How To Overcome Any Obstacle - Learn The Power of Negative Capability

Have you noticed there seems to be a lot of whining and complaining recently about how difficult life has become? And while there are some current challenges people are definitely facing, a disturbing theme of "it's not my fault" and "someone else needs to fix this for me" has been developing. Encountering strong obstacles seems to be throwing people for a loop, leaving them feeling powerless and defeated.
Looking back I realize my parents modeled for me a tremendous work ethic and moral compass. They believed in excellence and they insisted I learn to work hard and to do the right thing because it was the right thing to do. They didn't compromise and they didn't allow excuses. I credit them with instilling in me the raw ingredients needed to be a success in every area of life. Over the decades I've honed those skills and never failed to learn from those I've met along the way.
A Chance Encounter
I first heard the term negative
capability years ago in Singapore while attending a luncheon with a very successful businessman, Mr. Wong. I became intrigued when he
arrived in a chauffer driven Rolls Royce limousine and immediately wanted to find out what this guy was made of — what made him tick?


So I asked him, what is the one characteristic, if he had to pick only one, that he felt accounted for his great success. I was astonished by his answer. He looked at me for just a second and then replied, "The key factor of my success has been my negative capability." When I asked him what negative capability meant, he explained it this way:


"Negative capability is the ability to bounce back from failure, to overcome obstacles, and to take calculated risks."

Mr. Wong went on to explain that he expected obstacles; they were no surprise; and those
obstacles didn't mean there was anything necessarily wrong. Obstacles are part of life. Not only that but getting up and trying again after
any temporary set-back is an absolute prerequisite for anyone desiring success. And as far as risks are concerned, if you aren't experiencing any "failures", you are being too conservative in your risk taking! After speaking with him I adopted the following philosophy that has served me well:
Never waste time in worry, not a second in doubt or frustration, and don't even stop to wonder why you are faced with obstacles.
For instance, you certainly shouldn't be surprised when someone presents you with an
objection during a sales presentation. Most salespeople think of an objection as a negative obstacle. However, generally you will not be able to close the sale without having the opportunity to address objections. In most cases the client simply needs more information. The obstacle becomes a tool for obtaining the end result you desire.

Unfortunately, when many people encounter strong unanticipated obstacles, they become frustrated
and overwhelmed, begin to question the validity of their goals, and often decide to quit. They see obstacles as impassable roadblocks. Sadly, they may be only three feet away from gold! They just needed to dig a little deeper and remain persistent. The fact is 90% of all failure comes from just quitting. Imagine that!
Negative Capability Is An Absolute Necessity
Negative capability, the dogged determination
to overcome every obstacle, to rebound after a defeat, and to take calculated risks is an absolute necessity for anyone planning on ultimate success.
Not every idea you have will be a good one, not every venture a slam dunk, not every goal a realized dream. Baseball legend, Babe Ruth, was
well known for his home runs, but few people know he also held the record for strike outs! If you quit when you experience a set-back, you're made a pact to live in mediocrity; a dismal place to experience life.
Bill Cosby is a classic example of someone who has found negative capability a very valuable tool in achieving phenomenal success. He grew up poor in the slums of Philadelphia with an alcoholic father who later deserted the family. His mother was a
scrubwoman. However, he didn't allow those negatives to stand in his way or use them as an excuse. Cosby was incredibly persistent and was
determined to turn his negatives into positives; he had negative capability.
Another rags-to-riches success story is Dave Thomas, the founder of Wendy's Restaurant, who started out his career as a dishwasher. With a lot of hard work and determination, a refusal to allow any obstacle to defeat him, Wendy's ultimately
became the third largest hamburger chain in the country. Dave Thomas had negative capability.
Obstacles As Opportunity
Basically, you have to refuse to allow the negative forces in the environment to control
you or your emotions. You have to re-frame the events around you, to view obstacles and set-backs as "normal"; as opportunities to learn something new that will aid you in reaching the next level. When you cease to view obstacles as threatening or even inconvenient, you become unstoppable.

Personally I get up every day without the slightest thought of failing; my entire focus
is on my latest goals, both personal and business. I constantly visualize myself as succeeding, treat obstacles as creative challenges, and continually
keep the mindset that all will work out for my benefit.
Recently I sat down and made a list of all the businesses I'd started over the years, those that had been a success and those that did not work out so well. My list included over 100 companies; a good 60 of them "failed" if you wish to use that term. I've never viewed them as failures as they taught me a great deal; they taught me how to make the 40 companies that did work a huge success. In other words, I've hit several grand slams and several home runs, and the results have been millions in cash. I shutter to think how different my life would have been if I had stopped after certain companies "failed."

The world is full of opportunity for those who refuse to give up. You haven't failed until you've stopped trying. Persistence beats resistance every time. Determine to turn any perceived negative into an opportunity to excel, to sharpen your skills, to increase your learning curve. Remember my
life-long motto: "Whatever you vividly imagine, ardently desire, sincerely believe, and enthusiastically act upon must inevitably come to pass!"

A millionaire at 27 and founder of Success Motivation® Institute, Inc. (SMI), Paul J. Meyer is dedicated to motivating people to their full potential. As an astute businessman and entrepreneur, Meyer believes the ticket to his success has been his life-long love of selling. Learn the secrets to his success in his new book, Pink Slip Proof - How To Control All Future Paychecks, now available at www.pauljmeyer.com.