Some of our friends, family and colleagues may have yet to experience bad times—so they may have more difficulty coping than those (of us) who have failed (and come out just fine) many times. My colleague Bill Dueease of The Coach Connection, recently shared his wisdom through a business group I am part of. I doubt I could say it any better (I like to expand “what you have control of” to “what you can affect”)…and I wanted to share it with you!

Whether you are managing employees or working with peers out of work or in a struggling business, or struggling yourself—I think his words will help you:

Bill states:
Having been through this sort of thing several times, some much worse, and having ended up better off than when I started, I found some things that have always helped me. I hope these help you and others as well.

1. Separate the factors you have control over from those you do not. List the factors that affect you that you have no control over, and create a way to monitor them, but do not worry about them. Just like the weather. You monitor and adjust to the weather, but you have no control over it.

2. You are not at fault. Try not to criticize or degrade yourself for the situation. There is nothing wrong with you. Things happen you cannot control or anticipate. You are not alone. Give yourself a break. Laughing at a perceived bad situation will quickly give you the new positive perspectives you want.

3. Focus on changing the conditions you do have control over. List everything you can change or influence for your benefit. Frankly, you will be astonished at what you really can influence or control. For example you have an extremely compelling story the press would jump at. The great “all giving government” is withholding funds to care for the needy. Exposing this could be used to pressure quicker and higher payments.

4. Think out of the box. These are unusual times and you will want to consider all sorts of things you would overlook when times were better. These times will take you out of your protective comfort zones. You are now free to consider almost anything. Focus on returning to your core purpose and principals for your business. Even consider pursuing other objectives you have been passionate about, but too busy or comfortable to think about. You might be surprised at the number of activities that you can perform that will benefit you and/or your business. Such freedom!

5. Ask for help. You will be amazed who will step up and help you. Unfortunately, you will also discover some people whom you thought would help who will not. Enjoy and respect your supporters. They are priceless, because they helped you when the chips were down.

6. These unusual times will not last. They never do. As bad as it might seem, it will change. Just like the miserable cold winter storms will go away. Do what you can to weather the storms and get into position to take advantage of the better times, when they return.