Empowerment Tip
Look Upon Adversity as a
Challenge
In the context of this
buy small business tips
- guide to buying
business,
here are some
empowerment tips.
Adversity almost
inevitably strikes at
some point in a person's
career. Among these
adversities are being
fired, being laid off,
losing a major account,
having one's budget
reduced, or falling into
political disfavor.
Long-term edge gainers
do not surrender when
adversity strikes.
Instead, they look upon
adversity as a challenge
that must be handled in
the way that all major
business problems are
solved. After getting
over the emotional
sting, the resilient
person explores multiple
options to find one
workable escape route.
Engineering manager Pete
Chan illustrates deftly
the importance of
looking upon adversity
as a challenge. At one
time, General Electric
decided to move its
semi-conductor division
from Syracuse, New York,
to North Carolina. Pete,
the head of the
reliability engineering
section, did not want to
relocate for personal
reasons. He and his
family were happily
ensconced in their
community.
Pete's survival plan was
to attempt to merge his
group with the
electronics laboratory
in Syracuse. The lab was
conducting exciting
research in radar,
lasers, infrared
cam?eras, and high-speed
semiconductor devices.
Pete wrote a report to
division management
explaining how his group
would be more effective
working with the
electronics labo?ratory
than by relocating.
Much to Pete's delight,
division management
listened to his
suggestions and
incorporated his group
into the lab operations.
Several members of his
group who wanted to
relocate to North
Carolina were
disappointed, but others
felt relieved about not
having to struggle with
relocation. Pete's group
is now a very important
part of lab operations.
Other departments within
the lab depend on his
support.
Pete gained a double
edge because he was able
to keep his work and
personal life intact. He
overcame adversity by
developing a sensible
survival plan and
selling it to
manage?ment. His
suggestion of merging
his group into the
electron-
Visualization is a
primary method for
achieving many
dif?ferent types of
self-improvement. It is
therefore an essential
component of a master
plan for breaking
through to impor?tant
career accomplishments.
To apply visualization,
pro?gram yourself to
stand out in work
situations. Imagine
yourself engaging in
self-enhancing, winning
actions and thoughts
that allow you to stand
out and gain the edge.
