Start Now to Prepare for 2011

I know it may seem early for this advice, but everything else has been early this year. We saw Santa arrive at our local mall two weeks before Thanksgiving this year. In addition, Black Friday lost its impact as so many stores began offering their holiday specials even earlier by staying open all day Thanksgiving Day.

If that’s any indication of things to come, we should probably be giving serious thought to our New Year’s resolutions. Your list for the coming year will more than likely include something that will assist you in your efforts to cope with the many challenges which will appear in 2011.

Everywhere you look today there are problems. Turn on your TV or computer, pick up a magazine or paper, and what do you see? Problems! Talk to your family, co-workers, clients or friends, and within minutes someone will bring up a challenge they’re current facing … or two or three. Problems seem to be out of control as we approach the end of another year. We see them with products, services, health care, retirement plans, sales, marketing, budgets, IT, personnel, politics, customer service … a growing list that is indeed vast.

One strategy which seems to have proven very successful for many individuals and organizations is almost too simplistic to believe. That’s probably why so many have chosen to overlook it. In today’s trying times, it may very well be wise to give it a second look.

It’s called “Pink Bat Thinking,” and it emphasizes the importance of looking at things from a completely different angle. In essence, learn to use your imagination to look at a problem as an opportunity in order to create a solution.

You probably remember this strategy as something you’ve heard many times: “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade!”

In essence, the lesson of the Pink Bat comes down to the following: “If life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” In other words, use your imagination to look at a problem as an opportunity to create a solution.

History provides us with example after example of this strategy proving to be successful. Consider: Charles Schultz of Peanuts fame, Barbara Walters, Grandma Moses, Walt Disney, Abe Lincoln, Thomas Monaghan (Dominos), Ray Kroc (McDonalds), Fred Smith (FedEx), Wilma Rudolph (athlete), Sylvester Stallone (Rocky), J.K. Rowlings (Harry Potter) and Helen Keller. The list goes on and on.

Take a closer look at this “Pink Bat Thinking” … it may very well make a major difference for you in the coming year. Michael McMillan’s video will give you an overview in a very unusual, but artistic, performance.

About Harry K. Jones

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of professional speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management. For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2629 or fill out our contact form.

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