If you can find a path with no
obstacles, it probably doesn’t lead anywhere.
Frank A. Clark
If achieving
goals were easy, everyone would do it quickly and without difficulty. There are always obstacles in the path. It’s the journey of clearing those obstacles
that makes life rich, and helps people feel truly accomplished when they
finally reach their pinnacle of success.
OBSTACLE
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Understand
the 3 Flavors
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1
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External
Obstacles
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obstacles
outside of your control such as the economy, natural disasters, physical
limitations, and the political climate
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2
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Internal
Obstacles
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obstacles
are generally one-time issues but you have direct control over them, such as
debt, cash flow, time availability, needed skills or talent
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3
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Habitual Obstacles
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Obstacles that
reflect how people get in their own way. They can only be removed with
behavioral change.
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Tips to overcome
obstacles
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1
|
Embrace
Self-Awareness
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see the
obstacle and believe it's a hindrance
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2
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Use Time
to Your Advantage
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learn to manage
your impatience and be ready when the smoke clears
Set a
preliminary schedule with clear milestones
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3
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Commit to
Focused Discipline
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making
yourself emotionally commit time and effort to your benefit regardless of
external factors
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4
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Engage
Your Own Creativity
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Take time
to think things through and find creative solutions that bring fun and
progress to the grind of obstacle removal
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We almost
always stumble in the journey to achieve the goals we set because of unexpected
obstacles and challenges that arise along the journey. It’s important to understand that every goal
we set naturally comes with a plethora of landmines. These land-mines showed up in our lives as a
set of obstacles, challenges and problems to surpass in order to get to the end
destination.
Types of Obstacles
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1
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Personal
Obstacles
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related to
our psychology, behaviors and state-of-mind
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include
limiting habits, debilitating emotions, fears and beliefs
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prevent us
from moving forward towards the attainment of our goals and objectives
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prevent us
from making effective decisions and undertaking the actions that will help us
create the momentum we need to get to our end destination
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list of
personal obstacles
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Lack of pain
Lack of discipline
Lack of knowledge
Lack of inspiration
Lack of desire
Lack of skill
Fear of change
Fear of failure
Feeling unworthy
Procrastination
Perfectionism
Disorganization
Pessimistic thoughts
Too many time constraints
Too much complacency
Too much blaming of self and others
Too many excuses
Too much complaining
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2
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Social
Obstacles
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related to
people who either do no cooperate with you, sabotage you, or are simply
incompetent and unable to fulfill the responsibilities assigned to them
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helps to
develop good strong bonds and relationships with the people you rely on most
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try to
subtly influence people and understand their needs, motives and desires
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3
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Environmental
Obstacles
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often
unexpected conditions, occurrences and circumstances that you have very
little control over
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gather a
better understanding of the possible scenarios and consequences of your
decisions and actions
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Analyzing
the obstacle
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1
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Question
the Problem
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2
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Question
the Origins of Problem
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3
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Identify
the Details
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4
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Determine
the Consequences
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5
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Take
Control
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6
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Identify
the Positives
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7
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Gain
Perspective
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8
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Expand
Your Options
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Tips for Overcoming Obstacles
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1
|
Step Back
Emotionally
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·
learn to
step back from our emotions
·
see the
situation from an external perspective
·
see the logic
and reason
·
identify
the true relevance and significance of the events
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2
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Gain
Necessary Resources and Support
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·
identify
the pieces of the puzzle we are currently missing
·
look for
the necessary tools, strategies, knowledge and the support needed
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3
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Acquire
Different Perspective
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·
viewing
the situation from another person’s perspective
·
use a
plethora of framing and reframing techniques
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4
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Seek
Guidance
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·
seek out
mentors, life coaches or experts
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5
|
Breathe,
Take Control and Take Action
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·
take time
to ponder and think strategically about the circumstances
·
gain some
semblance of control over your circumstances
·
start
building momentum moving forward
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6
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Adjust
Your Priorities
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7
|
Assess
Your Obstacles
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·
figure out
how it originated and weaseled its way into your life
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8
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List
Possible Options
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·
solutions
can only be found when we open our minds to possibilities and options
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9
|
Ask
Effective Questions
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·
help you
gather new and different perspectives about your life and circumstances
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10
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Experiment
in New Directions
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·
help gain
new insights into the obstacles
·
Use it to
try new things and move in new directions
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11
|
Accept and
Acknowledge Circumstances
|
·
accept and
acknowledge the circumstances for what they are from an optimistic, solution
orientated yet very realistic perspective
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12
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Think
Critically and Creatively
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·
help you
unlock the solutions and answers
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13
|
Take Small
Steps
|
·
ensure
that you always remain in control
·
simply
break down what you need to do into small manageable chunks
·
progressively
work on one or more chunks per day
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14
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Make
Necessary Sacrifices
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·
it’s not
what you do, but rather what you let go of that will have the greatest impact
on your life
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15
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Learn from
Mistakes
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·
Take time
to learn from every unsuccessful attempt
·
The more
you learn, the more you will grow and the better you will be able to deal
with the obstacles
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16
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Keep
Things Simple
|
·
simplicity
is the key
·
keep
things as simple and straightforward as possible, because the toughest of
problems are often solved in simple ways
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17
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Cultivate
Self Belief and Confidence
|
·
help you
to think far more effectively
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18
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Cultivate
Calmness
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·
provides
you with clarity of mind
·
enables
you to ask better questions, think more creatively, critically and
effectively
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19
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Cultivate
an Active Mindset
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·
asks
effective questions; always looks for new answers, opportunities and
solutions
·
flexible,
adaptable and constantly learns from past mistakes, while moving forward
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20
|
Cultivate
these Indispensable Qualities
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·
Discipline
·
Commitment
·
Foresight
·
Resilience
·
Enthusiasm
·
Gratitude
·
Optimism
·
Curiosity
·
Patience
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21
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Don’t
Dwell on the Negatives
|
·
you will
get more of that in your life, because we attract what we focus on
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22
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Don’t
Throw Blame on Your-Self or Others
|
·
can
acknowledge that someone was at fault, however it’s often not the person but
rather the systems and processes in place that lead to this outcome
·
Fix these,
do not lay blame, and the obstacles you are facing will be fade away
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23
|
Don’t Look
for Sympathy
|
·
look to
come from a place of personal empowerment, where we take full responsibility
for our life and circumstances
·
focus on
always exploring options that will move us forward
|
24
|
Don’t Quit
|
·
the
greatest opportunities are always interlocked with the most difficult
struggles of life
|
Obstacles
are just “things” that are there to teach and strengthen us for the journey
that lies ahead. We must therefore as
small — and at times large — stepping stones that are required “modules” need
to pass in order to obtain Goal Achievement.
Take time to learn the lessons that life throws in our way, because
these lessons will be critical to our success.
REFERENCES
1. http://www.inc.com/kevin-daum/4-tips-for-overcoming-obstacles.html; 4
Tips For Overcoming Obstacles, By Kevin Daum, Inc. 500 entrepreneur and
best-selling author
