Defying the odds. It’s a challenge most of us want to rise to, especially in our careers. We know there will always be setbacks, but we also know it’s what you do when facing down those trials that define success. It’s something that Bai knows a lot about. A 5-calorie beverage without artificial sweeteners that actually tastes great? It’s possible—against all odds.

Here are five ways to defy the odds in your career.

SEEK OUT YOUR LIMITATIONS, DON’T SHY FROM THEM

Great believers are great achievers. When Ben Weiss launched Bai in 2009 he was up against a number of constraints. He had seen the options available in the beverage market. High-sugar, high-calorie options that tasted great but were bad for health. Or low-calorie beverages filled with unnatural ingredients. That didn’t stop him.

"Great believers are great achievers."

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To create success you cannot copy success. Use the limitations and roadblocks to make something that has never before existed. In the case of Bai, Ben knew that if he wanted flavor and goodness to go hand in hand he would have to turn to nature to create a “bevolutionary” product.

WORK HARDER AND SMARTER

If you want to surpass expectations, you need to be willing to do both.

Every founder will tell you that to manifest success you will have to work harder than you have ever worked in your entire life. You also need to work smarter-- this is not a case of either/or.

From idea (October 2008) to first 100,000 case month (April 2013) Bai experienced a long road of hard-won and worked firsts. First case sold (August 2009). First distributor (October 2010). First roadshow (July 2011). First headquarters (October 2011).

BREAK DOWN COMPLEX PROBLEMS INTO SMALLER MANAGEABLE PIECES

Those roadblocks and setbacks? Like we mentioned, they’re inevitable. But how you break down a problem will not only give you an in-road to your own thought process (which, if you pay attention will prove beneficial to creating viable strategies) and how you deal with issues, but it also gives you a much more manageable dilemma.

"How you break down a problem will give you an in-road to your own thought process."

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When it comes to issues the devil is in the details.

INTO EVERY DAY A LITTLE FUN MUST FALL

You wanna beat the odds? You need to be able to have some fun. We’re not talking outside of the office (although, that’s equally as important), but rather, within your day there needs to be something you enjoy that puts a little pep in your step. (Or in the case of Bai, some fizz in your drink.)

Taking yourself too seriously will waterlog your creativity and that boat will sink.

TAKE STEPS FORWARD WITHOUT THINKING ABOUT THE GROUND

What does this mean? Entrepreneurs and successful people always talk about “the leap.” The pivotal moment that they say the edge and flung themselves off, both full of fear and excitement, propelled forward by the belief in their idea.

This is the same notion, on a smaller, daily level. Not every day requires leaps into the abyss, but confidence in the face of the unknown is required to defy the status quo. That means that sometimes you have to take steps forward without knowing if the ground is going to rise up to meet you. Some days it will-- other days, you’ll fall.

But you can’t look down to get ahead.