Entrepreneurs are simply those who understand that there is little difference between obstacle and opportunity and are able to turn both to their advantage. – Niccolò Machiavelli
Obstacle or opportunity? Looks like an opportunity for fun, and a chance to work with others to find the best route up.
What does that mean?
This quote is so spot on. I have known several entrepreneurs, and all have this quality. They tend to view obstacles as the best thing that can happen, as it keeps the less determined people from getting in their way. Every obstacle makes their life easier by thinning out their competition.
They then take their own view of the obstacle and use it to their advantage, not just to their competitors’ disadvantage. They find a way to make what would be a problem for others into a part of their signature or their style.
Why is treating obstacles as opportunities important?
In reality, there are no obstacles, and there are no opportunities. Those words are labels we apply to outcomes or results we dislike or like. Think about that for a moment. Are there really opportunities, or did something happen that allows you to see a quick or easy way forward?
Conversely, are there really obstacles, or are there simply no quick or easy ways forward that you can see? If someone then points out a way forward you had overlooked, does the obstacle suddenly become an opportunity? The only thing that has changed is how you labeled the event.
Now, back to the quote, do you see how little a difference there is between an obstacle and an opportunity? If you can train your brain out of these labels, and start looking for the opportunities disguised in every obstacle, you can be much more successful, even if you’re not an entrepreneur.
Where can I apply this in my life?
When I first got the Nova (my project car) all those years ago, I drove it for a while before noticing some problems with hidden rust. It looked nice on the outside, but the structure was a problem. It was going to be a really big obstacle, but I’d always wanted a reason to learn to weld. With the acquisition of a parts car and a welder, I was ready to turn an obstacle into an opportunity.
What are some of the things that are holding you back, some of the obstacles that are really opportunities in disguise? What are you wanting to do, but blocked by an ‘insurmountable’ obstacle? Grab some paper and write a few of these down, both what you want to do, and your so called obstacle.
Now that you have a list together, consider which one would you want to do first, if there were no obstacles? Which of these entries really is at the top of your list? Write down the desired result in a clear area of the paper, and also write down the obstacle.
Now that you have a target and something to work around, take a moment and make sure you know why this absolutely must be accomplished. If it’s only a should and not a must, then it simply will not get done. Just look at your past, and you’ll find that you get done the things that must be done, but the things that should be done, not so much.
Make the reason powerful, emotional, and engaging. Do you want to lose 10 pounds, or do you want to knock everyone dead at the beach? Do you want to put extra inches on your arms, or are you going to win a body building competition sometime next year? Even if you are not thinking about it, your subconscious is, so make it a great reason!
Now look at that which you labeled an obstacle. What can you do to get past it? In a prior article, I mentioned a guy named Erik Weihenmayer, who went blind as a teen, but has since climbed Mt Everest, runs marathons and done other things I wouldn’t even think of trying. He found a way past his lack of sight, past his obstacle.
Take some time, and brainstorm ideas until the rest of the paper is covered up with possibilities. Get as weird or crazy as you want, most of the ideas will never leave the paper. Don’t forget your reason, use it to help keep you moving forward. Take your time, I’m not going anywhere. Done? Good.
Now read through all the ideas and put a plus sign (+) next to ideas you think are useful, reasonable, or might be fun to try. When you’re done, look back through the items with a (+) and select two or three to start with. Write them down in the order in which you want to try them.
Now take a moment and put some details into the first one. For my welding, I had to research welders, select an appropriate technology (MIG), and then select a model and gather accessories. Then I had to learn (books, videos, a mentor, and lots of practice on scrap metal). What is your path forward?
Take a moment to drink it all in. Feel the excitement (and remember, dread is no less excitement than an opportunity is an obstacle). Now determine what the first few steps are, and get busy. Never leave the scene of a decision without first taking action!
You are now on your way past your first obstacle. There will be setbacks, and things you didn’t anticipate. Don’t get frustrated, just try again, do some more brainstorming, and get busy!
From: Twitter, @ASecret4You
confirmed at : http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/n/niccolomac120258.html
Photot by johntrainor
