The biggest difference between winners and losers is their
ability to cope with adversity.
Life is going to throw problems in your path. Sometimes the
challenges will be physical, other times they will be
financial. Sometimes they will be difficult people, or a
natural disaster like a fire or earthquake, but sooner or
later, life challenges each of us. And here's a key point:
Our response to "small" challenges is a much better
predictor of our long-term success than our response to the
so-called "disasters" in life.
Disasters are big! We can't deny or avoid them; we MUST
deal with them. When our home catches fire or an accident
puts us in the hospital, everyone understands that we MUST
deal with these things.
It is no accident that Winston Churchill described the
Battle of Britain as "their finest hour." When emergencies
strike, we rise to the occasion.
The real test is with the "termites," the "little things"
that are so easy to ignore. Things like paying our bills
and living within our means. Things like managing our
weight and staying fit. Things like time for loved ones,
for rest and renewal.
These things are not dramatic and they are not urgent. We
can delay taking time for our kids. We can neglect our
health for a long time before obvious problems occur.
Recently I saw a biography of Donald Rumsfield, and one of
the points they made is that he "moves toward problems; he
never turns his back or walks away." That is a sound
strategy!
High achievers in life expect challenges. They know that as
they move forward in life, problems will occur. Unexpected
things will happen, and they maintain an attitude of
optimism, humor, strength and resolve in the face of
difficulties. They know that as they become ever more
successful, the size and complexity of their problems will
grow. How could it be any other way?
So, here are a couple of keys to solving problems:
1. Expect difficulty! This is no surprise, it is not
"unfair" or unusual. Life is complicated. Get good at it.
2. Keep a buffer around the edges of your life. Maintain a
"reserve" of extra time, savings in the bank, and a bit of
energy to handle the unexpected.
3. An attitude of optimism and enthusiasm is essential.
4. View difficulties as "challenges" or "learning
opportunities" rather than as problems. How we talk about
our difficulties makes a huge difference in how we handle
them. Words matter!
5. "We get by with a little help from our friends." Have a
team of cheerleaders, experts and colleagues to help you
understand and over-come any problem.
6. Be proactive. Take care of problems while they are
small. Preventive maintenance is good for your car, your
relationships and your heart.
7. Learn from every experience and (try) not to have the
same problems twice. Learn from difficulties, make changes,
and move on. Never repeat the same life-lesson!
The key is understanding how life really works, that
challenges are how we learn and grow. Life is about what we
learn and what we learn to do. Expect "interesting"
situations. Taking them in stride builds your confidence.
Never fear trouble; expect to triumph over it!
ability to cope with adversity.
Life is going to throw problems in your path. Sometimes the
challenges will be physical, other times they will be
financial. Sometimes they will be difficult people, or a
natural disaster like a fire or earthquake, but sooner or
later, life challenges each of us. And here's a key point:
Our response to "small" challenges is a much better
predictor of our long-term success than our response to the
so-called "disasters" in life.
Disasters are big! We can't deny or avoid them; we MUST
deal with them. When our home catches fire or an accident
puts us in the hospital, everyone understands that we MUST
deal with these things.
It is no accident that Winston Churchill described the
Battle of Britain as "their finest hour." When emergencies
strike, we rise to the occasion.
The real test is with the "termites," the "little things"
that are so easy to ignore. Things like paying our bills
and living within our means. Things like managing our
weight and staying fit. Things like time for loved ones,
for rest and renewal.
These things are not dramatic and they are not urgent. We
can delay taking time for our kids. We can neglect our
health for a long time before obvious problems occur.
Recently I saw a biography of Donald Rumsfield, and one of
the points they made is that he "moves toward problems; he
never turns his back or walks away." That is a sound
strategy!
High achievers in life expect challenges. They know that as
they move forward in life, problems will occur. Unexpected
things will happen, and they maintain an attitude of
optimism, humor, strength and resolve in the face of
difficulties. They know that as they become ever more
successful, the size and complexity of their problems will
grow. How could it be any other way?
So, here are a couple of keys to solving problems:
1. Expect difficulty! This is no surprise, it is not
"unfair" or unusual. Life is complicated. Get good at it.
2. Keep a buffer around the edges of your life. Maintain a
"reserve" of extra time, savings in the bank, and a bit of
energy to handle the unexpected.
3. An attitude of optimism and enthusiasm is essential.
4. View difficulties as "challenges" or "learning
opportunities" rather than as problems. How we talk about
our difficulties makes a huge difference in how we handle
them. Words matter!
5. "We get by with a little help from our friends." Have a
team of cheerleaders, experts and colleagues to help you
understand and over-come any problem.
6. Be proactive. Take care of problems while they are
small. Preventive maintenance is good for your car, your
relationships and your heart.
7. Learn from every experience and (try) not to have the
same problems twice. Learn from difficulties, make changes,
and move on. Never repeat the same life-lesson!
The key is understanding how life really works, that
challenges are how we learn and grow. Life is about what we
learn and what we learn to do. Expect "interesting"
situations. Taking them in stride builds your confidence.
Never fear trouble; expect to triumph over it!
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