Issue 1 -
TURNING ADVERSITY INTO OPPORTUNITY

There are days in everyone's life's that have a special meaning.   For me, one of these is February 2, 2006.   Why is this day special? It's not my birthday, or the birthday of any family member. It's not my anniversary, either.  This day does not have any relevance - except it is the day I fell skiing and tore my Achilles Tendon.  

The accident precipitated an avalanche of thoughts and experiences:  revelations about my own mortality - the humbling reality of living with a disability - a ceaseless urge to quickly get better - my acceptance of the need to depend on others. It even led to the surprising inspiration to invent a new product.

I have been a proficient skier for years, on all types of terrain and in all kinds of conditions. All that time, I have never had any breaks, tears, or injuries.  I must have either been lucky or prudent.  Sure, I watched others being carried down the hill by ski patrol...but never, ever thought that person would one day be me.   Getting hurt is proof that you are mortal.  It reinforces that we need to give thought to MORE than our businesses - such as our family, life style, and yes, legacy.

The truth is, small business owners have a tendency to make their business the center of their universe.  They don't leave much time  for themselves, let  alone their family.  Being in business for yourself is  terrific, but it is not the be-all and end-all.  It is only one  aspect of what most of us want to accomplish in life.

Have you taken the  time to establish life goals for yourself?  Do you know where you want to  be two to three years from now?  Remember when the Cheshire Cat said, “If  you don't know where you’re going, any road will get you  there?”  If you don't  know where you want to be two to three years from now, how can you possible  create strategy and action plans for your future?  How do you measure  your progress and determine what works and what doesn't?

In PRO, President’s Resource Organization (www.propres.com), we talk about working not only in the business, but on the business.  In larger terms, this concept also applies to working on--and not just living in--your life.  We all need to step back and think about where we want to be personally down the road. Because frankly, where we want our businesses to be is only part of our greater life plan.

This week, I watched a new television show called “Twenty Good Years.”  How many good years do you have?  What do you what to do with them?  I suggest you write down your objectives for the next three years. Address: your business, family, health, relationships, travel, leisure - and any other criteria that are important to you.

This ezine issue is titled “Turning Adversity into Opportunity.”  It was the adversity of my injury that made me stop and reflect on these greater issues.  It literally stopped me in my tracks! Because of it, I now see an opportunity to enhance my life's experience. 

And that’s not the only opportunity arising from this so-called adversity. Being forced to rely on crutches for three months, I quickly learned that it’s impossible to carry anything in your hands when using them. This led to an idea: a product to make life easier for people on crutches. I turned my idea into an invention, which led me first to the creation and now the sale of a brand new product. See for yourself – visit http://www.crutchtote.com

Another opportunity: I recently saw my first book published, “The Best Secrets of
Great Small Businesses.”  Now, I am learning about the world of traditional and viral book marketing - an exciting experience.  To learn more about the book, visit http://bestsmallbizsecrets.com

I believe that life should be experienced in the first person.  Don’t settle for being a spectator, be an active participant in your life!  Be willing to explore new concepts.  Inevitably, some will work brilliantly and some will fail equally spectacularly.  Either way, it gives you fresh opportunities to learn, think and experience your life.

Ray Silverstein
PRO, President's Resource Organization
Learn how you can benefit from Small Business Peer Advisory Boards
http://www.propres.com
Read and Learn from my book about The Best Secrets of Great Small Businesses.
http://bestsmallbizsecrets.com