A Napkin story!

If you have ever been on a family road trip with kids, I can just stop there, and you will already know the struggle. At least those trips can provide valuable and teachable moments for later on in life.

So, how do we start to win in life and business?

Buckle up and let's take a road trip.

Some aspects of life will be difficult, and one of those aspects is taking a family trip in the car. Especially with kids who are younger... Often, parents know the possibility that the trip will be fun. Memorable, but yet the pain of getting there will no doubt be there.

We could look at this example on a larger scale of projects coming up at work or personal projects that we may be working on within ourselves. Regardless of whatever it is, there will be a component of "pain" along the journey. Or are we able to see a different perspective?

I used to be the king of "this will suck" before doing anything that would entail projects, or road trips, mostly because I had "experience" and previous experience taught me that each new situation would bring a pain point. Until one day, my perspective changed.

Often times through travel I may need to swing through fast food and continue on my way to where I am headed. Not my favorite thing to do but it just happens to be that way sometimes. As I travel through these various chains there is most often one common theme with my orders.

(1) The meal is somewhat messy- not a huge deal.

(2) There are no napkins in the bag... big deal.

There are, however, some fast-food chains that have it figured in their training program to provide you with substantial napkins. Those chains I frequent most because I know the level of experience that will be provided. Unfortunately, my go-to place is closed on Sundays (I respect that decision).

I have yet in many, and I mean many years to be let down from a purchase of the place mentioned above and if you don't know where I am talking, then go ask the Cow's. They have always (for me at least) provided substantial napkins, which are very helpful.

So as life would have it and experience being a teacher, I expect everyone to follow suit and provide the same level of service by simply providing napkins with the order. Here is where our lesson and story begin.

We were taking a family trip, and as planning was happening, we knew the need for lunch would be provided by a fast-food chain. We were prepared (kind of), knowing we needed to make the additional stop. No big deal.

We drove around, and around and around, and I was in search of this place where I knew they will provide napkins, and so with kids, I felt that was the best place to make our stop...

Come to find out that the place where I wanted to stop did not set up an establishment there as I thought!

Point #1 Even if you are prepared... be ready to be unprepared. Understand that disappointment will happen in all forms... including your favorite restaurant not being available.

Mood drop is number one for me. I was frustrated that they were not there as I thought because I then knew that my experience was going to be of lesser value. I was mentally preparing myself to be frustrated and let down.

Point #2 In leadership, often the leader set's the mood for the team to follow. Always be mindful of how you, as the leader or leader of the family, set the "tone" for what is ahead.

We chose to swing through a secondary chain and in the past, the experience has been a letdown in regard to not having napkins in many of the orders. Oftentimes I try to avoid this place for that single reason. So, we made our way through the drive-thru, and as pay and collect the bag, I am just thinking in my head... "I bet there are no napkins" and my family could see it on my face.

Point #3 Don't play the victim. There was nothing stopping me from asking for napkins at the window, but I chose to embrace the possibility of not having napkins. Oftentimes in workplace settings, our teams and even leaders chose to play the victim instead of finding the solution.

We leave the restaurant and make our way down the road with the food in hand. My wife is getting the food and handing it out, I take my food and gently place it on my lap, and I immediately say, "Well, this is great. No napkins as always."

Within a few moments, there is a napkin placed on my lap and a look to go along with it. I was stunned! There was a napkin on my lap and ready for me to use.

I looked over and asked where the heck this came from, and the reply I received was there were napkins in the bag. "Will you get over your little fit now?"

This is what I learned about "winning" at that very moment.

Go into something negative and will be negative. Go into something expecting the worse, and it will be the worse.

My perspective of thinking negatively right from the beginning allowed me to continue down a negative path only to look foolish. Even though in the past I was let down numerous times, my perspective should have been ready to focus on the possibility of there being napkins instead of not.

When you step back and look at your organization and really study the teams, who make the magic happen. Does the right perspective guide them? Do they play victim, or provide solutions? Do the leaders inspire, or do they fuel the fire?

Each individual in the ecosystem of the organization contributes to the overall success and each individual needs to ensure they have the right coping skills, mental fortitude, and compacity to change their perspective when the situation arises.

Realize that something as simple as napkins can teach you a valuable lesson.