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Surviving Setbacks

I have an irrational need to arrive at the airport incredibly early. This weekend was no exception. I was zipping along merrily (as I'm known to do on occasion), heading toward the airport for my London departure. There was no traffic and little in the way of law enforcement, so I was making pretty good time. Heck, I even stopped for a cup of coffee to bolster my already high spirits.

I continued into Boston, home of the world famous "Big Dig". (You can almost see where this is going, can't you?) As I prepared to enter the Ted Williams Tunnel - the last stretch before the airport - traffic slowed, crawled, and then stopped altogether. 2 miles left in my 75 mile journey and I was at a standstill. After 20 minutes, I was shifting nervously. After 45 minutes, mild frustration gave way to panic. Things had gone so incredibly well at first, and now I wondered if I might miss my flight. (Worse yet, that delicious coffee seemed like a really bad idea at this point.)

Having some time on my hands, I thought about how my situation held a strong resemblance to our goal pursuits. It's fun to think about accomplishing things, having things, and being able to enjoy future successes. It's easy to think about how great life will be once we've accomplished our objectives. We set out to make those dreams a reality, and we expect things to go exactly according to plan. We might even make some real progress, and inevitably we're sideswiped by a surprise. (Wham-o!) If we're truly honest with ourselves, even a minor setback poses some threat of derailing us if we let it.

It's safe to say that the road to success will be accompanied by the occasional pothole. So if we face that reality going into our goal pursuits, what can we do about it?

Be prepared. The Scouts had the right idea when they drew up this motto. (Even if the kerchiefs were a fashion faux pas.) It's completely appropriate to think of the things that may go wrong so that you're equipped to deal with them should they arise. Don't obsess over these potential setbacks, but don't forget to consider them long enough to defend against them.

Be flexible. The value of having a plan is to create efficiency and guide action. Even if you're forced to come off the plan slightly, setbacks don't make the planning process worthless. (Stupid Harvard rejection letter.) When faced with an obstacle, adapt the plan and get back to work. If you never quit, you're eventually going to break through.

Be open minded. Setbacks are a natural part of the process. Stay in control of your emotions, and don't let the situation get the best of you. No matter what happens, be confident that you're going to recover. It's not worth letting a small irritant ruin an otherwise fabulous goal.

You can ultimately succeed in achieving your important life goals, but you have to be prepared for setbacks along the way. When an obstacle appears, it's not a sign that you won't succeed, only that succeeding won't necessarily be easy. As we all know, nothing worth doing or having in life ever is. Show the world that you can persist - that you're not going to back down - and you'll be that much more satisfied when you make it to the finish line!

Which brings me back to my ill-fated trip to the airport. Because I had left so early (who's irrational now, eh?), I eventually made it through the traffic jam. I zoomed into the parking garage and grabbed my gear. Of course, I was running through the garage when I had envisioned a leisurely stroll, but that was okay. I wasn't upset - I stayed focused and tried to relax as best I could. A nice glass of wine in the lounge helped the cause, and just like that I was back in business.

As the plane lifted off, I sank back in my seat. I was so relaxed that I decided to look up the in-flight movie. Ishtar?!

Where's a traffic jam when you need one?

Coaching Quickie: Surviving Setbacks

Check back next week for results!

Last Week's Results

Coaching Quickie: Look No Further
What's keeping you from realizing your full potential?

(13%) Lack of money.
(00%) Predestination.
(13%) People in my life.
(75%) Me.