Bounce Back summary

The concept of fail fast comes from systems design. There, it denotes a technology that immediately reports issues likely to cause serious problems further down the line. When this happens, operations are halted so that the flaw in the process can be addressed. The idea was later taken up by businesses to describe the way they stress-test products early on. This gets failure out of the way, and it can prevent years of wasted investment. 

This is something we can also implement in our own day-to-day work. 

It’s easy to assume that what we’re able to see is all there is to see. At work, for example, we might notice a manager ignoring a colleague’s contributions and inwardly condemn this disrespectful behavior. What we can’t see, though, are the unconscious drivers of this behavior. Maybe this manager is envious of the person proposing ideas. Or maybe he thinks that it’s his duty as a manager to have all the good ideas. Ultimately, it’s these unseen factors that explain how we act. 

The key message here is: Your unconscious shapes your behavior, and exploring your inner motivations can help you become more resilient. 

Imagine you were told about a product that allowed you to reset your body and brain to “healthy.” It could be used every day by anyone on the planet and didn’t cost a cent. Sound too good to be true? Well, here’s the good news: you already have this miracle cure! It’s called sleep. 

The key message here is: Sleep is the key to building physical resilience. 

If you want to build your resilience, many argue, you need to embrace the power of positive thinking. This is a popular idea found in self-help books, therapies, and on social media. It says that if we’re positive enough, there’s nothing we can’t do, from losing weight to landing that dream job. 

There’s nothing wrong with a can-do attitude, of course – the reason these books and ideas are popular is because they do help lots of folks. But positive thinking isn’t the only approach. Sometimes, dwelling on negatives can be just as helpful.  

When we’re clear about why we’re doing what we’re doing, we are much more likely to be resilient. It is this sense of “why” that gets people through grueling seven-day weeks in the early stages of establishing their business, or keeps them on course during a marathon. In other words, the conviction that our tasks are meaningful gives us the courage to push through adversity.

The key message here is: Purpose makes us resilient and gets us through periods of hardship. 

The Japanese have a special word for the sense of purpose that gets you out of bed in the morning: ikigai, meaning “a reason for being.” This is something you do not just for money but also because it matters. As the saying goes, “If you do something you love, you’ll never have to work another day in your life.” This is true enough, but first you have to find your purpose. 

The key message here is: Only you can define what kind of work is meaningful.