R = Resist

(Our premise is this:  If plan A fails you still have twenty-five other options.)

Even though the word “resist” might have a more negative connotation, it is nevertheless a great word in reframing our world after a failure. 

Resistance in weight training is actually a great thing.  With the proper resistance, you are able to break down the muscles, develop more capillaries to promote better blood flow and build strength.  It is a good thing. 

In the failed business model, there are a dozen facts that need to be resisted. 

First on our list is to resist the tendency to belittle self.  Okay, you failed.  Life is not over.  You are not even near the end.  You simply failed.  The put-downs of self, the self-depreciating comments do nothing but put one down further.  This is easy to say, more difficult to do, however, it remains true.  Here are some suggestions.

Accept your defeat.

Analyze the reasons.

Find a different route or better recipes or whatever metaphor works in your situation.

When you are ready, begin again.

Above all – above all, resist self-defeating conversations.

Second, fixing blame on things is okay.  Fixing blame on people never wins games or business success.  Perhaps “people” did let you down, made poor decisions or spent too much too soon.  Once you assess the situations, find redeeming solutions.  The watchword at this point becomes “okay, how do we fix this and what do we do to avoid this in the future?”

I’m reminded of a story I heard long ago.  There was a night watchman charged with the responsibility of guarding a valuable painting.  Unfortunately he fell asleep at his post.  The immediate reaction of the boss was to fire the man. 

The owner of the art gallery, a much wiser person, resisted this action. 

His reason? 

“Okay, so he fell asleep on the job.  After speaking to him and seeing his great remorse over this loss, there is no one more qualified to guard the rest of the paintings.  He now is our most watchful of employees.”

This ties in so nicely with a philosophy that I've been developing for some time – "Just because you failed at something does not mean you are a failure.”

Resist replacing an employee.  You may now have elevated that person into a position of becoming your best asset.  See the dynamic at play here?

“Resist” is a dicey word.  We have to figure out where the lines of resistance lie.  And that is not always easy, but it is necessary.

And now, some quotes to refine our focus.

“If you are paralyzed with fear it’s a good sign.  It shows you what you have to do.”

~Steven Presfield

“Resistance is a powerful motivator precisely because it enables us to fulfill our longing to achieve our goals while letting us boldly recognize and name the obstacles to those achievements.

~Derrick A. Bell

P Michael Biggs

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