We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.
-Randy Pausch
As a business coach I work with highly talented, diverse entrepreneurs. In order to provide the best coaching for each one, it is useful to step back to observe how the client deals with challenges. In regards to solving challenges, there is no one way suits all response to a challenge. I find that many of my clients think there is a manual about what they should do to be successful, but it must be a secret manual since they haven’t been able to buy it at the bookstore. The result is torturous hours of second guessing about what is the right thing to do in order to succeed and turn the challenge into a success.
When I find one of my clients in the grip of this, I suggest that he begin to look at why he is responding to the next challenge that way. Another way to say it is, what is the payoff in the delaying technique of second guessing yourself? What is keeping you from being in action right now?
Usually, the blocking point is you are afraid you will do the wrong thing. If you do the wrong thing, you will waste his time and money, if you waste time and money then you will fail. The result is that everything stops. It is a vicious circle of spinning wheels. The fastest way to get out of the spin is to be courageous and do something even if it’s wrong. If you do something wrong then you know that that action doesn’t work; you still have a number of actions to try, one of which will always lead you to meeting the challenge.
The point, as Randy Pausch said, is how we play the hand. Do we hide in indecision or do we move boldly forward. I am betting you choose the latter because you prefer action not indecision. You are brave and a winner.
I am here in the stands cheering for you!
Image courtesy of hin255 at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
