How to Coach Yourself and Others Techniques For Coaching | Page 177

from having to keep the tank full, having to take it in for regular
maintenance, and having to explain to your friends why going
“Vrrruuum” when you start your Toyota Corolla really does make it
seem like a Porsche 911 Turbo-S. To you. Only to you.
New Opportunities Give You Excuses to Make Changes
The difference between a problem and an opportunity is what we do
with it, not what it is to begin with. Sometimes a problem gives you
excuses. When your leg gets torn off in a unfortunate rice picking
accident, you can no longer be expected to take out the trash. “I have no
legs” is really hard to argue with. Then you can hire housecleaners and
spend your time finally writing that book you always wanted to write.
(Just don’t call it Get-it-Done Guy’s 9 Steps to Work Less and Do More.
That’s my book, coming from St. Martin’s Press in September 2010.
Order it now!) If your house burns down and you’re well insured, at last
you have an excuse to build your dream home… as long as you were
insured with replacement value insurance.
A friend of mine was diagnosed with AIDS. He used that as an excuse to
quit his job and start doing things he loves. It’s about ten years later.
He’s still in great spirits, and has spent the last ten years doing all the
things in life he never previously let himself do--and finding ways to get
paid for them at the same time. As bad as his problem was, it gave him
the push to revolutionize his life.
New Opportunities Lead You to New People and Places
Often, problems bring you to new communities and causes. Hair loss
problems? You can join a hair loss support group. You and your new
friends will have lots to talk about. Just not hair.
Some people turn problems into activism. My friend Carl was frustrated
with the policies his local congressman was voting for in his district.
With no prior political experience, he ran for office and won. Now he’s a
full-time state senator. His problem led to a whole new career!

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