Turning a Problem into an Opportunity

Many people find themselves suddenly having to make unexpected decisions in various aspects of their lives - maybe they've lost their job; their relationship has broken up or they suddenly realise that they aren't saving enough for their old age. Is this you?

Whether you realise it or not, whatever your current circumstance, your life is full of opportunities. I’ll repeat that - YOUR life is full of opportunities.

There is a common saying in the business world that there are no such things as problems, only opportunities. I once had a sceptical Chief Exec who said to one of his minions ‘I’m cutting your salary in half, make that into an opportunity!’

On the face of it, having your salary reduced by 50% hardly seems like an opportunity. However, in this situation the (diminished) employee would have several courses of action:

•  He/she could accept the situation
•  He could hand in his notice and look for another similar job that paid the sort of salary that he was used to earning
• He could re-assess his priorities and see if he could improve his work – life balance
•  He could consider changing direction in his career – doing something that he really enjoyed
• He might start his own business
• He might decide that he could afford to take early retirement
• And so on

In reality, of course, having his salary cut in half is not, in itself, an opportunity. It is, though, a catalyst to encourage the individual to take stock of his situation and review the options – some of which would be genuine opportunities. These might never have been considered, had the ‘salary problem’ not arisen.

Wherever you find yourself now, there are always opportunities around the corner. Not always obvious, perhaps, but opportunities will appear. It is up to you to recognise them and run with them to turn wishes into reality.

If you are in any of the following situations, The Mid Life Opportunity (www.MidLifeOp.com) can give you advice and guidance:

• I have been made redundant
• I don’t earn enough money
•  My relationship needs help to survive
• I am lonely
• My pension isn’t enough to see me through my old age
• I seem to have lost my way in life
• Many of my old friends have died or drifted away from me
• I lack the confidence to change direction in my career
• I’ve put on a bit of weight over the years and can’t seem to lose it
• I feel that I’m at a crossroads in my career
• I’d like to start my own business
• I’d like to emigrate
• We need to downsize now that the kids have left
• Actually, I feel pretty much on top of things, I come here to read the jokes!

If you can identify with any of these situations, The Mid Life Opportunity will be able to give you helpful advice and guidance - it's up to you to make it happen!

www.MidLifeOp.com