Sometimes I see something that stops me dead in my tracks, that I just simply cannot get out of my mind. A few days ago a friend shared a picture on Facebook that is stuck in my brain and in my heart, that has made me reconsider just about everything I’ve done since then from a different perspective. I’m posting the picture here so you can see it for yourself. If it jolts you the way it jolted me, maybe that’s a good thing.
Those of us who are self-employed get set into our businesses and form a perspective about ourselves, our work, and the world around us. We want to influence others through our work, to bring solutions to bear on whatever problems our customers have. We bring our perspective to their situation, as fully as we can. And when this picture etched itself on my heart it made me realize that one very valuable thing we can do for our customers is to help prevent an overreaction to the problem they have. In fact, I’d probably argue that bringing a wise perspective to the table is every bit as important as the expertise we bring to the table.
We live in a world in which bigger and grander is perceived as better. Living in that energy makes it easy for us to over react to whatever problem being a self-employed business owner brings us today, tomorrow, and the day after that. Overreaction is an emotional response, and we do it because it helps us to deal with the feelings that go along with the issue at hand. But we have to temper our emotional reactions with the wisdom of right perspective. Losing our perspective will cause us to make poor and costly decisions in our business. Losing our perspective will cause us to make things harder than they need to be. So one very helpful piece we can bring into our business and into the lives of those we serve is to keep things in perspective. Yes, the situation may be pretty bad. It might hurt our feelings and our business tremendously. It might take a long while to correct. But it will improve, hurt less financially and personally, and correct more quickly if we keep an appropriate perspective. Profitable perspective. I like that phrase! What can you do this week to keep your own perspective profitable? I’d love to hear your reaction to the picture and this post. Just leave your comment below.
Share This Article
Carmen@OrganizedEntrepreneur says
Wow – beautifully said, Sue! Perspective is so powerful. (And this picture makes me feel really bad for paying TOO MUCH for shoes!) ~ Carmen
Jenny Fenig says
Love this article, Sue! Overreacting is no fun. A trick I like to use is to step back and look at the situation as an observer (witness) so I can pull back from the emotional punch. Doing so helps me look at things objectively without getting sucked into the drama. I can deal with the situation and then move on in the most powerful way possible. Helps me conserve my energy for profitable pursuits!
Sue Painter says
Hi Jenny,
That’s a great tip to share with everyone. Thanks!
Sue
Lisa Manyon says
Sue,
I too was deeply moved by that picture and it made me stop and think about the things we often take for granted. Thanks for the reminder and new perspective.
We really are blessed.
Write on!~
Lisa
Sue Painter says
Thanks for sharing your reaction, Lisa. Yes, we truly are blessed.
Sue
Katherine C. H. E. says
Wise words and great perspective, Sue! “Help prevent an overreaction to the problems they have.”
Reminds me of a quote from Buddha that I post on the iaLOAp Facebook wall yesterday:
Let us rise up and be thankful,
for if we didn’t learn a lot today,
at least we learned a little,
and if we didn’t learn a little,
at least we didn’t get sick,
and if we got sick, at least we didn’t die;
so, let us all be thankful
~ Buddha
XO, Katherine
Tiffany deSilva says
Thank you, Sue for sharing from the heart. I agree that it is vitally important to maintain perspective, not only when things are not going your way, but each and every day. I know when little things are bugging me a little more than they should it’s time to hit my personal “reset” button and re-center.
Sue Painter says
Thanks, Tiffany. Appreciate your comments.
Sue
Linda Pucci says
The idea of both getting perspective and bringing perspective to the table really spoke to me in this post, Sue. As a business owner, I’ve noticed my own perspective changing recently as I come to grips with the direction I now want my life (and business) to go. It can be difficult to give up old perspectives and chart an unfamiliar course, but authenticity absolutely demands it. Coaches like you, and posts like this help keep me feeling stable as I step forward, hopefully bringing new perspectives to my own clients. Thanks.
Sue Painter says
Hi Linda,
Thanks for your comment. Yes, getting perspective but also giving perspective is one of the most valuable things we do as coaches, I believe. We just don’t often think about it.
Sue
Mary Ellen Miller says
Sue, this is a wonderfully thought provoking post. I think it is posts like these that are my favorites of yours because I can really see your true, caring nature. My thoughts are that what I perceive to be “shoes” and what someone else may think of as “shoes” could be entirely different. Also, and even more powerfully it gave me pause to think about the “affluenza” state in which we live-filled with so much “stuff” yet often Americans are left yearning. Definitely gives pause for reflection.
Sue Painter says
Mary Ellen,
You know, it’s my experience that many entrepreneurs do have caring souls. Thanks for noticing that in me – I see it in others every day, too. You’re right about the stuff – even after honing down considerably Bill and I are still unpacking “stuff” and we’ve been moved 3 months now! Geez!
Sue
Kip says
Sue,
The words that come to mind after reading your article are “practical” and “discretion”. I am taking my company through a self-realization and planning process right now. I have asked some of my key people to participate and bring their own perspectives to the dialogue. They are young and energetic (both good things) and will have great visions for where we can go. In my time running this firm I have come to appreciate the fact that a practical solution to a client’s very serious need is, or at least can be, a very attractive response. I am not saying that these two ideas are in conflict with one another. I simply saying that tempering the conversation with practicality and discretion can be very valuable in growing a client relationship and influencing the success of a project.
As we move forward with our in-house process I am going to challenge us to use these ideas to form the identity that we present and the creative process that we offer. Your article, if i took it right, is very timely. Thanks.
Kip
Sue Painter says
Thanks for your comment, Kip.
Sue
Jeff Brunson says
This phrase really got my attention, “help prevent an overreaction to the problem they have.” This was a reminder that while I’ve learned to do this in my work, I’ve a long way to go. And the best thing it did for me was to realize how important it is that I recognize this accountability with those I serve. Thanks Sue!
Sue Painter says
You’re welcome, Jeff. To me it is a constant place of striving for balance.