Success or F... - directedfocus

Some words, because of our associations with them, immediately conjure up words of the opposite meaning.

The words we choose, the way we phrase the problem we face, can close down our thinking and limit the possibilities that we are seeking to achieve.

"If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail"

Another way of saying it is ... "If you think with only one part of your mind or using the same approach, you will attempt to solve every problem the same way."

This quote does illustrate an important point: before jumping right into solving a problem, we should step back and invest time and effort to improve our understanding of it. To ensure we get a productive answer we need to reflect on the question we are asking.

At a recent business review I asked employees to brainstorm “ways to increase your productivity”, all I got back were blank stares.
So I rephrased my question ... “ways to make your jobs easier”, what a difference that made I couldn't write down the answers quickly enough.

Words carry implicit meanings and can change perceptions of what is the problem

In the example above, ‘be productive’ seemed like sacrifices they were making for their employer, while ‘make your job easier’ was more like something you’re doing for your own benefit, but from which the business also benefits. In the end, the problem is still the same, but the feelings — and the points of view — associated with each of them are vastly different.

How often do we play freely with the problem statement, rewording it several times. For a methodic approach, take single words and substitute variations. ‘Increase sales’?

Try replacing ‘increase’ with ‘attract’, ‘develop’, ‘extend’, ‘repeat’ and see how your perception of the problem changes.

A rich vocabulary plays an important role here, so you may want to use a thesaurus or develop your own vocabulary.

In the beginning

Back to my opening question which also lies at the meanings of words and the perceptions

Success comes with failure, as they are a pair. The second we figure we are a success, we aren't. The second we think we are a failure, we aren't.

The words fulfillment or achievement embraces the wholeness of the cycles of business, and life itself.

Everyone I know of who has achieved a lot in their life, has experienced lots of success and failure, but has lead a fulfilled life. The perspective in all of this is that the wave of up and down, highs and lows is part of nature. Spring and winter are the highs and lows of nature.

Next time you are facing a challenge in your business and need to clarify what the problem really is then begin by rephrasing or reframing the question.

A Different Optic

A young Irish priest asked his bishop, “May I smoke while praying?”

The answer was an emphatic “No!”

Later, when he sees an older priest puffing on a cigarette while praying, the younger priest scolded him, “You shouldn’t be smoking while praying! I asked the bishop, and he said I couldn’t do it!”

“That’s odd,” the old priest replied. “I asked the bishop if I could pray while I’m smoking, and he told me that it was okay to pray at any time!”

As this joke shows, the way you frame a problem profoundly influences the possible outcomes you get.

The same problem, when observed from a different angle can lead to a directly opposite interpretation!