The Second Step in Finding Hidden Opportunity

This is a continuation of Friday's post, an answer to a reader's question about how to find opportunity when it seems there is none.

The first step, remember, is to acknowledge that clouds really do have silver linings. Economic corrections always bring opportunities to shift wealth. In my July newsletter, I shared a brief story about my violinist/lutier/entrepreneur friend, Chris. He's a total Renaissance man Di Medici style.

What most people don't know about Chris, is that he made money before he migrated to the U.S., while he was a young man in communist Poland. He was part of a popular band which travelled throughout the then-Soviet bloc. And yes he made good money, cash. After a while he decided that he wanted to chuck it all and try making his fortune in a place where you could speak your mind freely (unless you work at a public university, that is.)

So, first you gotta get clear that opportunity is out there.

The second step is to listen carefully to what people are complaining about. This tip I heard from Joe Vitale, who heard it while on Donny Deutch's television show. If you listen carefully to what people are complaining about, and think about it, you can come up with solutions to those complaints. (Don't worry the supply of human complaining is an infinite resource.)

So, if people are complaining that they don't know where to invest their money, you can suggest an investment alternative - maybe your start-up company.

If people are complaining about how unnatural our food is, start an organic garden.

If people are complaining about lousy service, make your service spectacular.

If people are complaining about how badly their children treat them, give a workshop on raising delightful children.

Get it?

It's not an overnight process, but it is a great way to live - looking for hidden opportunities.

The First Step to Find the Hidden Opportunity

Today's post is my response to a reader's question, "How exactly do you find the positive spin when things look so negative?" I'm delighted to answer.

(Feel free to email me a question anytime, and I will fashion my answer into a blog post.)

To begin to answer today's question, you have to accept that there IS an opportunity in a situation, whether or not you see it. I love what Napoleon Hill wrote on this topic:

Inside every diversity lies the seed of an equal or greater benefit.

But before you find the benefit, or the opportunity, you have to really think it's there.

To help you accept this truth, recall an unfortunate event from your past. It can be personal or business. See if you can see that some good came out of that situation, even though it looked like a total failure at one point.

Here is one my favorite examples, even though it's not from my own life.

In March, my brother, the one who lives in Houston, stopped by for a visit on his way to training at UNC-CH. This brother of mine is the top technology person at several billion dollar company. This company is in the funeral home business. So, right away I made some comment about his industry being recession-proof. I mean, how can you stop the death rate, right?

Imagine my surprise when he told me that things were so bad he was expecting an across-the-board pay cut. It turns out that not only are people spending less on funerals these days, but that PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY LIVING LONGER.

One way people are reacting to our economic adjustment is by engaging in fewer riskier behaviors. We're eating out less, staying home more. And living longer. Who knew?

If you accept that whatever ickiness you're facing contains an opportunity for good, you will find it.

What It Means to Be Crystal Clear

Confidence is a magnet in the best sense of the word -- it will draw people to you and make your daily life --and theirs -- a lot more pleasant. Donald Trump

Being clear is a huge confidence booster.

Being clear is essential for effective and productive communication.

So, what does it really mean to be clear? I know we all have an idea of what we want: less work, more pay, robust health, good relationships.

Having a generalized concept of what you want is life is the beginning of clarity, but it is not the whole enchilada. You need to think at a more micro level - about specifically what you are willing to do to achieve your goals, and what you are willing to put up with from others in the process.

If you think about these things in advance, then when the inevitable issues and problems appear, you're in a much better place to deal with them and move foreward.

If you are absolutely certain what your objective is in any speaking situation, you are much closer to hitting a home run.

Here are some questions to get you started thinking about how clear you really are:

- Do you have some time each week to think about what is working well and what isn't"

- Are you aware of things that habitually seem to trigger situations that bring you down, or bring out your worst?

- Are you getting enough rest?

- Can you describe in detail your ideal client?

- While everything in your life may not unfold each day exactly as planned, are you certain that you're on the right road and making definite progress?

The challenge with answering these questions is that you realize that you may have to do something uncomfortable, or something that you know people you love will not understand or support.

But that's what it is to be a confident person. You think things through, and make decisions and accept the fallout. That's why most people are afraid of getting too clear about things. That comfort zone may be tiny and restrictive, but it is comfortable!

Habits that Make You Powerful

Aristotle noted that excellence was not a one-time big event, but rather a series of decisions and commitments that added up to a lifetime of excellence. Note that a life of excellence is not synonymous with a life of being perfect.

One of the many things I've learned from Jack Canfield also relates to habits. He suggests making 4 new habits each year. I'm not that systemic about it yet but I keep making some small-but-powerful adjustments to my habits that are paying off. Adjusting your current set of habits is easier than starting new ones, but I'm not saying not to invite a new habit into your life.

Habit of Exercise

I've always been an exerciser. It helps me in so many ways. Over the last three years or so, swimming has been my "big" exercise, while walking is my "small" exercise. I used to do one or the other on most evenings.

About a month ago, I switched to the morning. Small change, big impact.

I hesitated to do this for a long time because I'm a morning person, not a night owl. I thought it was best to use my prime morning hours for my important tasks of writing and teaching.

These are some of the benefits of exercising in the morning, rather than in the evening.

1. You get to feel superior all day long.

2. My energy actually lasts longer in the day, I'm able to get more work done.

3. I exercise on more days because it's over with so early, the unexpected events have less chance of derailing me.

4. The gym is not so crowded; the morning air is cool. (Not sure how I'll like this in the winter.)

5. You're in really good company when you exercise in the morning. That's when most high-impact people get in their workouts. Donald Trump, fyi, gets up every morning at 5 AM.

Based on my work with clients, here are some areas in which you may want to rethink your own daily habits:

• Blocking out your week in advance.
• Committing to better presentations.
• Downloading professional photos for your visual support.
• Time for fun.
• Saying "no."
• Healthier food substitutions.
• Setting aside money to work for you.

If you're not sure which habits you want to refine right now, revisit your list of goals. You'll know what to do.

Your power comes from realizing that you decide, you commit, you achieve.

10 Things I Hate About Your Presentation

1. You seem to know, or care, nothing about me. It's all about you. So, I text away, waiting for you to finish and go home.

2. You talk too much. It takes you forever to get your thought across. It seems like it never occurred to you to try to get to the point and save us both some time.

3. You seem fake.

4. You have way too much text on your Power Points. Do you think I can't read? Why don't you just send me an email with all this data dump on it, instead of wasting my time and energy?

5. You're trying too hard. If you're product or service is so remarkable, why can't you relax about it?

6. You use stupid clip art in your visual support. Give me a break! Either take the trouble to find some great visual image, or leave it out. Power Point is not the only way to visually support your message, btw.

7. You talk too fast. You're giving me a lot of data, but I don't get what's in it for me. I'm kinda confused. Confused people don't usually buy.

8. You're playing with coins in your pocket. Unreal!

9. You're pushing me too hard. I love to buy, I hate to be sold. If your stuff is so great, why are you pressuring me to sign today?

10. You're boring. Wake me up when it's over. Don't let the door hit on the way out.

Leverage the Magic of Metaphors

A metaphor is worth 1,000 pictures. Daniel Pink

The greatest thing by far is to be a master of metaphor. It is the one thing that cannot be learned from others; and it is also a sign of genius, since a good metaphor implies intuitive perception of the similarity in dissimilars. Aristotle

And you thought you were done with metaphors when you graduated from college. Nope. Not really.

Metaphors help you do things like:

- generate innovative ideas.

- communicate the unknown in terms of the known.

- make a deeper connection with your audience.

Creativity expert Roger Von Oech, author of A whack on the Side of the Head, states:

There is always a connection between the random thing you select and your problem -- and your job is to find it. We humans are quite good at finding patterns and meaning int he world around us -- even if none were intended. Whatever you find will add insight into your problem.

So, how do you do this?

Take this concept that you want to communicate, for example, a benefit of your brand. Use it to complete this sentence 10 or 2o times, until you come up with something you like.

This brand benefit is like _________________________.

(Yes, I know that using the words "like" or "as" technically makes it a simile. Same principle.)

Here's an example I developed to answer questions about the benefits of working with the coaching model. Actually it was in explaining to one of my brothers what I do that this metaphor emerged.

If you want to know why you would hire a coach, imagine that you would like to improve your tennis playing ability.

One way would be to join an inexpensive group class at your local Park and Rec. My town has a good tennis program; my kids and I have all participated. But if I really wanted to beef up my tennis playing ability significantly and fast, I would hire a local tennis pro. It's that simple.

Joining Toastmasters is a great way to hone your public speaking skills. But you can upgrade this key leadership skill much faster and more significantly by hiring a coach.

How can you use a metaphor in your presentation?

Some Words from Coach Trump

I've been reading Trump Never Give Up: How I Turned My Biggest Challenges into Success by the eponymous author. I still don't get his hairdo, but apparently it's a sensitive topic with him.

In case you've forgotten what "eponymous" means, it's $25 word that means "having the same name as." For example, Calvin Klein is president of the eponymous design company.

I like the book more than I thought I would; he and I have more in common than I thought. His co-author, Meredith Melver is good. Just thought I'd share some of my favorite quotes:

It takes brainpower and energy to think positively and creatively -- and to see creatively and positively. Going negative is the easy way, the lazy way. Use your brainpower to focus on positives and solutions, and your own mindset will help create your own luck.

Take blips in stride -- instead of trying to deflect problems or obstacles and send them off in another direction, try to embrace them. Turn them into something positive. You can often disarm people this way and get them on your side.

Business is about knowing the world.

My focus is always on the solution to whatever the problem -- or challenge -- might be. In constrast, I have met so many people who waste a lot of their time (and mine) talking about their problems. It becomes very clear to me that they are avoiding looking for a solution. They either like the drama of their situation, or are too lazy to make the effort of using their brains to look at solutions.

His main message is Be positive and Be brief. Couldn't agree with him more. Happy Friday!