“Why not go out on a limb? That's where fruit is.” Will Rogers

I was following my usual morning routine. Wake up, brush my teeth and sleepily stumble down stairs to my office to check my email. I often wake up looking forward to day and excited to see what has transpired in my world while I was asleep.

Sitting at my desk scanning through my typically loaded inbox, my eye came across an email from “O, The Oprah Magazine”. Oprah? I thought, “no way.” My first reaction was to assume it was spam, heaven knows I get enough of it. Reading further, I realized it was a good thing I didn’t hit delete key.

Apparently, one of their feature editors came across a recent article of mine. She was requesting if “O” could publish it in December issue of South Africa edition. I was stunned!

It took me a minute to realize email was for real then reality began to sink in. I felt an enormous wave of excitement begin to build. Me published in Oprah? Wow.

I immediately picked up phone to call a friend to share my excitement. After sharing a few wahoo’s together she reminded me of something about myself I’d completely forgotten. A mere eighteen months ago I thought I couldn’t write.

I was looking for a way to build my business and my coach suggested writing and publishing articles. I bristled at suggestion. “I am NOT a writer” I retorted,” in fact, I hate to write”. English was definitely NOT my strong subject. I can vividly remember agonizing over school reports. I remember once, years ago, I wrote a business letter and my husband asked me if English was my first language.

“Your capacity to be creatively alive in virtually all life circumstances will depend in large part upon kind of attitude you choose for yourself.” - Dr. Wayne W. Dyer, Author/Lecturer

In almost every part of daily living, there are obstacles that prevent you from accomplishing your goals. Whether obstacles are in running a business or in handling a personal crisis, objective is same. You have to get above it, over it, under it, or around obstacle.

Whenever you are faced with an obstacle, learn to see it for what it is. Think of how you can remove it, or make it harmless and not so important. By making obstacle weaker and less important, you make yourself and your business more stronger.

FIVE WAYS YOU CAN FACE OBSTACLES AND TURN THEM INTO BLESSINGS

<> Never dwell on cause of obstacle. Rise above it and change way you respond to it. It only has as much power as you’re willing to give it.

<> Check your attitude. Know that you have ability to control outcome, and/or to choose answer that’s right for you.

<> Think of an alternative. If one answer doesn’t work, or if it doesn’t feel right, try another way to get to best solution.

<> Realize that your view of obstacle is what may determine how much impact it has on your life.

<> Think about what you were doing just before obstacle happened. Don’t make excuses to yourself. Turn obstacle into a positive motivator. Then find a way to move toward your goal.

FIVE OBSTACLES THAT CAN INFLUENCE YOUR LIFE AND BUSINESS

***FEAR OF FAILURE. Do you think of all reasons not to pursue your goals because you might fail? What if you make a wrong choice? What happens when something doesn’t work out? These can be mind numbing experiences. Ask yourself if your fear keeps you from doing your best, or if you might lose a client or friend because of it.

***GUILT. No act, either big or small should make another person feel guilty. When you give your best, you have no reason to feel guilty. When you trust your feelings and are responsible for your actions, you’ll have no reason to feel guilty.