How to adapt to stress like a criminal mastermind
Marty Byrde, Ozark
Credit: Netflix
Stress is a natural part of life.
Working through that stress though can be challenging.
How can we work through stressful situations? How can we react better to them?
I found myself thinking on these questions recently as one of my favorite shows, Ozark, came to a close.
About a week ago, the last batch of freshly minted episodes were released into the wild as the eager fans (including yours truly) waited with bated breath.
I was hyped.
No series finale spoilers here, but I loved how it ended.
As I reflected on the brilliant writing and the characters, I kept coming back to one in particular—our show’s protagonist and antihero Marty Byrde (played by the enigmatic Jason Bateman).
What can we learn from Marty?
Marty is a chameleon.
He adapts over and over again to each progressively stressful predicament that comes his way.
(Minor spoilers for Season 1, Episode 1 of Ozark)
In one of the best series pilots I’ve ever watched, Marty finds himself threatened by a Cartel heavy, cheated on by his wife, and ripped from his hometown of Chicago.
Not ideal.
The Stress is Real
At the beginning of the series, the audience discovers that Marty’s partner has embezzled millions of dollars from the Navarro drug cartel. I probably don’t need to say that a move like that can get you killed. And it did.
Bang.
An ominous cartel lieutenant, Del, shoots Marty’s partner right in front of him.
In this moment, the stress is real.
Just before Del pulls the trigger for a second time, something changes.
In an instant, Marty transforms.
He pleads for his life by developing a scheme to launder money through the Ozarks. He effectively buys himself time to figure out how to do so later.
And just like that, Marty has adapted to an aggressively stressful situation.
Over the course of the series, he does so over, and over, and over again. Each episode that moves Marty’s story forward becomes another trial for him to adapt to.
Will Marty adapt in the final episodes of the series? Who knows? I mean, I know, but I won’t spoil it for you here. Let’s just say it’s well worth it to watch the show.
How to adapt to a stressful situation
Marty starts as a simple, albeit fictional, accountant trying to keep his life together with tape and protect his family from the Cartel. But he sure does know how to manage stressful situations.
While Marty’s situation isn’t real, the tools he uses to adapt are very much so.
Here are three lessons we can learn about adapting to stress from Marty Byrde.
Identify the problem or change — Before you can adapt, you need to know what you’re working with or against. Reflect on the situation first before acting.
Weigh your options — After you’ve identified the problem you’re facing, think about the many ways you could react. We may not be able to control what happens to us, but we can certainly control how we react.
Try a path that feels right — Now that you’ve reviewed your options, try a strategy you’ve devised and go for it. It may not feel great to act on the path, but making a decision and sticking with it can be the difference between progress and wallowing.
Final Thoughts
Marty Byrde isn’t superhuman. But he’s a fascinating study of what happens when you push someone to their limits and they just won’t stay down.
Marty is resilient. He is calculating. He is a financial wizard. He will adapt to any situation he’s placed into because Marty recognizes that stress is simply data. He processes the information and acts on what he sees in front of him.
When it comes to stress, be like Marty.
Just don’t try to take on the Cartel if you can help it.
Until next week, here are links to what I’ve been working on and treasures I’ve found out in the creative wilderness.
Enjoy!
Recent Finds
Jon Acuff — Then and Now (Instagram) | I love this post from author Jon Acuff. It’s two pictures taken years apart from the same building. The first when Jon spoke to a single audience member. The second after he recently spoke to thousands. We all start from the bottom. Even after years of training, education, and experience, we can start something for ourselves that feels like we’re going nowhere. It just takes time and consistency to break through. If you’re feeling low about where you are, get inspired by the radical transformation Jon describes in his own life in this post.
Cal Newport — Fixed Schedule Productivity (YouTube) | For many of us, our schedules dictate when we can “fit in” the goals we’re working to achieve. But, what if we did the opposite? Author Cal Newport recommends we start planning out our schedule with the work we want to do and make everything else fit. As a schedule management junkie, this helped me rethink how I prioritize the creative goals I make time for. It’s easier to make time for something when you make time for it first and move out from there. Cal goes deep into examples within his own life. Highly recommended for your viewing pleasure.
The Write Practice — Deliberate Practice: How to Become Great (At Writing or Anything) (Blog) | If we want to accomplish great things, we need to put in the effort. One of the best ways to make sure the effort doesn’t go to waste is to practice. But as my amazing Calculus teacher Ms. Nailos once said, “Practice doesn’t make perfect. Practice makes permanent.” This blog post by The Write Practice is a fantastic series of actionable steps to make sure you’re practicing correctly to maximize your chances of doing great things in writing or whatever creative pursuit you’re after.
Quote of the Week
“If you know where you want to go in life, people tend to help or get
out of the way. Both are useful.”
— James Clear
That's all for now.
Stay creative, my friends—and have a great week!
