Is Your Glass Half Empty or Half Full?

I have five children. They are all different. Two in particular are at opposite ends of the attitude spectrum. My “Half Full” child invariably deals with life’s curve balls with an optimistic point of view. My “Half Empty” child enviably assumes the worst is going to happen.

Over the years, I have learned that it is not what happens to a person that determines success or failure, but rather how a person deals with situations. The following cartoon illustrates how an outside force (in this case, the US Government) can impose a condition (such as a border fence) that is beyond any particular individual’s control. A “glass half empty” person might complain how the fence will inhibit business and how life is unfair. But a “glass half full” person would behave like Raul in the cartoon . . . make lemonade out of lemons.

Is your glass half empty or half full?

If you are considering becoming an entrepreneur and operating your own business, rarely will a day will go by without a curve ball being thrown your way.

Years ago, when I was launching one of my first businesses, a “key” employee abruptly quit. The departure was totally unexpected and very disruptive. I was upset, but instead of moping, I immediately began to search for a replacement. Wonder of wonders, the new hire was twice as good as the guy who quit. I realized the so-called “key” employee had been a crutch. Leaning on him was the path of least resistance, but also the path of least efficiency, since my new employee could get the job done much better and faster.

During my later career as a franchise owner, I observed franchisees become similarly devastated when key employees moved on to other opportunities. I noticed that the time these franchisees spent fretting over their “losses” usually just created further set-backs, as their negative moods spread to the rest of their employees. It is a true statement that an entrepreneur is like alike a meteorologist: A boss’ attitude can affect the “climate” of an entire office.

If you were the “boss,” how would you handle each of the following situations? What effect would your reaction have on the rest of your team?

You are informed that a new customer needs a huge proposal in only three days.
A new ERP system is being installed and your team must learn a completely new software platform.
You have a new supervisor, and in the first meeting, he rubs you the wrong way.

Will your attitude be “half empty” or “half full?” Your answer will largely determine your success as an entrepreneur.

Timing is Everything?

It is often said….timing in life is everything. If you can buy low and sell high, you can retire. The question is, “When is a high the high and when is a low the low.” When to start your own business is all about timing.

A while ago I was talking to a friend who began his career in the banking industry right out of college. He was loyal, hard working, giving 110% of his creativity and soul to his employer. After 10 years with the bank, he had been promoted to upper middle management. His future prospects looked good. He remembers well the day all of that changed.

Rumors were circulating in the office about the possible merger with a competitor bank. The rumors turned out to be well founded. He was downsized. In a few short months, he went from what seemed to be a promising career in banking to an unsettling series of employment interviews with other financial institutions. As he considered his options, he thought of changing careers but opted to stay with what he knew best because he did not want to jeopardize his family’s future on a high-risk lark.

Within a few months, he landed a position at another financial institution. Finally, his life took on a rhythm of normalcy. He immersed himself in his work. His prior experience bore fruit. He rose through the ranks and became well respected among his peers and with upper management. Even though he had been dealt a wild card, he had landed on his feet and life seemed promising once again. Maybe this was all for the best?

Then it happened: déja vu. The rumors of another merger caught him by surprise. Was this the beginning of another nightmare? If there were another merger, would he be downsized again? He prepared himself for the worst.

The merger did take place and yes, my friend was downsized again. Being somewhat more reflective this time around, he seriously thought of exploring other alternatives. He even toyed with the idea becoming an entrepreneur. Yet, in the end, he decided to go with what he knew best. He accepted another position in the banking industry. This position was nothing to write home about, but it put bread on the table. The position had a more impressive title, except that it was with a small regional bank. Within two years this bank was swallowed up too. Now he had been jilted three times, he figured it was time to do something different. He was not going to take this anymore.

This “three times and out” experience may seem unusual, but it is not. There are many people who after decades of loyal, hard work find themselves on the outside looking in. Some of them are exploring what it would be like to take charge of their futures and control their own destinies.

Is it time to take control of your life and be proactive in charting your own course in life or are you going to wait for life to deal the cards? Is it time to start at least thinking about what else is out there? Is the time to consider being an entrepreneur? Yes, timing in life can be everything. Is it time?