Looking at obstacles from a different angle is often the first step to take.
Actually, I don’t think there really is just ONE key to overcoming the obstacles all of us face from time to time. Other than the idea that we can’t give up!
But since it takes a lot to keep going in the face of obstacles and seemingly insurmountable barriers, I’ve broken down this concept into 4 main elements in the section below, titled “4 Keys to Overcoming Obstacles.”
FUN STORY, DEEP LESSON
When I think of obstacles, one of the first things that comes to mind is a board book I used to read to my son when he was young.
We’re Going on a Bear Hunt (written by Michael Rosen, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury) was about five children who were left at home for a while by their parents. (The teenage son was in charge, so they weren’t completely alone.)
The kids were bored, so they jumped at the chance to do something exciting – in the form of bear-hunting. One phrase that was repeated over and over again, with each new “barrier” (repetition is big in children’s books!), was this:
“We can’t go over it.
“We can’t go under it.
“Oh, no! We’ve got to go through it!”
Ever since I first read that book to my son, the phrase “We’ve got to go through it!” has stuck with me. Prior to that, I was sometimes tempted to “run away” from problems … which, as we all know, NEVER leads to a solution!
The images, alliteration, and fun storyline are only part of the reason this book became so popular. I’m convinced that another reason 90% of over 8,760(!) reviewers of this book on Amazon gave it a 5-star rating was because of the “life lesson” this little book offers on overcoming obstacles.
(Another reason for the book’s success is that the kids DID eventually find a bear, which chased them all the way home. I’m sure the drama at the end of the story added to the book’s popularity!)
4 KEYS TO OVERCOMING OBSTACLES
Based on my own life experience … and the way I’ve heard others talk about how they’ve overcome challenges of their own, I’ve narrowed down these methods into what I consider to be the 4 main “keys.”
✅ ABILITY TO STAND BACK and see the problem (obstacle) from a different angle.
✅ WILLINGNESS TO SHIFT TACTICS and try again.
✅ ABILITY TO EVALUATE whether the problem lies with your tactics … or possibly somewhere else.
Finally, after reassessing (aka evaluating) the situation, the final key is this:
✅ CONFIDENCE in the direction you’re taking … and your ability to (eventually) reach your destination or goal.
Persistence based on confidence in one’s future success makes me think of another children’s book author – Dr. Seuss. Theodor Seuss Geisel’s first book for children (And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street), was published in 1937 … after being rejected 27 times!
A DIFFERENT TYPE OF OBSTACLE
Not all obstacles are physical (like the river, oozing mud, or dark forest that were mentioned in Michael Rosen’s book). Sometimes our obstacles are more abstract … like not getting a job we were sure was “ours,” or getting blindsided by a cancer diagnosis – either your own or a loved one’s.
Or maybe the obstacle is simply that “it’s not the right time.” Frustrating, yes … but also reality.
THE ‘DELEGATION SOLUTION’
If you’re a business owner who’s feeling challenged to accomplish some of your goals – mainly due to lack of time (a BIG obstacle for many), one of the best resources available to you may be something you’ve never even considered.
VIRTUAL ASSISTANTS (aka VA’s) are people who work remotely (usually from home) on tasks you’d rather not be doing yourself. Contrary to what many people may think (myself included, before starting on this career path in early 2022), VA’s can take on tasks that go far beyond administrative duties.
Some of the VA’s I know help authors prepare and market the books those authors have written. Others handle bookkeeping. Still others create (and help maintain) websites.
My own specialty is helping clients with tasks related to all types of written content for their business – including blog posts, social media, newsletters, articles, and proofreading / copyediting.
THE BOTTOM LINE IS THIS:
Obstacles can’t be ignored, but they also don’t have to stop you from achieving your goals. Reach out to others in your community, and find out how they (or someone they know) may be able to help you move past the barriers in your OWN life!
As the first “key” listed above says – try standing back and looking at the obstacle from a different angle. That, in my opinion, is one of the most important ways to Get Creative! in overcoming most of the obstacles in either your life OR your business.
