Quit or Create - Creative Problem Solving
When you crash into a mental brick wall do you quit or create? Are you reactive or proactive? Does victimhood suit you or do you reject it? Have you ever crashed? Most of us have. I certainly have. I've been in at least two car crashes, one plane crash (I lived), one motorcycle crash, a bus crash and I fell off the side of a very small mountain once. Oh, and I've been shot, but only once. That's when I stopped making statements like; 'I've got to get out more often.' Those experiences are why I'm so fond of the quote from Richard Bach's book 'Illusions.' 'If you're wondering if your mission on earth is complete and you're still here, it's not.' The kind of crash I'm writing to you about today is the mental kind. Physical survival can sometimes be easier on the soul than the extreme challenges that come from within. A mental crash is any negative event that isn't physical. A death of a loved one, the loss of a major client, the failure to make an important sale, disappointment in not getting a raise, the loss of a relationship from breakup to divorce are all mental crashes. You can also look at a myriad of daily challenges the same way. There are problems that seem unsolvable that defeat some people before any actual losses occur. Quit or create? When it comes to businesses, companies don't fail, people do. Whether you're a sole proprietor or part of a conglomerate, people determine direction, action and reaction. How we solve our problems and recover from crashes is as a result of our learning process. Some crash and quit. Some crash and create. When I began the seminar and then writing the book, 'How To Take No For An Answer And Still Succeed,' it was about creating after all kinds of crashes. Heck, I was an expert by then. Creativity has to be called upon to solve any problem - except when the solution is to quit. We have the power of amazing resilience. If it doesn't show up we can call it up. 6 Things You Can To Create Instead of Quitting: 1. First, accept what's happened. It has happened, that's it. Time to decide what's next.
2. Ask yourself if you're being reactive or proactive.
3. Then ask yourself this question, 'If I don't quit, what's the best thing that could happen to me?
4. Then this one, 'How can I make this better?' What can you do? Write out all the ideas you can think of, no matter how outrageous they seem.
5. Who can you call on for help or advice? Write out all the names you can think of. Scan your address book for more. Don't be afraid to ask. What's the worst thing they could say? NO! Big deal. If you have a problem with that be sure to read my book.
6. What positive action can you take NOW to improve your circumstances? When you get used to considering your options you won't be so likely to be reactive. In emergency situations you won't have time for this kind of thinking. But if you consider these things when you have the time, you'll be more likely to create positive actions under the most stressful conditions. The focus here, however, has to be on the crash and what you can do to recover. Part of our lessons in life is how we learn to avoid perilous situations. It doesn't mean they won't happen. My concentration is on what we do after they happen. Copyright 2006 All Rights Reserved You may duplicate this, but only in its entirety for distribution at no charge and with full attribution and disclosure. Tom Justin is the author of "How To Take No for An Answer And Still Succeed." He has coached, spoken and consulting with movie stars to international corporations. For Tom's free report, "How To Use The Power Of No," visit =>http://tomjustin.com. |
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