No matter what kind of business you are a part of, you are bound to face obstacles at some point. You will undoubtedly encounter some kind of limitation or challenge that aims to throw you off your path. Your job, however, is not to let that happen.
Phil Hansen, artist and motivational speaker extraordinaire, faced a major limitation after he suffered nerve damage to his hand. Rather than allowing this limitation to stop him from pursuing art, he used it to motivate himself to create better art. Here are a few tips on how you can approach your limitations and turn them into opportunities instead of roadblocks.
1. Define the Problem
First and foremost, you must figure out what the problem is and how it could possibly affect your business. When it comes to obstacles, it’s important to completely understand the problem so you can brainstorm different ways to approach it.
2. Maintain a Positive Outlook
After defining the problem, it is essential to remain positive and confident that everything will work out even if it may not seem that way at first. When faced with an obstacle, your first instinct may be fear. However, you should not let fear of the unknown take over. Instead of fearing the obstacle and what may come with it, you should view it as an opportunity to learn new things and test your skills.
3. Turn the Limitation Into an Opportunity
Along with maintaining a positive outlook, it is also important to take the next step and turn the limitation into an opportunity. Rather than allowing the obstacle to completely ruin your goals and actions, you should use the obstacle as a driving force behind your creativity, similar to the way Hansen did when he continued his art after his diagnosis. Follow Hansen’s example and turn your limitation into an opportunity instead of a roadblock. This will allow your business to continue moving forward, despite any challenges along the way.
4. Learn from Your Mistakes
When working to overcome obstacles, it is important to remember that mistakes happen — after all, you’re only human. You should take notes along the way so you can learn from your mistakes. This will allow you to figure out which strategies work and which do not work. Each mistake brings you one step closer to success, so don’t let one small mistake succeed in bringing you down.
5. Keep Trying
Sometimes, you might overcome an obstacle on the first try. Other times, it may take you two or three tries. If you don’t succeed at first, this does not mean you have failed. It simply means you should try again and approach the problem from a slightly different angle. Keep in mind that mistakes happen and it’s okay if things don’t go as planned. Keep trying until things work out in your favor and the problem is resolved.
Book Phil Hansen for an Interactive Experience
In his “Embrace the Shake: Transforming Limitations into Opportunities” program, Phil Hansen places an emphasis on overcoming limitations through his inspiring words and an optional interactive audience activity. This program is perfect for those who want to learn how to overcome obstacles and garner positive results for their business. Phil also offers, as an add-on cost, an interactive collaboration art experience. If you are interested in booking Phil Hansen for your next event, give us a call at 1.800.345.5607.
