When you launch your business – your greatest opportunities will often be brilliantly disguised as impossible situations.
I shared earlier the “impossible” situation Janet Simpson found herself in on your way to the top – you might fall down. She finished her 5 mile race despite falling flat on her face and cracking several ribs. I shared how that’s the kind of tenacity you have to have to launch your own successful business.
Back in 1997- a series of minor “impossible” situations forced me to leave my “real job” in advertising and launch my own business. Along the way – I’ve experienced what seems like more than my fair share of impossible situations. One thing I’ve learned over the years is this:
Hidden deep inside each and every impossible situation is a great opportunity.
The key word above is “hidden”…. because for some mysterious reason great opportunities are rarely easily visible.
In order to find the great opportunity which lies hidden within your impossible situation – you’re going to have to dig.
You’re going to have to dig into that impossible situation with your bare hands because impossible situations rarely happen when you’re surrounded by the proper tools.
You’re going to have to dig through that impossible situation until your fingers are bleeding – and then you get to dig some more.
You will probably have to dig through layers of gunk and goo which makes raw sewage seem sweet in comparison – all in search of the golden nugget of opportunity which lies hidden within.
Og Mandino wrote:
“Your capacity for occasional blunders is inseparable from your capacity to reach your goals. No one wins them all, and your failures, when they happen, are just part of your growth. Shake off your blunders. How will you know your limits without an occasional failure? Never quit. Your turn will come.”
There is no way to ensure that you’ll never find yourself in an impossible situation – however you’ll reduce the odds of finding yourself there if you never take a risk.
My favorite saying lives on a coffee mug which reads, “What would you do today if you knew you could not fail?”
With that attitude – even the most impossible of situations becomes a treasure trove of opportunities.
Happy gold mining!
Great post. Indeed, one way to see the light is through the dark. Awesome.