The ‘Reality Distortion Field’

This newsletter is only read by real estate agents (and my mum) and so please, bear with me on the slightly less than positive angle on this one. Get through the first paragraphs to find the value.

The same message seems to be bouncing around, whether I am talking to real estate agents, accountants, trades, looking in the media, or anywhere else.

The hope that we had for some stability is eroding due to the effects of the US tariff situation, there is real uncertainty at the moment. Uncertainty tends to slow most people down. As does greatly reduced kiwisaver balances. 

Clearly these events are out of our control. What can we do? 

I’m going to start a theme for the next few newsletters on what I think we can do to help ourselves out. 

Twice this week I have come across Steve Jobs’ ‘Reality Distortion Field’ – this ability of Jobs to be able to bend reality through a force of will to create things that were not imagined yet, to create things that the world didn’t know that it wanted, let alone needed. 

He was also able to create a culture of innovation and achievement. And create what would go on to become the world’s most valuable company not long after he stepped down as CEO. 

One of the places that I came across this Reality Distortion Field was in Ryan Holiday’s ‘The Obstacle is the Way’ – good reading for these moments for sure. 

Books like this small guide can take me a long time to read because I get stuck on thoughts like the one I am about to share – I have to put the book down and think for a bit. I am going to quote Ryan Holiday directly: 

‘Our perceptions determine, to an incredibly large degree, what we are, and are not capable of. In many ways, they determine reality itself. When we believe in the obstacle more than the goal, which will inevitably triumph?’ 

You can still achieve your goals this year. You are going to have to work harder and smarter most likely. You are going to have to inoculate yourself from the negativity one way or another, and you are going to have to be crystal clear and obsessively repetitive in reminding yourself what it is you want to achieve. 

Some might even step out into uncharted territory and be bold enough to push aside conventional wisdom, try something new and brave, and use the obstacle that is clearly before us to redefine the way that things have always been done and come up with something new that gives you an edge.

I want to get more out of myself as we again wade into challenging times. To figure out how to get more out of what I have and implement ideas that will continue to grow and develop the vision I have for what we are accomplishing. 

To again quote Ryan Holiday as he closes out the chapter on distorting reality.

Our best ideas come from there, where obstacles illuminate new options.