tc…

One of the best questions to ask, one that I have found will always create options for you is: “Who else may have had this problem, and what did they do?”

Last week I picked Lee Iacocca’s autobiography from my bookshelf. Iacocca is one of the most widely recognised businessmen, who achieved the turnaround of a massively failing company and became its

As an adult, life can feel like a continuous series of problems. They simply never end! When you’re growing up, you exchange small problems with limited consequences for large problems with significant consequences.

And isn’t it canny how someone, a family member, a friend or a colleague, will always find a way to present you with “one of those big unsolvable problems” just at the worst possible time? Expecting you to have the answer on the spot?

So just how do you respond to these “big ones”?

In dealing with adversity effectively, your ability to ask questions is essential. Questions allow you to create opportunities, and opportunities give you choices. Having choices means you are not stuck, and you can take control. I have found the following series of questions, inspired by Stephen Covey, Brian Tracey and others, a great help:

First define: What exactly is the problem?
-What exactly are you worrying about?
-What’s the absolute worst thing that can happen in this situation?

Now go through the mental exercise of accepting that, no matter what you do, the absolute worst is going to happen.

Once you stop resisting the worst, you’ll find that you can relax and your mind will become clearer.

Then concentrate all your energy on making sure that the worst doesn’t happen;
-How can you minimize the consequences of the worst?
-What’s the first step you can take?
-What’s the second step? Who can help you? Etc…

One of the best questions to ask, one that I have found will always create options for you is: “Who else may have had this problem, and what did they do?”

Last week I picked Lee Iacocca’s autobiography from my bookshelf. Iacocca is one of the most widely recognised businessmen, who achieved the turnaround of a massively failing company and became its C

ems” just at the worst possible time? Expecting you to have the answer on the spot?

So just how do you respond to these “big ones”?

In dealing with adversity effectively, your ability to ask questions is essential. Questions allow you to create opportunities, and opportunities give you choices. Having choices means you are not stuck, and you can take control. I have found the following series of questions, inspired by Stephen Covey, Brian Tracey and others, a great help:

First define: What exactly is the problem?
-What exactly are you worrying about?
-What’s the absolute worst thing that can happen in this situation?

Now go through the mental exercise of accepting that, no matter what you do, the absolute worst is going to happen.

Once you stop resisting the worst, you’ll find that you can relax and your mind will become clearer.

Then concentrate all your energy on making sure that the worst doesn’t happen;
-How can you minimize the consequences of the worst?
-What’s the first step you can take?
-What’s the second step? Who can help you? Etc…

One of the best questions to ask, one that I have found will always create options for you is: “Who else may have had this problem, and what did they do?”

Last week I picked Lee Iacocca’s autobiography from my bookshelf. Iacocca is one of the most widely recognised businessmen, who achieved the turnaround of a massively failing company and became its

I have found the following series of questions, inspired by Stephen Covey, Brian Tracey and others, a great help:

First define: What exactly is the problem?
-What exactly are you worrying about?
-What’s the absolute worst thing that can happen in this situation?

Now go through the mental exercise of accepting that, no matter what you do, the absolute worst is going to happen.

Once you stop resisting the worst, you’ll find that you can relax and your mind will become clearer.

Then concentrate all your energy on making sure that the worst doesn’t happen;
-How can you minimize the consequences of the worst?
-What’s the first step you can take?
-What’s the second step? Who can help you? Etc…

One of the best questions to ask, one that I have found will always create options for you is: “Who else may have had this problem, and what did they do?”

Last week I picked Lee Iacocca’s autobiography from my bookshelf. Iacocca is one of the most widely recognised businessmen, who achieved the turnaround of a massively failing company and became its

olute worst is going to happen.

Once you stop resisting the worst, you’ll find that you can relax and your mind will become clearer.

Then concentrate all your energy on making sure that the worst doesn’t happen;
-How can you minimize the consequences of the worst?
-What’s the first step you can take?
-What’s the second step? Who can help you? Etc…

One of the best questions to ask, one that I have found will always create options for you is: “Who else may have had this problem, and what did they do?”

Last week I picked Lee Iacocca’s autobiography from my bookshelf. Iacocca is one of the most widely recognised businessmen, who achieved the turnaround of a massively failing company and became its

tc…

One of the best questions to ask, one that I have found will always create options for you is: “Who else may have had this problem, and what did they do?”

Last week I picked Lee Iacocca’s autobiography from my bookshelf. Iacocca is one of the most widely recognised businessmen, who achieved the turnaround of a massively failing company and became its Chairman - of the Chrysler Corporation. No doubt he had many “big ones” crop up on a daily basis. Yet he dealt with them effectively. My book opened on one of those well worn pages, and under my nose, one of my favourite quotes read:

“We are continually faced with great opportunities brilliantly disguised as unsolvable problems.”

So next time one of your friends or family presents you with one of those “big ones”, try the steps above, and then ask “what great opportunities are lurking behind this one?”

If opportunities are hiding – you will find them! Enjoy the challenge!