Obstacles as Opportunites

Original Post at: http://macromental.blogspot.com/2008/08/obstacles-as-opportunites.html

The Obstacle in Our Path

Long ago, a king had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock.

Some of the king's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the king for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the stone out of the way.

Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. On approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded.

As the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the king indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway. The peasant learned what many others never understand: Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve one's condition.

Although this may be a old fable,it highlights how a seemingly difficult problem can be a huge and profitable opportunity for you and your company. So, ask yourself what difficult problems or situations, that if you apply yourself and perhaps great effort, can be changed into in new break through or product?

Custom complaints, new competition, changes in the market, a loss of a big customer, these are all great catalysts to look at a situation a different way, and "discover" a new solution. Yes, it takes effort, but anything worthwhile in achieving, always does.

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