Confronting Obstacles and Recognizing Opportunities

Recently, I stumbled upon this book summary called "Obstacles Welcome". I haven't read the whole book yet, as I don't have a copy of it. But, reading through the summary it's really interesting.

Below are a few of the excerpts which caught my interest and I'm planning of having the book to read it in full. It's a story about Ralph De La Vega, the CEO of AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets.

Confronting Obstacles and Recognizing Opportunities

Obstacles presented themselves at every turn, whether it was the disappointment of being away from the family or inability to understand a language, etc. Nevertheless, these situations forced us to look for opportunities to adapt his circumstances to something positive. We have to learn the importance of making sacrifices in the present in order to plan for a better future. It does not help to simply sit back and hope or wish for something better to come around; instead, it is essential to plan and to take risks to maximize opportunity.

In business and in life, obstacles should be embraced, because any given challenge is an opportunity for growth. It is essential that we learn how to recognize pivotal points in life, those places where major challenges to our personal lives or our corporations change the directions our lives or careers take.

Pivotal Lessons To Recognize Opportunities

1. Hope is not a substitute for planning.
2. It is necessary to take calculated risks, rather than simply going with the flow.
3. Our greatest successes in life come only when we recognize opportunities.
4. Obstacles make us stronger, wiser, and more capable.

Obstacles take many forms, and include things like large-scale  change,  general  discouragement,  a  pervading sense of fear, and general adversity. Sometimes it is necessary to “unlearn and relearn.” As people, as employees, as managers and leaders, we have a tendency to get stuck into certain routines that have proven to be successful.

How Adversity and Obstacles Present Opportunities

1. Hope is not a strategy. It is necessary to plan for success.
2. To achieve big goals and dreams, it is necessary to take calculated risks.
3. Big wins in life come from an ability to recognize opportunities. The most significant and important opportunities lie in problems that are waiting to be solved.
4. Embrace and overcome obstacles. Obstacles and adversity make stronger, wiser, and more capable leaders.
5. Be willing to unlearn old habits and relearn old lessons from life experiences.
6. Building winning teams involves effective, honest, and open communication.
7. The greatest successes always involve willingness to make sacrifices.
8. Leadership is not something inborn, but learned and practiced.

If you've read the book, please tell us what you think about it by commenting below.