TRANSFORMING BIG OBSTACLES INTO BIG OPPORTUNITIES
Most of us in business have had turning points where the failure of losing a job or company opened the door to a great opportunity.
Although it doesn't feel that way at the time it happens, failures teach us our greatest lessons and we can parlay them to achieving great success.
In my book, Pathfinding, Seven Principles for Positive Living, my father tells this story that was handed down to him. It speaks to transforming obstacles into opportunities.
"One day the owner of the building tells his caretaker that he must go out of town for a day, but that he expects a most important letter. He informs the caretaker that he must make sure he gets the registeredletter himself because it is a very important letter.
The owner leaves the next morning. That afternoon the letter is delivered, butrequires a signature.The caretaker tells the postman that he doesn’t know how to write. The postman explains that he must obtain an actual signature, no marks or X’s. Since the caretaker can’t write, the postman refuses to leave the letter.
When the owner returns and learns what happened, he becomes furious and fires the caretaker on the spot. The caretaker finds himself without a job and without an income.
To support his meager existence, he starts peddling whatever goods and services he can to survive. His business begins to grow and improves to the point that he is able to open a little store.
By the time his sons are old enough to help him,he has become well established. The sons inherit the business when the caretaker retires and decide to build a larger store. They ask their father to help them borrow the money to finance their ambitious undertaking.
The father asks the banker for the loan and the banker says, “No problem. You can have whatever you need. Just sign on the dotted line.”The caretaker looks at the banker and replies, “I can’t sign. I never learned how to write.” In astonishment, the banker asks, “How is it possible that a man who can’t write could amass the wealth that you have?”
“Ah,” says the caretaker, “If I could write, I’d still be a caretaker.”
So many of the experts and authors I have interviewed have overcome circumstances in their own lives that have led them to their passion, cause, work and often writing a book.
We all have challenges, some bigger than others. We can all learn and grow and go on to do great things. It takes courage, belief, support, and grace.
