves, to our art, to the world to do it well.”

Ryan Holiday, The Obstacle Is the Way