Crisis: Danger or Opportunity?

I have often heard motivational speakers say that the word crisis in Chinese means both danger and opportunity. In investigating the facts, I have found running arguments on the web as to whether or not this is true. I personally do not speak Chinese and am certainly not an expert on this matter.

But whether itâ??s true or not, this I know to be true; a crisis is an opportunity. Itâ??s all in how you view it. And how you view it, makes all the difference.

I can only speak from my own experience, so let me share my own story. I recently faced a business crisis. My first physical reaction was one of stress. All kinds of thoughts went through my head and most of them were in the form of questions. Andrew Morrison, founder of Small Business Camp(www.smallbusinesscamp.com) says â??Questions are sometimes more powerful than answers.â??

Why? Because the questions you ask will determine the solutions you seek and they can turn a crisis into an opportunity. How so? Letâ??s take the common questions many business owners probably ask themselves.

1. Why is this happening to me?
2. Am I in the wrong business?
3. Why is/are he/she/they doing this to me?
4. What did I do wrong?
5. Why didnâ??t I see that coming?

These questions promote answers that are full of blame, self-doubt, rash decisions and feelings of victimization. They do not lend themselves to quality solutions and promote stress. We all know that stress kills! An article called â??Stressâ?? on the American Diabetes Associationâ??s website (www.diabetes.org/type-1-diabetes/stress.jsp) says, â??Stress hormones that are designed to deal with short-term danger stay turned on for a long timeâ??. Another story on Fox News entitled â??Did Sept. 11 Cause Heart Attacks? â?? (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,103030,00.html) states â??stress increases the risk of heart attacks and arrhythmiaâ??.

When facing a crisis donâ??t respond with a knee-jerk reaction. Take a moment to breathe and relax. It is more than likely not a danger requiring a fight or flight response. Fight or flight responses have their place. But they should only be used where they are needed like getting out of the way of a speeding vehicle or getting away from some other immediate life threatening danger. As long as you are not facing a situation like this, take a moment! You owe it to yourself.

Now make a paradigm shift, changing your view of the situation. Sometimes we take things very personally. We view a comment or an action as a personal affront. But there can be a million reasons as to why something is happening to you and none of it may be related to anything you have done or said and may be motivated by something going on with the other party. Donâ??t take it personally.

A crisis may be an opportunity for you to change or improve, create better procedures or even make a life change. The events of 9/11 were a terrible tragedy. We all agree on that. However, it became an opportunity for this country to examine its current operating procedures and security, asking better questions of its leaders and requiring people to pay closer attention to whatâ??s happening at home and abroad. Many people, once passive or indifferent, are now actively working on making this country and the world a better place.

If the country can face such a devastating event like 9/11 and still pick up the pieces as a whole, make changes and hopefully move in a better direction, then why not you? It all begins with asking better questions from the beginning. Be aware of what you are saying to yourself and change the direction if itâ??s not positive. This is not burying your head in the sand, this is setting yourself up to take immediate action in the right direction.

Now letâ??s look at a list of three solution-oriented questions:

1. What would be the best way for me to handle this?
2. How can I make to prevent this from happening again?
3. What should I do for myself so that I can move forward?

Your self-talk can spur you to success with action or cut you off at the pass and kill progressive solutions. Robert Kiyosaki, of Rich Dad Poor Dad fame, says "Don't say that you "can't" afford it... say, how "can" I afford it." This approach spurs you to a solution. The other approach shuts you down.

A great tactic, if this crisis involves someone else, would be to ask for a moment if possible. Genuinely promise to address the situation and get back to them at a specific time or day. This gives you a chance to regroup and come up with a viable solution.

For me, taking this approach was a chance for me to do something I knew I needed to do. Create more detailed procedures and processes. It opened the way for growth in my business. But the most noticeable personal benefit was that it changed the way I physically felt and created a relaxed, less stressed business owner with a positive attitude toward the future and positive, productive solutions. I challenge you to try this approach the next time you face a crisis and see if it can work for you.

Gayle Santana is the owner of The PVS Network and The PVS Network Virtual Call Center helping business owners everywhere focus on the bottom line! http://www.pvsnetwork.com; gayle@pvsnetwork.com

---

Top Ten Tips for Living Authentically

1. Know your purposeAre you wandering through life with little... Read More

Dont Be Jealous - Be Inspired

When we see people do things we cannot do, or... Read More

COACHING: When it?s Beyond Oprah and Dr. Phil

How many more servings of the daytime self-help salad will... Read More

Lovers Remorse

Direct Answers - Column for the week of July 29,... Read More

Its Only Adult ADD-What A Relief!

For most of her fifty years, Barbara was at war... Read More

Make Your Life Easier?

'Have you read the Art of War?' someone asked me... Read More

Curbing the Public Nuisance (Part 2)

Yes, that pillar of society that has been with us... Read More

Let Go of Your Past

People have a difficult time letting go of the past... Read More

The Tolerance Effect

While working with a client several months ago, we went... Read More

Personal Life Coaching And How It Can Help You

Coaching is an effective process used to support individuals in... Read More

Avoid the Tendency to Underestimate Your Greatness

As a whole I think there is a sad tendency... Read More

A Visualization Exercise on Managing Expectations for Adults with ADD

As adults with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), we often find... Read More

How to Make $100,000 Dollars as a Personal Trainer ? Part B for Business!

My name is Greg Ryan. For the last twenty years... Read More

How to Give Yourself a Check Up From the Neck Up

When was the last time you did some dedicated physical... Read More

6 Practices for Achieving Excellent Self-Care

Adults with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) often feel like they... Read More

The Best Things in Life Are Rarely Things

Have you ever noticed this to be true?The best things... Read More

Pecked to Death By Ducks

Ever been in a situation where it seems like minor... Read More

Good Communication is Easy - Isn?t It?

My name is Steve Brummet and my business is to... Read More

Why?

I met Sean a year and a half ago in... Read More

Feeling Self-Conscious? 6 Tips to Turn it Around Fast!

When you feel self-conscious it means you are putting too... Read More

The Enchantment of Tribes to Belong To

I am remembering and have a desire to share with... Read More

How to Deal Effectively with Anxiety

Every human feels anxiety on occasion; it is a part... Read More

Coaching Skills and Positive Motivation

There is one important point that is often missed in... Read More

How to Tune In Your Brain & Feel Confident with People in Moments

One day when I was in school, many years ago,... Read More

Bringing Forgiveness Down To Earth

What does it mean to forgive?One of the first things... Read More

Moment of Magic

Laughter may or may not be a shock, relieved, but... Read More

Simple Tips to Move Forward on the Job

Someone I know wants to move into another job in... Read More

4 Quick, Easy Ways to Say No to People Who Take You for Granted

No matter how wonderful you are sometimes other people will... Read More

Empowering Vision

Playing Our Part:Sir Michael Costa was conducting a rehearsal, in... Read More

Whats in it for me if I Hire A Coach?

1. An unshakable foundation:Create and build your life from the... Read More

A Coaching Secret

I've told people for a long time that one of... Read More

Whats Next Syndrome

Terms like Postpartum, Post Traumatic and Post Gulf War are... Read More

Is Your Life Coach Manipulating You? Five Signs to Watch For

Did you hire a "life coach" to help you sort... Read More