Peter Drucker on Opportunities
“It is more productive to convert an opportunity into results than to solve a problem – which only restores the equilibrium of yesterday.” Peter Drucker
Opportunities live in your imagination. Problems feel present even though they occurred in the past.
Negatives exert stronger pull than positives.
3 ways to get a grip on opportunities:
#1. Personal development.
Problems produce personal growth when you learn, try new things, and seek counsel from people smarter than you are.
#2. Planning opportunities.
Notice recurring stresses and problems. How can you plan for the next occurrence of the same negative situation?
#3. Partnership opportunities.
Reflect on who you aspire to become. Forget your problems for a moment. Who might you invite into your life that makes your aspirations more likely? The people you invite into your life reflect your future self.
Conclusion:
Beware becoming a problem-solving machine. Some problems require immediate resolution. Solving problems enhances your reputation.
Seizing opportunities makes you a leader.
How might you focus a little more on opportunities today?
Still curious:
The 3 Opportunities of Conflict
How to Reinvent Your Relationship with Problems and Opportunities
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There are three ways to address a problem: resolve (fix but you may have to use the fix again), solve (address the root cause so you don’t have to fix again), and dissolve (change the situation so the problem doesn’t exist). Too often, we resolve a problem because that’s the fastest way. But sometimes taking a little more time gets us to solve or even dissolve.
Brilliant, Jennifer. Some problems should be resolved quickly. If the house is on fire, put it out. BUT, if the house keeps catching on fire, it’s time to dig deeper.
Resolve, solve, dissolve. Love it.