Perspectives That Serve # 2 - Advantage in Adversity

Let’s start with our perspective on problems and adversity. If circumstances were always to our liking we might not have to worry much about our thought life. But most of us are dealing with adversity of some sort on a regular basis. In fact, you could probably walk up to just about anybody on the street and say, “I’m sorry...I heard about your problem” and they would likely answer, “Who told you?”. As M. Scott Peck said in his classic, The Road Less Traveled, “Life is hard. When you accept this fact life gets easier”. My pastor regularly shares, “If you are not currently in some kind of crisis, you either just got out of one, or brace yourself, you are headed for one”.

So how we think about problems and adversity is another foundational skill with regard to strategic thought processes. I like to start out thinking about my problems with the question, “How can I exploit this?” or “How can I use this problem to advance my position?”

The business world is absolutely replete with examples of turning problems into huge cash generating opportunities. Xerox was created by a transcriber who got arthritis. One of my favorite stories is about coffee cup sleeve that I get around my hot drink order at Starbucks. In the late 1980’s, Jay Sorensen ordered a cup of hot coffee at a drive through in Portland, Oregon. Although it was wrapped in a napkin it was still so hot he dropped it in his lap. Watching the Starbucks coffee craze in the 90’s and noticing so many customers gingerly taking their cups from the baristas he had an idea. Using some home supplies he designed a card board sleeve. Originally called the Java Jacket the company today sells about 700 million units each year. Holiday Inn started because Kemmons Wilson struggled to find good accommodations while taking his family on vacation.

Adversity Exploitation is a fundamental mindset and has been summarized by many business writers. One famous writer said it well nearly 100 years ago, “Every adversity carries with it the seed for an equal or greater benefit.” In the Christian Faith, which is central to my life, the Bible teaches that “All things work together for good, for those that love God and are called according to His purpose.” Here we are promised that God is actually in the background working for us. He doesn’t say that nothing bad will happen, only that when it does He will use it for our benefit.