Here’s what to do to take either a business or personal problem and make it something that works for you.
You know the cliché when life gives you lemons, make lemonade? The most successful people I know take it a step further and turn that lemon into the foundation of an international juice conglomerate.
Another cliché explains both why they are able to do that and also their overall mind set. That cliché? There are no problems, only opportunities.
In the face of obstacles or setbacks, what these people do, in essence, is treat every roadblock as a gift.
That’s a great way of looking at the problems and surprises you’ll encounter in any endeavor, such as getting a new venture off the ground, or launching a product line in an ultracompetitive market.
Why take this approach? Because it works, whether we are talking about either personal or business setbacks.
Let’s deal with the business obstacles first, to see why.
First, you are going to find out eventually what people do and do not like about your idea. It’s better to learn these things as soon as possible, before you sink more resources into the concept, venture, or product line. You always want to keep potential losses to a minimum so that you can live to fight another day.
Second, the feedback could take you in another direction or help you set up a barrier to competition. You thought you wanted to start a restaurant downtown, but a quick survey showed you potential customers thought there were already enough places to eat. However, more than a few of the people you talked with said they would love a nearby place that offered high-end takeout, especially if it offered pre-made meals that they simply had to heat once they got home from a long day at work.
Third, you get evidence. True, it may not have been what you expected or hoped for, but that evidence puts you ahead of the person who is just thinking about doing something (like opening another restaurant.) You know something he doesn’t, and that is an asset. You are ahead of the game.
On the personal level, you could discover that your problem is one many people have. How many toys companies have been started because a parent was looking to entertain a cranky three-year-old? And how many new lines of food have been created by people who have dietary restrictions?
Maybe the fact that you came from what we euthanistically call a disadvantaged home gives you a drive to succeed that others simply don’t have.
Or the fact that you have been discriminated against, convinces you that you need to start your own company, so no one can arbitrarily stand in your way. You decide you don’t like the environment you are in, so you create a new one.
When I think of all this, here’s the metaphor that comes to mind. Did you ever watch a stream flow down hill? It gets around every obstacle in its path. Your role model is that stream—and the thousands of people who have come before you who have turned disabilities into advantages.
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