“If you think you can do a thing
Or you think you can’t do a thing,
You’re right.”
~~ Henry Ford
What’s possible? ANYTHING!
Are you sitting there saying “Yeah, right (dripping with sarcasm)!”?
Or are you thinking “Hell Yeah (infused with enthusiasm)!”?
I would love to tell you I’m always in the “Hell Yeah” camp; however, honestly, that would be a bold face lie! And, yet, this is something I strive for.
Having and maintaining a positive attitude has so many benefits. It affects your health, your relationships and your work.
When you have a positive attitude, it is also much easier to see possibilities. I worked in the audit department for Fidelity Investments in Boston for a number of years. During this time, I was trained to look for the risks. Some folks would say considering the risks, hampers one’s ability to imagine the possibilities. However, it’s important to BALANCE the perceived risks with your positive attitude, in order to properly assess the possibilities.
Defining the positive outcomes of what’s possible can sometimes be less obvious than detailing the risks, at least that’s how it often is for me. Additionally, the negative charge of the risks can often overshadow the positive possibilities.
Right now, we are all immersed in the world of COVID-19. This is the perfect time to look at possibilities, as well as the risks. For example, many businesses are starting to do more things virtually, what risks might you see with this option? For example,
- the challenges of learning the technology needed to offer something virtually
- the effort of creating a compelling virtual event or product
- the potential feeling of rejection, if someone attends an event or purchases your virtual offering, but they don’t like it
- the possibility that your current clients will like your virtual offerings and decide not to do business with you in-person any longer, etc.
can have you tossing out a fantastic idea even before it’s even fully developed. Your gremlins (those pesky voices that can keep you stuck) will have you convinced there is nothing good about you stepping out of your comfort zone and sharing your knowledge virtually.
Taking the time to consider the positive outcomes of this possibility, such as:
- offering events or products during this unprecedented shutdown, as well as potential shutdowns, since we don’t know how this virus will behave through-out the year(s)
- expanding the geographic reach for your business
- being seen as a virtual expert, etc.
is important in order to quiet the loud voices of your gremlins.
Often taking a few minutes to implement the “ancient pros and cons list” approach can be very helpful in this situation because you get to see a comparison of the pros (positive outcomes) opposite the cons (risks) in black and white. Doing this exercise can yield a unique opportunity to potentially see a long list of risks that don’t hold a candle to the shorter more influential list of positive outcomes for a particular possibility.
When you begin thinking of the positive outcomes instead of ONLY focusing on the risks, you can have a more balanced perspective of what’s truly possible. And, when you begin to think IT IS POSSIBLE; you’ll find you’re RIGHT, it is possible!
