In business and in other aspects of life, most of us will face loosing a deal or a job. We may even face a tough time after a good deal goes south. I have been writing the last couple of weeks about my Baylor Bears men’s basketball team. They lost on Sunday (the women just won to advance to the Final Four!!). It was sad. I had a rough day on Monday. I spent much of the day pondering what it would have been like if the Bears would have made the Final Four/National Championship. That would have been a big deal. I know the team is heartbroken. They had a great season. Duke played a great game. Nothing else can be said.
As much time as I spent thinking about the game, I also thought about the players and coaches and what their “Monday” must have been like. I can guarantee it was worse than mine. My mind also wandered to those who are having a difficult time int he current economic climate. I am one of those. Most likely, you are too.
The question that arises is, how do we deal with these difficult times? What can we do to get beyond the disappointment, or embarrassment, or failure? I have come up with the following list, which is probably only a surface scratcher:
Breathe: Unless it is the most dire of circumstances, life will go on. The best idea is to take a deep breath and know that you’ve still got many other things to accomplish. Breathe . . . it feels good. Breathe again.
Put One Foot On The Floor And Step: There are mornings when I wonder if it is worth getting out of bed. I am always, 100% of the time, glad that I decided to get out of bed. Put one foot down, and then put the other one in front of it. Repeat it again and again. If you don’t take the first step, you’ll run the risk of being stuck pondering the could’ve beens and should’ve beens. Don’t waste time thinking of what could have been . . . Instead, try focusing on what will be because of the experiences you have gained.
Turn To Something That You Can Be Happy About: Perhaps you have family that you can lean on. Perhaps you have someone else who has had recent success. Try not to be resentful because your time will come soon. For now, just focus on others for a few days. If they are happy, you will be happy, too.
Set New Goals: Now the the disappointment is behind you, set some new goals. Where do you want to be in 6 months or one year. Even better, make a 5 year plan with many checkpoints outlined along the way. New goals will help you as you move forward. They will give you something to shoot for now!!
This may be a “duh” list or it may be a list that doesn’t seem all that involved. The reason is, because when you experience failure (which we all do), then there are only a few things you can do to get over it. And you must get over it because if you get stuck in the miry clay, then you are only wasting time. Take it from me. I have wasted time in the past and it only made a bad situation worse.
Collin W. Harbour
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