I found this great quote online and had to share it with all of you this week. After someresearch, the only source I could find for the author is Zig Ziglar in his book entitled Over the Top. Zig claims it originally came from a Mr. Robert Updegraff, who was an editorial writer for The Boston Globe.
“Be thankful for the troubles of your job. They provide about half your income. Because if it were not for the things that go wrong, the difficult people you have to deal with, and the problems and unpleasantness of your working day, someone could be found to handle your job for half of what you are being paid.
It takes intelligence, resourcefulness, patience, tact, and courage to meet the troubles of any job. That is why you hold your present job. And it may be the reason you aren’t holding down an even bigger one.
If all of us would start to look for more troubles and learn to handle them cheerfully and with good judgment, as opportunities rather than irritations, we would find ourselves getting ahead at a surprising rate. For it is a fact that there are plenty of big jobs waiting for men and women who aren’t afraid of the troubles connected with them.”
Every so often, something will happen that sets us back. We may not be thrilled to deal with a disappointment or a problem. We all know that life and work are not going to be perfect and pleasant all of the time, so we shouldn’t be surprised when challenges arrive in our lives. We need to look for solutions to the problems that come our way instead of being bogged down with irrational disbelief that the world had the audacity to allow bad things to happen to us!
Adversity, problems, and challenges are inevitable, but suffering is optional.
The goal is to turn these misfortunes into tangible, exciting opportunities! I guarantee that if you can do this, the benefits are more far-reaching than you could have ever imagined.
So how do we transform these harsh conditions into opportunities?
1. Slow down and take control.
Whether you’re in the OR dealing with a difficult procedure or faced with a supply issue, don’t panic! It’s amazing how simple some solutions become if we take the time to slow down and display some emotional intelligence. When anxiety or other emotions take over, our ability to think strategically diminishes. It’s imperative for us to regain our composure the moment a problem arises.
2. Stay positive.
Are you always imagining the worst case scenario when you are facing issues? Remember: these challenges can be our best teachers and will make us stronger in the end. The moment you start thinking this way, your attitude becomes a stimulus for problem solving, and, in turn, your fear will dissolve. Now you will not view your challenges as enemies but will rather embrace them. You can then start to believe that, no matter what challenge or misfortune you face, you can and will overcome it!
3. Seek out a mentor.
Once we are calm and positive, we are fully aware of our ability to resolve a crisis. This is when we can seek out a second opinion. Sometimes, taking a step back and seeing how someone else would solve the very same problem may give you a fresh perspective. However, do not attempt to get counsel from someone that has no experience or knowledge about your particular challenge. Otherwise, you may end up with faulty advice and land in a worse position than your starting point.
4. Find a solution and then execute with confidence.
Write down all possible solutions to your dilemma on a piece of paper. I personally like to go for a run or do some cardiovascular activity before writing out my solutions, as this allows me to hash out all my thoughts. You will be surprised at how many solutions you come up with after completing this exercise. The goal of the exercise is to pull from the advice you’ve obtained, do your own research, and then draw your conclusions. Once you have your solution, list the specific steps needed in order to make the best of your situation, and there you go—you’ve just created an opportunity! I need to stress that this only becomes a true opportunity when you execute the steps you have created to achieve the end results you are seeking.
If we can commit to and execute this process of dealing with misfortunes, challenges, and adversity, I believe there is nothing that we can’t overcome. Let’s surprise ourselves by what we can handle!
