Have you ever noticed how it’s easier to believe the negatives rather than the positives? If someone says something positive, they must want something, right? In the world today, we seem to be more negative than positive, more critical, looking for what’s wrong, rather than seeing what’s right.
The negative mindset means businesses are setup with legal and compliance to council you on the worst-case scenario. It means opportunities are often not sought after nor pursued. After all, compliance and legal are certain, opportunities are unknown. But opportunities lead to growth, success, fulfilment. If you want to take advantage of opportunities, you need to flip the mindset script and look for possibilities.
Take the following example:
“Two salesmen who went down to Africa in the 1900s. They were sent down to find if there was any opportunity for selling shoes, and they wrote telegrams back to Manchester. And one of them wrote, "Situation hopeless. Stop. They don't wear shoes." And the other one wrote, "Glorious opportunity. They don't have any shoes yet."
This is a great example of the power of possibilities. The two-shoe salesman have the same conditions, the market is the same, but the words they used has dramatically changed the outcome. One company is looking at how to sell shoes in Africa and the other has given up as the situation is hopeless! Can you imagine the difference in the results of the two companies?
In a culture of possibilities, you will be amazed at the opportunities which come your way. The company living the art of possibilities is also a lot more fun to work in; no doom and gloom; instead, opportunities, excitement and energy.
I experienced a great example of the power of possibilities. We had developed a drug that delivered a cure for a certain disease. There were competitors in the market and some even had a competitive advantage. So, we turned to possibilities. Instead of trying to get funding for our drug, what about the possibility of eradicating the disease once and for all?
We spoke with the government with the idea that we could eradicate it. Because of this mindset, an opportunity came up to present to the government.
We immediately began discussions with clinicians best positioned to present to the Govt on the disease. One of them, a key adviser to the government, and firmly loyal to our main competitor, was engaged to help us with our presentation. Through working with our team and getting the presentation done, he completely changed his view of our organization, in fact, he couldn’t believe the work we were doing to shape the environment for people living with a terrible disease. This was a game changer! He became a keynote speaker for us. We won the contract.
Possibilities allowed us to make our own luck. Possibilities are powerful things. When your thoughts become possibilities, imagine your destiny!
“Watch your thoughts, they become words; watch your words, they become actions; watch your actions, they become habits; watch your habits, they become character; watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”
-- FRANK OUTLAW