Debra Kasowski

EPISODE 171 – See Your Challenges as Opportunities

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“Every crucial experience can be regarded either as a setback, or the start of a wonderful new adventure, it depends on your perspective!
-Mary Roberts Rinehart

Are you responding or reacting to life circumstances? Life happens. The attitude and perceptive you take makes all the difference. There are tragic events going on around the world. We are inundated with negative messaging from media – “fear producers” and toxic people in our lives. However, no matter what challenge you face whether it be getting out of debt, finding a new job or your next client, or taking the big leap from your day job to going full-time into your side hustle, these are all opportunities for you to do things differently than before to get different results.

What are some of the challenges you are facing right now?

Challenge: Finding new clients.

Opportunity: Start getting clear on your avatar – who you are serving. Explore and attend new networking opportunities.

Challenge: Lost your job.

Opportunity: New Beginnings. Start the new business you dreamed of. Go back to school and do something different. Work in a different industry.

Challenge: Change jobs and take a pay cut.

Opportunity: Declutter your home. Sell things you no longer need or want. Start cooking gourmet at home.

How you see your challenges directly affects how you face them. It is the challenges that show up in our lives that test our limits and what we are truly capable of. People get so comfortable staying in their comfort zones that they avoid challenges and therefore miss opportunities. If you want to inspire others, live an inspiring life. Lead by example and face challenges as opportunities for you to learn and grow. When you stay in your comfort zone, you fail to discover what you are capable of.

“Life’s ups and downs provide windows of opportunity to determine your values and goals-think of using all obstacles as stepping stones to build the life you want.”
-Marsha Sinetar

One thing I know for sure is that if you do not challenge yourself the universe finds a way to ensure you are growing. Why not challenge yourself to new heights? You are not the same person you were a year ago. Everyone faces different challenges yet how you face your challenges makes a big difference.

During this past year, I decided to run a half marathon. I knew as soon as I made the decision and paid my registration it was done. Was this a challenge for me? Absolutely, physically and mentally. I had not run more than 10K in my life. I had trained here and there with a hectic schedule. When race day came, I was calm knowing that I was going to accomplish the half marathon now it was a matter of getting it done. As we ran about an hour in, my mind was saying, “That was nice what’s next.” This is because this was where that 10K comfort was. I knew I need to keep going. I told myself that there was no other way back then to run/walk it back. I finished…I completed a half marathon. I had never had a strong desire to do one in the past but why not challenge myself. Challenges are about seeing what you are made of. Opportunities are showing what you made of.

Years ago, a business venture went bad. I felt frustrated and defeated, “How could I allow this to happen?” I went into 20K in debt and had to find a way to climb out of it. I rose up to the challenge. I needed to find a solution. I worked extra hours in my nursing position at the time and hired a coach. Every month I put a chunk of money on the debt and paid my coach. It did not resolve in 2-3 months. I worked with my coach for one year to get my mindset back in the right place and grew my side hustle business. I paid off the debt within 4 years. I could have had a new car or a Masters degree. No, the school of hard knocks had a different plan. Yes, I had moments telling myself how foolish I was. But really what does that do for you? Nothing. The learning I took away was priceless. I learned more about running a business, finances, partnerships, and decision-making. I had the opportunity to become a better version of myself, set realistic goals, and build strong relationships.

It was pointed out to me that I regularly put out challenges for myself. I never really took stock of doing that and yes, I do! I want to see what I can do. I focus on what is possible and the opportunities that could exist around them.

Every person is facing a challenge of some kind. If not, hold on there may be one coming. Whatever challenge you are facing right now, know that there is an opportunity waiting to be discovered. Step out of your comfort zone. Grow. Learn. Discover who you truly are.

We would love to have you subscribe to the Success Secrets newsletter on my website at www.debrakasowski.com where you’re going to get my just release FREE e-book about the 21 Habits High Achievers Kick to Achieve Success. I would love to hear about this podcast has impacted your life. E-mail me at Debra@DebraKasowski.com. Thank you for listening to The Millionaire Woman Show where we talk about leadership, business, and human potential to help you live rich from the inside out. Subscribe to The Millionaire Woman Show. Share it with Your Friends. Give us a 5-star rating!

DEBRA KASOWSKI, BScN CEC is an award-winning best-selling author, transformational speaker, blogger, and Certified Executive Coach. She has a heart of a teacher and is certified in Appreciative Inquiry and Emotional Intelligence. Her writing has been published in a variety of print and online magazines. Debra Kasowski International helps executives, entrepreneurs, and organizations boost their productivity, performance, and profits. It all starts with people and passion. Sign up the Success Secrets Newsletter and get your free e-book download today! www.debrakasowski.com

I Can See Clearly Now

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I am in the midst of obtaining my certification in Emotional Intelligence and we were discussing the downsides of possessing too much of a strong characteristic. It got me thinking about a blog post I recently wrote called Time to Shift from Challenges to Opportunity. I am not second guessing what I wrote, however, I can see how people may see me as somewhat of a Pollyanna or someone wearing rose coloured glasses or even a blue sky thinker.

I do believe that you can create some of your circumstances with the power of your mind and how you respond to situation. In the Emotional Intelligence psychometric tool (EQi 2.0), there is a sub-scale or competency called reality testing. According to Stein and Book (2006), “The best simple-sentence definition of reality testing is that it is capacity to see things objectively, the way things are, rather than the way we wish or fear them to be.” Reality testing is important but I do not think it should stop people from dreaming and creating a business, shifting the culture of an industry, or creating a life you love.

Courtesy of Scott Chan/freedigitalphotos.net
Courtesy of Scott Chan/freedigitalphotos.net

Develop Clarity. It is important for you to assess where you are and know where it is you want to go. Once you develop clarity about what it is you want, you will be able to start seeing the “how” in which you wish to get there.

Be Open to Opportunity. I cannot stress this enough from the previous blog post. I want you to know no matter what circumstances you find yourself in that you always have choices and options. You can either choose to do something differently or the situation may force you into doing something different. How do I know this? Think about all the choices you have made to get you to where you are today.

Watch the Words You Use. Your thoughts, feelings, and behavior affect the actions that you take. If you focus on challenges, you may miss the opportunity waiting in the wings.

Ask Others for Their Insight but Make Your Own Decision. You probably have heard the saying, “You are so close to the situation, you cannot see the forest through the trees.” When you are the the midst of a situation, it may be difficult for you to either see the situation for what it is or the big picture as to how it impacts yourself or others. You may have exhausted ideas and hit the wall and do not know where to turn.

Some people think asking for assistance is a weakness, whereas, I see it as one of the powerful things a person can do. Asking others for their perspective can help you challenge assumptions and perhaps see a different perspective. A story I love to share is one I read long ago in an Anthony Robbins book where Walt Disney asked his employees input into a dilemma or creative idea. Employees submitted idea after idea. Not only did he empower his employees, he reviewed all these ideas and it helped him become one of the innovative leaders of the century.

If you are facing a challenge, try testing your reality. Do you see one of the challenges you face as a true fact or do you see as an opportunity to do something differently? Believe me, I catch myself when I start viewing situations as challenges and setbacks. I also need to remind myself to look at the possibilities and opportunities before me. Situations are temporary – both positive and negative. I will start to plan, prepare, and challenge myself to rise above the situation and you can too.

Courtesy of graur codrin/freedigitalphotos.net
Courtesy of graur codrin/freedigitalphotos.net

I can see clearly now – I chose to look at the bright side. When you focus on the strengths and the clear vision you have for yourself, opportunities will start to present themselves.

What do you see? What choice will you make?

Share this blog post with others so they too can see clearly now.

Stein, Steven J. and Book, Howard E. (2006) The EQ Edge: Emotional Intelligence and Your Success. 3rd edition.John Wiley & Sons Canada. Mississauga, Ontario.

 

 

 

 

 

 

What Are You Waiting For?

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My role as a speaker, author, and business, executive and entrepreneurial coach is to help people really get clear on the direction that they want to go. Often, they are faced with a challenge in their immediate time frame. They are trying to figure out ways to move forward to and move through to breakthrough. So many times I find people are waiting. Waiting for opportunities to be brought to them on a silver platter!

Well, sometimes you need to go out there and create your opportunities. You need to start sharing what it is you want to go after.  There are people along the way who are willing to help you but if you are not willing to share what it is you are after – how do these people know how to help you?

The other thing is being very focused on what it is you want to achieve. What are things you need to do and be- to get there? How do you need to show up? Think about those things – waiting does not get you anywhere.

By taking persistent action and moving forward toward your goal, you create something to look forward to. The thrill of anticipation will be your motivator. Think about how things could work for you to move forward. Whether it is something in your life that you know there is one thing – that if you did this one thing it would change everything. It would create a shift whether it be in your family life, your personal life or in your business. How do you need to be to make things happen?

The question is “Why Wait?”. Create your opportunities and make the shift inside yourself. Become more aware of the opportunities already around you. There are probably many around you right now and the door is open.

But if you wait too long the door is going to close.

So take the opportunities and grab your silver platter. Make your day happen by creating those opportunities for yourself.

Why wait?

What opportunities are you creating for yourself?