8 Days to Action: DAY 3, Using Problems as Fuel for Success



DAY THREE: Problems = Your Fuel

Problems are the fuel that powers your journey. They are the substance that your creative mind consumes to stay alive. Since the beginning of life, problems have always existed in the world. Imagine the problems the minds of the first living beings had to address. How do we stay warm in winter? How do we store food? How do we avoid disease? Problems are fuel when we use them as motivation, but they are roadblocks when we allow them to stop us.

Sometimes when things happen in our lives, we ask, “Why did this happen to me?” This question comes from the victim mentality—as if we’re the only one in the world to whom tough things happen. An alternative question to ask is, “Why did this happen for me?” This way of asking the question assumes that everything that happens to us happens for us and creates a unique experience of life that positions us to serve and solve problems for others. The purpose of your journey thus far may be to help those behind you avoid taking the route you chose or experienced. The events in our lives that we think we need to hide because they hurt can be sources of fuel on our journey if we learn how to turn negative e-motion (emotional energy) into positive motion.

Fuel is simply stored energy ready to set something in motion as it is transformed and burned off. In other words, social and business problems have stored potential in them for new ideas, innovations and businesses energy. But in order to find the right solutions to the problems you see in the world you have to ask the right questions first.  The problems that businesses solve are called consumer pain points or gain points. Apple solved the consumer need to access and manage their digital music by creating the iPod and iTunes. A business that isn’t solving a problem won’t be in business for long.

In the same way that a company was created to solve its customers’ needs, you have been created to solve an outstanding need in someone’s life directly or through an organization. And the size of the problem you commit to trying to solve will determine your contribution and impact on the world.

Activity: Write one question that you think you would be excited to wake up every day and try to solve.

Example: How do I help people align someone’s purpose and passions with a profession so that they can make their highest contribution daily?

DAY ONE: Principles = Your Dashboard

DAY TWO: Passion = Your Keys

DAY FOUR: People = Your Motor

DAY FIVE: Positioning = Your Lane

DAY SIX: Pioneers = Your Direction

DAY SEVEN: Picture = Your Road Map
