On March 11, 2020 the world entered a storm of a magnitude we couldn’t predict. A pandemic. Something we’ve never experienced. Something we don’t know how to control or handle. We expected the worst and were taken aback when it went farther than that. People stayed home and businesses closed as the world mourned. It felt (and still feels) like we were barely holding on.
We’ll feel the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic for years to come, but there must be a positive aspect somewhere, right?
Often when it feels like our world is falling apart, we have the opportunity to control where the pieces fall, providing a chance to change for the better. Here are some tips for weathering the storm and working your way towards future success.
Disasters Don’t Have to Be Disastrous – Just Ask Others
Everybody and every business is going to face challenges, obstacles, and difficulties somewhere along the line. Challenges often times are the trigger points that help develop our character, hone our skills, and inspire creativity. A Dutch proverb says, “The gem cannot be polished without friction, nor the man perfected without trials.” Problems may arise and cause delays in schedules and plans but delays are not denials. In fact, in his effort to develop a nickel-iron battery, Thomas Edison tested over 9,000 experiments without getting positive outcomes. While at his workbench continuing in his effort to achieve success, a long-time associate expressed his regrets to Edison for not getting any results. Edison quickly replied, “Results! Why man, I’ve gotten a lot of results. I know thousands of things that won’t work.”
Going it alone can be lonely and discouraging when working through difficulties so seeking input, guidance, and counsel from trusted advisors can help you to see things from a different perspective, develop a strategy and stay focused on a solution.
When Life Hands You a Bowl of Dirt, Develop a Process for Making Shirts
You may need to ask yourself a series of questions in order to develop a process for overcoming the challenges, problems, or obstacles you or your team are facing. What good things are happening within the project that can be highlighted? Who needs to be notified of this problem or delay? Have others dealt with a similar problem, if so, how did they handle it? Are there other potential problems that might be created through our effort to solve the existing problem? Is there another viewpoint, solution, or perspective we have not considered? Sometimes, mind mapping a problem can help lead to a solution.
Optimism Beats Pessimism
In their Fall 2013 newsletter, Employee Assistance Program, LLC commented on research regarding optimistic people saying, “According to psychologist Suzanne Segerstrom, optimism is not just about feeling positive. It’s also about being motivated and persistent. In her book, ‘Breaking Murphy’s Law: How Optimists Get What They Want From Life – and Pessimists Can Too,’ Segerstrom explains that optimists tend to deal with problems head-on. Instead of walking away, they plan a course of action, seek advice from others, and stay focused on solutions. Segerstrom also says that optimists tend to expect a good outcome, and even when they don’t get it, they find ways to learn and grow from the negative experience. Optimists believe their actions shape their destinies.”
There Must Be a Pony in Here
It’s kind of like the story of the twin boys had who had developed extreme personalities — one was a total pessimist, while the other was a total optimist. Concerned for their children, the parents took them to a psychiatrist.
First, the psychiatrist treated the pessimist. Trying to brighten his outlook, the psychiatrist took him to a room piled to the ceiling with brand-new toys. But instead of being overjoyed, the little boy burst into tears. Confused, the psychiatrist asked, “What’s the matter? Don’t you want to play with any of the toys?” “Yes,” the little boy cried, “but if I did I’d only break them.”
Next, the psychiatrist treated the optimist. Trying to discourage his outlook, the psychiatrist took him to a room piled to the ceiling with horse manure. But instead of wrinkling his nose in disgust, the optimist was delighted. Then he climbed to the top of the pile, dropped to his knees, and excitedly began digging out scoop after scoop with his bare hands. “What do you think you’re doing?” the psychiatrist asked, just as baffled by the optimist as he had been by the pessimist. “With all this manure,” the beaming little boy replied, “there must be a pony in here somewhere!”
Success can sometimes be buried beneath a lot of dirt, mud, and manure. Keep digging!