4 minute read
LEADERSHIP AT ALL LEVELS
WITH GAIL LOWNEY ALOFSIN
THE POWER OF POSSIBILITY
There is a famous entrepreneurial story about two sales associates from competing companies. Both are sent to assess the opportunity for shoe sales in a foreign country, back at the turn of the 20th century.
After evaluating the situation, the first sales associate sent a telegraph back to corporate headquarters asserting: “No one is wearing shoes here, there is no possibility of shoe sales.” The second associate sent a telegraph stating: “BIG opportunity here -no one is wearing shoes!”
How do you look at a potential opportunity? Do you see the possibility within the obstacle?
In life, it is always easy to avoid attending a meeting or event, dismiss a maverick idea or say no to a new venture. We think of reasons something will not be possible.
When we have no fear or barriers, the possibilities are endless. Your determined mind coupled with your strong will and desires opens your world to a great deal of possibility.
Possibility Thinking
A small sign on my desk reads: “What plans would you have if you knew you could not fail?” This quote has welcomed colleagues and guests to my office for over two decades; a reminder that a mindset of possibility is productive, enlightening, and inspiring.
Possibility thinking is the willingness to see possibilities instead of limitations. Many people confuse a possibility mindset with a positive mindset. When we focus on positive thinking, we are searching for the silver lining of a matter. Possibility thinking focuses on reality. Only you can decide if you want to attempt an audacious effort towards a seemingly impossible goal. Do you want to lose weight, exercise more, purchase a home, find a new job, address a challenging situation in your life?
Yes You Can!
Is your mind stuck? Are your thoughts getting in the way of your success or enhancing your life? What do you want to achieve or acquire? What is the barricade?
When we feel that something is truly impossible, it is time to re-evaluate. What are the possibilities within the problem?
Think possible as in – Yes, I Can! The first step is believing you can. Visualize achieving your goal. How would it feel? How would it effect your life? How might it impact the lives of others?
When you focus on the possibilities in lieu of the problems, your future is filled with limitless opportunity. Envision your success and accomplishments in the future and keep your focus there.
Action Plan
Once you have a potentially viable solution; create a plan and break the action steps into smaller pieces. Tackle one piece at a time. What can you do next? The things that seem impossible become very doable when you break them into smaller assignments.
Keep your goal or list of goals where you can see them. You may want to use a whiteboard or a simple sheet of paper within your view. Refer to it daily.
Adjust Your Lens
If you want to achieve results you did not think are possible, you must think in ways you have never thought before.
Avoid setting your world view through the lens of lack, disappointment, and limitation. This only serves to amplify the impossible. Search for a solution. When you focus on what has already been accomplished and adjust your lens to the possibility, your world will change. View your work, home, friendships, and activities through the lens of abundance. Choose the lens of limitless versus limitation. Yes, it’s possible!
Gail Lowney Alofsin is the Director of Corporate Partnership & Community Relations for the Newport International Boat Show, a division of Newport Restaurant Group. An adjunct professor at the University of RI and Salve Regina University, author, speaker and volunteer, Gail lives in Newport, Rhode Island. Gail can be reached: gail@gailspeaks.com or 401-640-4418. For more information: gailspeaks.com
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