I look down at the mountains as I fly to California, having just watched the new Karate Kid movie on the flight. And can't help but think that there is an archetypal lesson in that movie, one so powerful that it moves us to be better people. It's why half of the passengers have tear-drenched napkins. The very act of watching an archetypal message can heal us.

Despite being gripped by so much fear for so long, the kid knew that against all odds, he had to fight. Even after his opponent was coached to play dirty and break his leg, he decided to get up and finish the fight. "I don't want to live with fear any more" is what he told his teacher.

What a beautiful reminder for us to stay in the highest intention and the lowest attachment. In times when the odds are stacked against us and everything feels harder, we have to keep it in perspective that we must do everything, everything, everything in our power to get our results—and then, be calm with the results we get.

So many banks have had their Bauer rating slashed and regulators camping out in their board rooms. That's when fear sets in and they forget to keep sane and get back about the business of doing everything, everything, everything they can—no half-hearted efforting.

It's time to get up on the one remaining leg, put on our big boy or big girl pants, and get about taking our banks to greatness regardless of current circumstances.

If you think it can't be done, tell it to the banker who came to us several years ago ready to sell. Despite all their best efforts and hiring of sales training firms and strategy firms, nothing had worked. Now they are one of the two safest AND highest-performing banks in their state.

Tell it to the bank who was told by the regulators to lay off one-third of their staff two years ago. Instead, they got up on that one good leg. Now this bank is expanding into two new territories! The regulators told them they're really glad they didn't lay off those people and referred to their turnaround as a "miracle."

If they can do it, so can you. Get up on one leg, feel the fear... and do it anyway!