In last week’s message, I reported from the latest brain research that you control how you approach situations: either possible or impossible. Read it again. Then I asked you for input about your experience with overcoming “why you can’t” thinking. I agreed to share your experiences so we could learn together.

Of the comments I received, they seemed to fall into two areas: change yourself and change others. Below are two summaries of what I heard from you.

1. Change yourself. When catching yourself thinking that something can’t be done, use your awareness as a prompt to follow up with the question, “But if I could, what would have to happen?”

Example: “I can’t get what my client wants in that short a timeframe.” [PROMPT] “But if I could, how could it be done?” Ask it in such a way that it expands beyond yourself and the typical ways of doing things.

My client reported that one of his clients made a request that had a very short window. He responded that the timeframe was very aggressive and couldn’t be done. His client said that this was what others said as well. But it didn’t stop there. Then my client continued to describe how he could accomplish the request if he did some advance work that typically was not done until later in the process. Then he said, “If you give us the engagement, we’ll get started right away.” He got the job.

 

2. Change others. When someone tells you it can’t be done, don’t stop there. Gently walk people down the ladder of “I can’t” to consider another ladder of “how could we?”

It might go like this:

Them: It can’t be done.

You: I realize it will be difficult, but what could we do so it would work?

Them: I told you, it can’t be done for these reasons…

You: I heard you the first time and I understand what you’re saying. But if it could be accomplished, what would have to happen?

Them: (pause) Well, first, we would have to…

Together: begin exploring how it could be accomplished.

In both cases, you refuse to be held up by limitations, traditional ways of doing things and an “I can’t” attitude. You break through and do things that aren’t possible.

Pretty cool. This week, be that person more often.