The characteristic that separates a winner from a loser is the relentless conversions of problems into opportunities, negatives to positives. Carter Henderson
REFLECTIONS (learnings and actions): I love this quote and the "winner and loser" could be easily replaced with "successful and non-successful."
Now I have mentioned before the path to achieving your dreams will be hazy and unclear at times. This lack of clarity will produce negative emotions, such as doubt, anxiety, and fear.
These feelings produce your DIPs, or the lowest points of taking on new challenges. Often times, they freeze us from taking action, and this is due to the fact we drown ourselves in all the different possibilities of how things can go wrong.
Questions like...
"Why am I doing this?
Will it work out?
How might other see me?"
Might pop in your head.
Last week, I said the "Entrepreneur life is the solving of a never-ending stream of problems. You're assaulted by relentless adversity and crisis. It comes with the territory."
I have learned the more problems you have to solve, the closer you are to major breakthrough.
The key is to stay disciplined in these situations to the inputs, decisions and actions, which move you forward over the EASE (Facebook trolling, Netflix....) of choosing something which will not.
For example, moving to China from the US has presented me with the opportunity to use a lot of different excuses for me not completing my Weekly Tasks.
YET...I know devoting the time to these inputs will take me closer to achieving my dream of living life on my terms.
In the past, I would resist and judge the fact that I had more problems to solve. I would complain, procrastinate, and simply quit from taking action to move me forward.
This is normal for 99% of us on this planet as naturally, we humans like to feel comfortable and feel out of sorts when we are constantly solving problems.
Today, I know the more problems (endless stream of problems) I am solving, the closer I am to a breakthrough.
This is where the quote from this week comes into play. The uber successful individuals change there perspective about the "endless streams of problems" and tun them into opportunities.
Thus, stop viewing completing x, y, z as problems, but see them as opportunities to learn.
What on the surface seems like a negative, can be turned into a "positive."
What does this look like in real life?
Take a look at the TWO scenarios below:
1. Problems, negatives
Man, I now have to find an editor. How am I going to do that. Also, on top of that I need to find another designer who can edit my book cover. Oh right, I have to learn how to set-up my book on Amazon so I can start pre selling.
2. Opportunities, positives
Ok, cool who can I connect with to find an editor (already found someonone). Do I know someone in my contacts who is a designer (I can think of two as I write this) who can help me with this? Lastly, who is a "Pro" who I might be able to learn from to set-up my book on Amazon?
As you can see the tone in each is quite different.
Furthermore, there have been many experiments which show that the repetition of negative and empowering words affect our behavior.
Unfortunately, most of tend to replay the problems and negative over and over in our minds. Thus, weakening our abiity to take those next stpes to continue on the path to achieving success and our dreams.
Thus, be prepared to engage in an endless stream of problems on the path to achieving success and your dreams. Convert issues and negatives to opportunities and positives.
I can guaratnee you will reach places never thought possible if you do this on a consistent basis!
What Went Well?
Two weeks in our new lives in China, yet disciplined and committed to completing the Weekly Task amid heavy daily challenges.
What is something we can improve? What actions can we take next week?
Identify actions to move forward. Then iterate!
With the move, there has been moments of uncertainty. I found myself at times not knowing what to do next. This week I want to report on what I am doing and identify actions which will move me forward.
What is something to avoid next week?
Focusing solely on results of others...this just leads down a downward spiral of anger and frustration.
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PLANNING (Implementation Intention): You will follow through 2X to 3X more likely to complete your weekly task than you normally would just by filling in the following statement.
PLANNING (Implementation Intention): You will follow through 2X to 3X more likely to complete your weekly task than you normally would just by filling in the following statement.
I plan to complete the weekly task [day] at [time] in [location].
A reminder you might have to use multiple Implementation Intentions in order to follow through.
EXECUTION (strategies used): From week to week, I use a combination of many strategies. There are always some which are used more than others depending on what comes up, but I wanted to offer a link to all them at once.
My advice is to identify the I CAN'T statement you tell yourself during the most. Then find a strategy below the statement which resonates with you, and then start using it.
Enjoy!
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