Develop Daily - LIVE From Lisbon 🇵🇹
The 2x benefits of daily challenges
I’m writing this newsletter 5,423 miles from home.
Last week, my wife and I left for the longest international trip we’ve ever taken.
We grabbed our two boys (3 and 4 years old) and a handful of bags — then flew from Phoenix, Arizona to Lisbon, Portugal to spend 58 days outside the United States.
We’re calling this trip our “adventure.”
Since arriving, I’ve been reminded of a simple fact.
Brian Tracy puts it best:
You can only grow if you’re willing to feel awkward and uncomfortable when you try something new.
We’re new to living in Portugal. We’re new to the language, the culture, and the surroundings.
👉 It’s uncomfortable. And that’s exactly what we wanted.
So, for this week’s Develop Daily newsletter, I’d like to share some thoughts on seeking out challenges as part of the growth process.
Let’s get to it.
Do Something Scary
One of my favorite rules for life comes from Eleanor Roosevelt.
Famously, she said:
Do one thing every day that scares you.
When my wife and I started talking about spending an extended time overseas, the idea was scary. Not in a “something might happen” way. But in the way most modern people feel about big changes.
This might be uncomfortable.
This might require us to adapt.
This might disrupt our routine.
Change is scary because it introduces the unknown. It requires us to flex with new circumstances, shifting from autopilot to problem-solving mode.
As my wife and I talked through the idea of temporarily living overseas with small children — and ultimately decided to take the plunge — it was change that drove us.
We wanted to lean into challenges.
Everyday Challenges
The challenges of living in Lisbon have been small, but constant.
Appliances work differently (or don’t work at all).
Services we take for granted at home aren’t available.
Streets are narrow and cars are aggressive.
With young children, we’ve had to rework nighttime routines — which, if you have kids, you know can be painful. With U.S.-based clients, we’ve had to rework daytime routines — and calculate time zone differences.
We’re also living without a car, which means carrying groceries back from the store and navigating the local bus schedule.
And then there’s the funny stuff:
I’ve stacked my laptop on a leaning pile of books.
We’re using towels for window curtains.
We’ve blocked off a rickety staircase with our luggage.
Despite scouting out Lisbon last year, and planning this “adventure” for months, I still have to admit. . .
There have been more challenges than I expected.
The 2x Benefits of Daily Challenges
Why seek out challenges if they’re uncomfortable?
In my experience, integrating daily challenges into your life offers two game-changing benefits.
#1 - Opportunity
Every opportunity requires stepping outside your comfort zone.
In Lisbon, opportunities have been just as bountiful as challenges. We’ve soaked in time as a family. Our kids have played with children from Italy, Romania, and Spain. We’ve met wonderful locals and expats from all over the world.
And we’ve experienced moments like this:
In the career arena, opportunity comes through challenges too. The Develop Daily system is built on stepping out of your comfort zone a little bit every day to unlock new career opportunities, like promotions, pivots, and connections.
When we avoid challenges, we often avoid life-altering opportunities as well. These missed opportunities hide just out of reach — and sadly, we never see what could have been if we’d just leaped.
Are you taking the plunge?
#2 - Resilience
David Goggins is a retired Navy Seal, ultramarathoner, and bestselling author known for his unique approach to challenges.
Here’s his theme in a nutshell:
Our whole life is set up in the path of least resistance. We don't want to suffer. We don't want to feel discomfort. So the whole time, we're living our lives in a very comfortable area. There's no growth in that.
To achieve what David has achieved, it’s not enough to “push through” challenges. You have to rework your relationship to challenges. You have to view them as a stepping stone toward growth and your resilience as a muscle to build.
Here’s what I’ve noticed in Lisbon.
When everyday challenges arise, my lizard brain responds predictably:
This is uncomfortable.
I don’t like this.
I want to get away from this.
Instincts don’t change. A growth mindset doesn’t eliminate your negative thoughts. Instead, you learn how to respond to challenges. You learn to embrace empowering thoughts after your mind has assessed the situation.
And the more you lean into everyday challenges, the stronger your mind gets at navigating difficulty.
David again:
Mental toughness and resilience fade if they aren’t used consistently. I say it all the time: you are either getting better, or you’re getting worse. You’re not staying the same.
How often are you building resilience?
Here’s the Good News
You don’t have to travel halfway around the world to find everyday challenges. Instead, look for actions that unlock opportunity or resilience.
A few of my favorites:
🧠 Investing in 15 minutes of professional development every day.
🧠 Visiting a new museum, restaurant, or part of town.
🧠 Raising your hand for a stretch project at work.
🧠 Striking up a conversation with someone new.
🧠 Trying out a new hobby.
These actions force you outside your comfort zone. And, in the process, they engage the growth centers of your brain.
Do this long enough and you’ll find new opportunities rising around you. You’ll find your resilience growing day by day.
That’s the growth formula.
Tenha um bom dia 👋
I’ll be back with more Lisbon updates soon.
In the meantime, consider adding a few challenges to your week. Actions that unlock career opportunities or offer moments of resilience-building.
Write down your challenges.
Share them with others.
Take daily action.
And if international travel is part of your long-term growth plan, hit “reply” to this email. I’m happy to connect and share more about our experience so far.
Hope this helps!
P.S.
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