How Do You Face Challenges?
Roslyn Rozbruch - my business partner and wife - is the author of this post.
We are all faced with challenges, but at least for me, I find that when someone I love — like a friend or family member — has a challenge, it’s easy to give advice. When I’m confronted by a challenge, my initial reaction is to avoid it, or tell myself I will deal with it another day. Rescheduling it is a real good denial tool, because this way, I’m telling myself I will take care of whatever the problem is, but just not right now!
To give myself some credit, I have to say that in the last two years of starting Tax & Business Solutions Academy with Michael, we have been on a whole new journey. I have “stepped up to the plate” on many levels, and working through difficult situations is one of them. For example, in December, my sister had to have neck surgery. She wanted to have it done after the New Year, but the surgeon had an opening right before Christmas, and I told her to schedule it then so I could visit. I knew that once January came, I would be traveling a lot. She took my advice and went ahead and had the surgery before the holidays. It was easy to visit her every day — gee, what a good sister I am!
What we all didn’t realize was that the surgery was complicated, and the recovery was hell on earth. So her husband, Bill, and I sat vigil next to her 24/7 for a week, but when Bill said they were going to send her home, I panicked because I knew she wasn’t in any shape to go home. Hence my challenge: I had to find a way to keep my sister in the hospital for a few more days, because I knew it wasn’t safe for her to go home yet. My initial feeling was, “I don’t know what to do or how to do it, nor do I have time to do it.” Yes, Bill is my sister’s husband and primary caretaker, but he needed some back-up help. We needed to team up, but it was tough. I wanted to say, “I have to go to work today.” Instead, I decided to meet this challenge, face it, and say, “I have the ability to figure this out.” And I did. Those extra days in the hospital made all the difference in my sister’s recovery.
So here’s my question to you:
Are you the kind of person who is good at facing your challenges, or do you like to reschedule them for another day? Or are you a combo of the two?
Some people are good at the work challenge and not the personal one, and others vice-versa. The point is, the next time you’re faced with a challenge, don’t walk away from it; I know you have the ability to figure it out. And when you work through it, whatever it is, you’ll feel empowered on the other side.
- Roslyn Rozbruch
