How to Make Lemonade from Lemons: Dealing with Difficult Situations

A Newsletter Valuing Change

Winter 2009

Make the Most of Difficult Situations

These are tough economic times. But even in the worst of times there are still good things happening to many people. They are the people who find opportunities in adversity.

Entrepreneurs come up with new businesses–that didn't exist before–to meet a new need. Inventors come up with new ideas to handle problems. Remember, during the depression there was still 75% employment.

To make lemonade out of lemons:

Turn your thinking into positive thinking. Actively look for the positive.
Be open to new ideas and opportunities.
Turn your thinking into positive thinking. Actively look for the positive.
Pay attention to positive intuitive messages.
Rely upon your faith.
Although you can't change the situation you can alter your thinking.
Stop worrying and take action.
Do something you haven't had time to do that can help you in your career. Take that class you've been putting off.
Work with a support group or coach that will support you through the changes you need to make to turn your situation around.
Appreciate that you might not know how this situation will result in something positive, but trust that it will.
Even if you can't be positive, remember that eventually things will change-they always do.

What are you appreciative of?
What are the benefits of what is happening?
What opportunities are available to you now?

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Imagine Opportunities

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A Book Supporting Change

Today Matters: 12 Daily Practices to Guarantee Tomorrow's Success, by John C. Maxwell, offers techniques to help you develop a solid, positive attitude and the confidence needed to make today the day you move your life toward happiness and success. He covers why attitude, health, and family matter; how priorities give you focus and strengthen commitment; what kinds of thinking there are; and the importance of relationships, values, and faith.

Each chapter covers a different technique and includes information and thoughts for reflection as well as exercises to help you incorporate the technique into your life.

Buy This Book From Amazon.com

"Out of difficulties grow miracles." –Jean De La Bruyere

Personal Story

In the early '90s I took severance from my now defunct real estate development company and rode out a very bad economic time in the real estate market. The company had just bought 2,000 acres for development and sale. We bought it at the peak of the California market, and couldn't sell any of the properties. That was a tough time for me. I couldn't find a corporate counsel position. I couldn't find a job with a law firm.

So, that led me to doing contract legal work for various companies, including a telecommunication company, a freight forwarding company, and a real estate company that knew how to find the opportunities hidden in that horrible market. That was how my solo law practice got started. That solo practice gave me the practical business foundation that I needed when I decided to take a risk and become a business coach. As many of you know, I love this work.

From what seemed like terrible circumstances in my career came, first, the chance to try something new (building a business on my own rather than being an employee) and, then, using that business to have everything in place to embrace an entirely new profession.

Check out my recent publications:

Coaching Solutions: Coaching Skills Every Successful Manager Must Use (Part 1) Reprinted with the permission of the Association of Legal Administrators Puget Sound Chapter, June 2008.

Coaching Solutions: Coaching Skills Every Successful Manager Must Use (Part 2) Reprinted with the permission of the Association of Legal Administrators Puget Sound Chapter, August 2008.

Your referrals are appreciated.

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