The Sanford Berenberg Experience: Message of the Day

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Message of the Day - Learning ways around obstacles

Good Morning,

My current read is “What Would Lincoln Do?: Lincoln’s Most Inspired Solutions to Challenging Problems and Difficult Situations” by David Acord (http://www.amazon.com/dp/1402217900/?tag=mh0b-20&hvadid=153108912&ref=pd_sl_83ws1vrsof_e). It is a book which lists real life situations and uses letters Abraham Lincoln wrote during this life to show how he handled these situations.

In a section on giving encouragement, Lincoln wrote a letter to a son of a family friend who was upset at being turned down for admission to Harvard University. Lincoln, President of the United States at this time, wrote the boy and told him that if he kept at it, he could accomplish anything. Lincoln then encouraged him to contact the Dean of Admissions and find out what he could do to make himself a better candidate for Harvard.

It sounds so simple, when we fail, if we ask another to help us understand what we did not do right, what we need more of, what we need less of, we may just find out what has limited our success. Yet, we often pass on these opportunities to learn and improve ourselves.

If after a job interview, we do not get the job, maybe reach out to the recruiter or company and ask if you can get some feedback on why you were not chosen as a candidate and what they suggest you do to make yourself a better candidate in the future.

This can work in almost any area of our lives. We just have to get past the initial fears of confronting others and having others tell us about our failings and weaknesses.

It we can suck it up and ask, we may find the right solution to move our lives forward in areas we seem to be stuck in now.

When you fail, ask or look around and find out why. Ask questions and be willing to take the feedback, even if it cuts to the bone.

Enjoy!

Sanford Berenberg

Sanford@berenberg.net

http://www.berenberg.net