Episode 196: Black Swans & Perseverace Through the Darkest Times

Resiliency, Black Swans, & Perseverance Through The Darkest Times

We all have black swan events happen in our life. The Covid-19 Pandemic has definitely been an elephant-sized black swan event to the pet business. It has tested the resilience and patience of a larger number of Jumpers. Today I want to share a lesson on antifragility.

Asha Olivia is the owner/operator of Hoby Dogy serving Hoboken, NJ ever since 2012

Asha is also a warrior. For example, she is a stage, four cancer survivor. Asha also counsels others with deep wisdom. This is wisdom won from a lifetime of going to battle. She works hard to improve every single day. Therefore, Asha has become a guiding light in this world as a result of her daily improvements. Meanwhile, when Asha is not serving others, you will find her taking long walks with her dear husband Jan and their dreamy puppies Lovey and Savey who they met and rescued on the streets of Colombia.

Black Swan Show Highlights

[1:40] – Who is Asha Olivia?
[5:00] – What is a Black Swan moment?
[8:00] – Can you describe what the differences are between “fragile,” “resilient,” and “antifragile?”
[9:30] – Would you be able to tell us how you felt at that moment when you received your diagnosis. More importantly, how did that play into the different mindset conditions?
[14:30] – What is the story of Vice Admiral James Stockdale and what is the Stockdale Paradox?
[18:00] – How do you become antifragile?
[22:00] – Finally, what do you suggest that the audience’s first steps be so that they maintain their antifragility?

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Transcript:

This is episode 196 of Bella in Your Business. Hi there, I’m Bella Vasta from Jump Consulting. You might know me from CBS, NBC, Fox, Huffington Post, Entrepreneur, or maybe you’ve seen me speak on stage or read my book, The Four Dogs That Every Business Owner Needs. In any case, get ready because you’re about to get your hashtag Bella Butt Kickin’ in this next episode of Bella in Your Business.

So what do you say? Let’s get ready and jump. Welcome to Bella in Your Business. Today, I’ve got a very exciting guest for you. After she presented in our COVID support group about a month ago, she gave me goosebumps and everyone else that was there. I had to share her with all of my podcast listeners. Please welcome Asha Olivia. She’s here today from Hoboken, New Jersey, which I’ve actually visited. It’s a very small borough that overlooks Manhattan. For me, I can’t get more inspired than looking at New York City—it’s breathtaking. We’ve been in each other’s lives for quite some time, and I’ve seen her go through it, and she’s seen me go through it. The way she’s come through and reminded us all in the COVID support group—and will again today—is powerful.

We’ve all had our COVID-19 already, and Asha likes to talk about this “black swan” moment in her life. Before we get into that, I asked her to explain who she is, tell us about her business, and a little about her backstory, which sprouted the realization she’s about to share.

Asha thanked me for the invitation and said it was an honor to be on the podcast. She shared that she owns and operates Hobie Doggie, a dog walking and puppy care company in Hoboken, New Jersey. She started the company in 2012, around the time she got to know me. Since then, she joined my mastermind group about three years ago and has found it an indispensable resource through the ups and downs of business.

She explained that, at the time of recording, an average of 700 Americans were dying daily from COVID-19. For comparison, 2,400 Americans died at Pearl Harbor in one day—meaning America was essentially having a Pearl Harbor moment every three to four days. “In essence, we’re at war,” she said. “Every American is a soldier. So how will we be soldiers every day to get through this war—and any war in our lives?”

She began sharing her story: in November 2018, she was a “happy, healthy, yoga-doing, veggie-loving tree hugger” and business owner. She developed a cough she brushed off as nothing, even during team interviews. But when her parents pushed her to see a doctor, she was diagnosed with stage four non-smoker’s lung cancer. It was a huge shock—her “mini war” and her “black swan.” Over 16 months, she fought that war, and as of the day of recording, she could happily report that she was in remission—cancer free.

She explained the concept of a “black swan,” drawn from statistician Nassim Taleb’s books The Black Swan and Antifragile. A black swan is an unexpected, sudden event with potentially massive effects on life. It can have negative effects (fragile), leave one the same (resilient), or make one better (antifragile). The term comes from the rarity of black swans in nature.

On a macro level, COVID-19 is a black swan—the biggest since the 1918 Spanish flu. On a semi-macro level, black swans include natural disasters. On a micro level, individuals face personal black swans: sudden illness, divorce, loss, financial ruin. Everyone experiences their own. “The most important thing,” Asha said, “is how we allow the black swan to affect us.” Fragile people get knocked down and break, like crystal or a candle in the wind. Resilient people take the hit but stay standing, like an earthquake-proof building. Antifragile people take the hit and grow stronger, like fire made stronger by wind.

I asked if these reactions are innate or a choice. Asha said she believes—barring mental illness—it’s a choice. When she got her diagnosis, she was with her dad at the doctor’s office, staring at an x-ray of a tumor in her lung. She dropped to her knees, realizing life would never be the same. But she decided then that it would be the defining event that made her stronger. “These moments,” she said, “take everything you’ve got—heart, soul, body, spirit—and an unwavering faith. Not religious faith necessarily, but a deep knowing of who you are and what you’ve overcome.”

I agreed and noted that we’ve all had moments like that. Black swans aren’t new—we’ve all been slapped by one before. They wake us up, remind us who we are, and test how we’ll respond. Some days we’re fragile, some resilient, some antifragile—but we must keep moving forward.

Asha shared a story about Admiral James Stockdale, a U.S. Navy officer and Vietnam War POW. Captured and tortured for nearly eight years, he emerged stronger. He wrote In Love and War with his wife. Despite the suffering, he considered himself “the lucky one” because he knew how he would respond to hardship—something others might never know.

Jim Collins later wrote about Stockdale in Good to Great, coining “The Stockdale Paradox”: maintaining faith that you will prevail while simultaneously confronting the brutal facts of your situation. It’s about acceptance—not denial—so you can begin to fight.

That reminded me of a quote I had hung in the NICU when my daughter Olivia was there: “Everything is going to be okay in the end. If it’s not okay, it’s not the end.”

I asked Asha how people can build their capacity to be antifragile. She said, “Antifragile systems work because they build capacity when under stress.” Like muscles tearing and rebuilding stronger after a workout, humans grow through challenge. She explained key ways to build capacity:

Physical health: exercise, good nutrition, rest.
Family and friends: strengthen relationships, reconnect with loved ones.
Emotional and spiritual: therapy, meditation, prayer, or hobbies that nurture the soul.
Intellectual and mental: take classes, read, join groups like masterminds, learn from others.
Economic: diversify income streams. She cited pet sitter Nicole Wilson, who began grocery shopping for clients during COVID-19 and created a new revenue stream.
Business systems: build SOPs and organize operations for stability.
Character and self-awareness: reflect on past challenges and recognize your own strength.

“Remember,” she said, “you’ve fought micro wars before. This is just another one. You’re not fragile. You’re not merely resilient. You’ll come out of this swinging like Muhammad Ali—better than before.”

I loved her metaphors—fire, buildings, and historical figures—because they help us visualize resilience and realize real people have lived through unimaginable challenges.

When I asked how she maintains her antifragility daily, she said staying practical and realistic keeps her grounded. “Do one thing every day that moves you forward,” she said. “Just keep moving.” She referenced my slogan “Keep Jumping,” saying she finally understood it. “It stinks that you had to jump out of a plane and go splat to realize that,” she laughed, “but yes—you have to keep jumping.”

Asha created her own 30-day challenge, inspired by an earlier podcast episode with Nick Trevillian about changing your life in 30 days. She posts her daily progress in the mastermind for accountability, celebrating even small wins. “It’s about practical momentum,” she said. “One small thing every day.”

I told her how much I admired her consistency and commitment. Small daily actions lead to massive transformation. “It’s those little jumps that keep you jumping,” I said.

Asha encouraged everyone to remember their own strength. “That’s what matters,” she said.

Thank you for being here, Asha. To learn more, visit HobieDoggie.com.

If you liked this episode, tag us and share your biggest takeaway. And if you’re feeling bold, leave a review on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, or wherever you listen—I might read it on the next episode. And remember, when life gets you down, always keep jumping.

So what did you think? Did you love this episode? I sure hope you did because I put a lot of love into this for you. The best way you can show me that is by going to iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, or wherever you listen to your podcast and leaving a review. I just might read it on the next episode. I also want to remind you that when life gets you down, remember to always keep jumping. Thanks for listening.

Resiliency, Black Swans, and Perseverance Through the Darkest Times / Ep. 196

Resiliency, Black Swans, & Perseverance Through The Darkest Times

Black Swan Show Highlights

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