Tag Archives: obstacles

Prepare for Intensity

“These are three problems I see with the plan,” Stephan shared.

“Problems with the plan, or obstacles to face in the plan?” I asked.

“Obstacles, three big obstacles that will be tough to overcome,” he nodded. “But we have a mitigation strategy to work over, around or through, so I think we are under control.”

“What about the obstacles that are not part of your plan?” I pressed.

“I am sure there will be some hiccups,” Stephan agreed. “Something will happen that we don’t anticipate, something that we can’t prepare for.”

“Can’t prepare, or won’t prepare?” I replied.

“If we don’t know what it is, how can we prepare for it?” he wanted to know.

“We can mentally prepare, prepare for an increased pace, a practiced quality triage, improvisation of method. We may not know the real obstacles that lay ahead, but we can prepare with mental fitness. Because, yes, there will be unanticipated problems.”

Inner Dragon

“It’s impossible,” Cheri shook her head. “I don’t see how it can be done?”

“Lots of impossible things have been done in the past. We even went to the moon,” I suggested.

“Yes, but this project has all kinds of traps built inside. I can feel it,” she said.

“Are those traps real, or imagined?” I asked. “I mean, there are real hazards. We don’t have to jump off a cliff to understand that we cannot fly. But many trepidations are only in our imaginations. We see them as fire-breathing dragons.”

“And, now you are going to tell me that dragons don’t exist?” Cheri was skeptical.

“Oh, no. They exist alright and are very real to you. An inner dragon is the most fierce. And, the one dragon you must slay before you can move forward.”

The Source of Trouble

“Why the long face?” I asked.

Logan’s face tightened. “I’m struggling with a problem,” he finally said.

“Something not going your way?” I wanted to know.

“I’m not as selfish as that,” he replied. “It’s just not going the way I thought it should go.”

“There’s a gap between where you are and where you would like to end up?” I smiled. “And, that’s a problem?”

“Yes,” he nodded, pensively.

“Please understand, Logan, the way you think things ought to be, your goal, will determine the problems you have. And, you will define your problems and struggles in the same way. So, it is really important to examine your goals, the way you think things ought to be. For the way you think will determine the troubles you have.”

Fear and Hesitation

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“Let’s hear the self-talk,” I said.

Lucy began to describe her vision of the project as it would be completed. Her words were tentative. “When we finish the project, the new territory should be ours. The competitors will think twice about ignoring our expertise. The client should have a new-found respect for us.”

“Not bad, for starters,” I said. “I want you to try something different. Pretend the project is already finished. Close your eyes and visualize that we are one day beyond the project’s completion. Now open your eyes and describe it again.”

It took Lucy a moment for it to sink in. I could see her eyes blink hard as she moved her mind into the future. “We finished the project and the new territory is ours. The competitors cannot ignore our expertise in this marketplace. The client has a new-found respect for us.”

“Lucy, it is more than just confidence. What else is different when you talk like that?”

“When I transport myself into the future, all of the problems that get in the way and slow us down are gone. All of the hurdles have vanished.”

The power of visualization, to a real time in the future, works to conquer more than problems. It conquers the fear and hesitation of moving forward.