Friday, September 10, 2010

More Problems, Please. . . Running Low Over Here! Please Hurry!

"Each problem has hidden in it an opportunity so powerful that it literally dwarfs the problem. The greatest success stories were created by people who recognized a problems and turned it into an opportunity."

-- Joseph Sugarman


Having experience many thousands of problems, I have come to a better conclusion: they aren't problems. They're opportunities. Where I used to say, "Oh shoot, what will we do now?" I usually say now, "this is great. Here is a grand opportunity." Or something like that. Maybe it's not quite that cool sounding yet, but I do now see opportunities, not only in every problem, but everywhere. I can tell you that this is such a great place to get to and it only took me most of my life.

When a team player doesn't work out, don't worry, fret, fuss, or cajole because a far better team player is just outside the door waiting to waltz in and dazzle you with their brilliance. When a customer is upset, angry, unhappy, complaining, and the like, don't join them in their emotional journey, praise the situation because the solution that will make them not only a lifetime customer, but a lifetime fan is right there ready to connect.

Or not. It could be a trauma, with extended grief, disoriented team players, jealous office staff, disinterested clients, cash flow nightmares, and a hundred variations on these themes. Maybe.

Of course, the choice is always yours. Why? Because it is your individual outlook that drives the outcome. It's not what happens to us, but how we think about what happens to us. We get to choose--always. Begin choosing to see a different reality--see opportunities, see solutions. The problem is a good thing.

What a difference this will make in your business.

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