“Life’s up and downs provide windows of opportunity to determine your values and goals – Think of using all obstacles as stepping stones to build the life you want.” ~ Marsha Sinetar

Someone recently asked me if I viewed challenges as opportunities. The answer is an astounding “YES!” I believe one of the turning points for me was when I was in high school, and I was told that I was too slow and small to play Division 1 football. Something went off inside of me, and I was determined to prove them wrong. I went on to earn a football scholarship at Fresno State – all because of the drive that I had to overcome a challenge.

Anyone who is around me for more than five minutes knows that I am a person of positive energy. It is such a part of my nature, that my spirit is alerted the second any negative self-talk comes from anyone. If I hear it, especially from my children, I’m quick to encourage them to not only to think the opposite, but speak it as well. Once those thoughts become actions, all it takes is effort to press forward. Being the “effort guy” is such a part of me that I’ve pounded that thought into my children. I believe I’ll never hear from someone else that one of my kids hasn’t put forth effort. I constantly tell my children, “I don’t care what you do in life, just give 100% effort to be the best you can be.”

So many people view certain things in life as challenges, often using them as an excuse to stay status quo or be a victim. Like the quote in the subhead states – I try to look at obstacles as stepping stones to where I want to be. Take my latest health club acquisition. I looked at it about five years ago and thought it would be a great opportunity, yet there were many obstacles and road blocks in my way. In spite of those challenges, I kept it in my radar, and although it took several years for those obstacles to be removed, when the timing was right, the deal came together very quickly. Many people often give up too soon when roadblocks appear, not wanting to take the necessary steps or wait for the right timing to see their dreams or goals manifest.

Perseverance certainly paid off for me, and by putting forth attitude, energy and effort, I took what others may have perceived as an “old dog,” cleaned it up and interjected my enthusiasm to the staff and doubled that business within a year’s time. The energy that flows out of this club today is not the same as it was even a year ago. We are forever evolving, and the future will be even brighter next year. Yes, it was challenging, but when you can see potential that others may overlook, it’s like giving life back to something – it flourishes before your eyes. If you’re not seeing what you want in your life, ask yourself, “How much energy and effort am I putting into this?”

I love being an entrepreneur, as my vision is limitless. I read something recently that was very powerful by Pattie Sellers who has written articles for Fortune magazine and others. Although she was addressing a group of women about their career in the particular article I read, I believe it applies to everyone and about any area of life. She said,  “Don’t think of your career as a ladder, think of it as a jungle gym. If you think of it as a ladder, you won’t have the peripheral vision to enable you see the lateral opportunities and especially today when you don’t know what the hot job is going to be tomorrow. You’ve got to keep yourself open and you’ve got to swing to the opportunities that come along.”

You may theoretically be on your life’s jungle gym right now, flailing around from one rung (opportunity) to another. Keep in mind that sometimes you need to hang on to a rung a little longer and wait for the right timing to make your next move. It’s not always about zipping through to the end, obstacle free – take the time to evaluate all of your options. What challenges or obstacles are you facing today? Maybe it’s your career, your relationships or even your health. Whatever it is, put on a winning attitude and exert all the energy and effort you can muster up, and I believe those challenges will become stepping stones that will lead you in the direction of the life that you want to live.

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