--- title: The obstacle is the way description: By embracing obstacles and learning from them we can take the pressure off ourselves and others, and see them as stepping stones rather than roadblocks. image: https://www.missiondrive.io/hubfs/portrait-of-marcus-aurelius.jpg --- [Skip to content](https://www.missiondrive.io/blogs/you-need-domain-knowledge-to-know-if-gen-ai-is-performing-badly-0#main-content) Close - [Services](https://www.missiondrive.io/services) - [Hubspot](https://www.missiondrive.io/services/hubspot) - [Inbound Marketing](https://www.missiondrive.io/services/inbound-digital-marketing) - [Digital Sales](https://www.missiondrive.io/services/digital-sales) - [Creative Content](https://www.missiondrive.io/services/creative-content) - [Ethical Digital Marketing](https://www.missiondrive.io/services/ethical-digital-marketing) - [Data Training & Consultancy](https://www.missiondrive.io/services/data-training-and-consultancy) - [Contact](https://www.missiondrive.io/contact-us) - [About](https://www.missiondrive.io/about-mission-drive) - [Resources](https://www.missiondrive.io/resources) SEARCH [![logo](https://www.missiondrive.io/hs-fs/hubfs/LOGOTYPE_positive-100-2.jpg?width=1039&height=427&name=LOGOTYPE_positive-100-2.jpg "logo")](https://missiondrive.io/)[![Mission Drive](https://www.missiondrive.io/hs-fs/hubfs/logo.png?width=125&height=51&name=logo.png)](https://missiondrive.io/) - [Services](https://www.missiondrive.io/services) - [Hubspot](https://www.missiondrive.io/services/hubspot) - [Inbound Marketing](https://www.missiondrive.io/services/inbound-digital-marketing) - [Digital Sales](https://www.missiondrive.io/services/digital-sales) - [Creative Content](https://www.missiondrive.io/services/creative-content) - [Ethical Digital Marketing](https://www.missiondrive.io/services/ethical-digital-marketing) - [Data Training & Consultancy](https://www.missiondrive.io/services/data-training-and-consultancy) - [Contact](https://www.missiondrive.io/contact-us) - [About](https://www.missiondrive.io/about-mission-drive) - [Resources](https://www.missiondrive.io/resources) Quick results for "{search\_term}" - Menu Item 1 - Sub-menu Item 1 - Another Item - Sub-menu Item 2 - Menu Item 2 - Yet Another Item - Menu Item 3 - Menu Item 4 - Menu Item 1 - Sub-menu Item 1 - Another Item - Sub-menu Item 2 - Menu Item 2 - Yet Another Item - Menu Item 3 - Menu Item 4 - Menu Item 1 - Sub-menu Item 1 - Another Item - Sub-menu Item 2 - Menu Item 2 - Yet Another Item - Menu Item 3 - Menu Item 4 - Menu Item 1 - Sub-menu Item 1 - Another Item - Sub-menu Item 2 - Menu Item 2 - Yet Another Item - Menu Item 3 - Menu Item 4 - Menu Item 1 - Sub-menu Item 1 - Another Item - Sub-menu Item 2 - Menu Item 2 - Yet Another Item - Menu Item 3 - Menu Item 4 - Menu Item 1 - Sub-menu Item 1 - Another Item - Sub-menu Item 2 - Menu Item 2 - Yet Another Item - Menu Item 3 - Menu Item 4 ![shutterstock_558507064-595946-edited](https://www.missiondrive.io/hs-fs/hubfs/shutterstock_558507064-595946-edited.jpg?width=300&name=shutterstock_558507064-595946-edited.jpg) ###### An inexpensive, quick and easy way to build beautiful responsive website pages without coding knowledge [LEARN MORE](https://www.missiondrive.io/guides-and-tools) HubSpot Our certified experts help you use HubSpot to power growth with automation, data insights and AI. 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[Download now](https://www.missiondrive.io/guides-and-tools) ###### Keep up to date with all of our latest blogs, events, webinars and new content [Subscribe](https://www.missiondrive.io/en/blogs#Newsletter-sign-up) ![A black and white portrait of Marcus Aurielius, wearing traditional draped cloak. He is bearded and with short curly hair, looking intensely direct at the viewer.](https://www.missiondrive.io/hs-fs/hubfs/portrait-of-marcus-aurelius.jpg?width=300&name=portrait-of-marcus-aurelius.jpg) [Simon Bullmore](https://www.missiondrive.io/blogs/author/simon-bullmore)7/1/2025 57:10 AM1 min read # The obstacle is the way [Previous](https://www.missiondrive.io/blogs/you-need-domain-knowledge-to-know-if-gen-ai-is-performing-badly) [Next](https://www.missiondrive.io/blogs/you-need-domain-knowledge-to-know-if-gen-ai-is-performing-badly-0-0) **"What stands in the way becomes the way."** This quote, by stoic philosopher Marcus Aurelius, spun around my head a lot last year. I, like I suspect many people, tend to mentally label things as either "good" or "bad". Obstacles are "bad". Setbacks are "bad". Mistakes are "bad". But one reason stoicism is witnessing a revival is that it encourages a more balanced perspective - a surprisingly human one, given stoicism's dour if ill-deserved reputation - encouraging us to suspend judgment, to stop labelling things good and bad and to welcome the challenge. The ancient stoics, and modern teachers like [Ryan Holiday](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanholiday/), show us that challenges and difficulties are not just unavoidable but are opportunities for growth, learning, and success. Instead of avoiding or fearing obstacles, my challenge to myself this year is to continue trying to embrace them as a chance to develop resilience, creativity, and problem-solving skills. By genuinely embracing obstacles and learning from them, in empathetic and human ways, I truly feel we can take some of the pressure off ourselves and others, and see obstacles as stepping stones rather than roadblocks. Happy New Year. --- Found this Little Missions interesting? [Subscribe](https://www.missiondrive.io/blogs#Newsletter-sign-up) to get Little Missions delivered straight to your inbox.   ![avatar](https://app.hubspot.com/settings/avatar/a02d4d979773954384fd0540d5ec91c7) #### [Simon Bullmore](https://www.missiondrive.io/blogs/author/simon-bullmore) Simon helps our clients develop effective growth strategies and data literacy programmes. With a background in business psychology, Simon has worked in data, business development and training for over 17 years. This includes leading the learning programme at the Tim Berners-Lee founded Open Data Institute, and the launch of Harvard Business School's first European office. [mailto:simonb@missiondrive.io](mailto:simonb@missiondrive.io) ## RELATED ARTICLES ![widescreen background_whiteongrey ](https://www.missiondrive.io/hs-fs/hubfs/widescreen%20background_whiteongrey%20.png?width=300&name=widescreen%20background_whiteongrey%20.png) ![Mission Drive Logo - white](https://www.missiondrive.io/hs-fs/hubfs/Mission%20Drive%20Logo%20-%20white.png?width=100&height=41&name=Mission%20Drive%20Logo%20-%20white.png) Helping business leaders, innovation teams, L&D & HR engage effectively with their audiences about data. 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© 2003 - 2026 ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "Organization", "address" : { "@type" : "PostalAddress", "addressCountry" : "United Kingdom", "addressLocality" : "Brighton", "addressRegion" : "Sussex", "postalCode" : "", "streetAddress" : "Mission Drive HQ" }, "knowsLanguage" : "en", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/3064814/LOGOTYPE_positive-100-2.jpg" }, "name" : "Mission Drive", "url" : "https://www.missiondrive.io/blogs/you-need-domain-knowledge-to-know-if-gen-ai-is-performing-badly-0" } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "abstract" : "By embracing obstacles and learning from them we can take the pressure off ourselves and others, and see them as stepping stones rather than roadblocks.", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Simon Bullmore" }, "dateModified" : "January 7, 2025 10 AM", "datePublished" : "January 7, 2025 10 AM", "headline" : "The obstacle is the way", "image" : "https://missiondrive.io/hubfs/portrait-of-marcus-aurelius.jpg", "inLanguage" : "en", "keywords" : "[AI, Technology, Data Ethics, Little Missions, Creative content]", "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@type" : "WebPage" }, "name" : "The obstacle is the way", "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/3064814/LOGOTYPE_positive-100-2.jpg" }, "name" : "Mission Drive" }, "text" : "\"What stands in the way becomes the way.\" This quote, by stoic philosopher Marcus Aurelius, spun around my head a lot last year. I, like I suspect many people, tend to mentally label things as either \"good\" or \"bad\". Obstacles are \"bad\". Setbacks are \"bad\". Mistakes are \"bad\". But one reason stoicism is witnessing a revival is that it encourages a more balanced perspective - a surprisingly human one, given stoicism's dour if ill-deserved reputation - encouraging us to suspend judgment, to stop labelling things good and bad and to welcome the challenge. The ancient stoics, and modern teachers like Ryan Holiday, show us that challenges and difficulties are not just unavoidable but are opportunities for growth, learning, and success. Instead of avoiding or fearing obstacles, my challenge to myself this year is to continue trying to embrace them as a chance to develop resilience, creativity, and problem-solving skills. By genuinely embracing obstacles and learning from them, in empathetic and human ways, I truly feel we can take some of the pressure off ourselves and others, and see obstacles as stepping stones rather than roadblocks. Happy New Year. Found this Little Missions interesting? Subscribe to get Little Missions delivered straight to your inbox.", "url" : "https://www.missiondrive.io/blogs/you-need-domain-knowledge-to-know-if-gen-ai-is-performing-badly-0", "wordCount" : "348" } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Simon Bullmore", "url" : "https://www.missiondrive.io/blogs/author/simon-bullmore" }, "dateModified" : "2025-01-07T10:57:16.580Z", "datePublished" : "2025-01-07T10:57:16.000Z", "headline" : "The obstacle is the way", "image" : [ "https://www.missiondrive.io/hubfs/portrait-of-marcus-aurelius.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://www.missiondrive.io/blogs/you-need-domain-knowledge-to-know-if-gen-ai-is-performing-badly-0", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://www.missiondrive.io/hubfs/LOGOTYPE_positive-100-2.jpg" }, "name" : "Mission Drive Marketing LTD" } } ```