Do you go over, around or through the mountains?

The business world often refers to problems or trails as "opportunities".  These opportunities come in all shapes and sizes, some small and easy to deal with and others so large they seem to be impossible to deal with.  When I work with clients on "opportunities" I use a word picture.  I tell them to think of opportunities as mountains. Each mountain offers unique problems that must be conquered.  I tell them that some people come up to their mountain and scream at it, they kick it, or simply sit down and cry because it seems so overwhelming.

As a life coach, it is my job to help clients realize that every mountain can be conquered.  The trick is determining how to conquer this mountain.  I suggest that they can go over it, around it or through it.  Each choice requires a different approach and a different set of "tools".  If you go around the mountain you may encounter rivers or deep valleys that will need to be crossed.  If you go over the mountain, you may encounter snow and bitter cold as well as hazardous climbing conditions. If you go through the mountain you may encounter cave-ins and very hard rock to dig through. Each choice has it's own plus's and minus's.

The client must investigate and try to anticipate all the various circumstances they may encounter with each of their possible choices. They then need to select the approach that best suits them and their skill set.  They need to gather the needed resources and set out on their journey.

I have the responsibility to tell the client that, once they conquer this mountain (opportunity) they will see others in their path. I have heard it said this way, people are always in one of three stages in their lives, they are entering into a opportunity, they are in the midst of a opportunity, or they are coming out of an opportunity.   Each time you conquer a opportunity you learn a valuable lesson about yourself and the opportunity you conquered.  Some say "what doesn't kill you will make you stronger".  People "grow" through these opportunities and it helps them as they face their new opportunities.

Life coaching is about helping people get through their current opportunities, gain the confidence that comes with conquering them, and them help them get ready for the next.

Are you sitting in front of your mountain hoping it will go away or are you ready to get up and conquer it?