The Secret To Making the Most Out of ANY Situation
Do you ever find yourself stuck in situations you’d rather not be in? About 4 years ago, this was the practically the story of my life. I hated my job in finance and the majority of my day was spent in boring meetings. Looking back, I could kick myself for all the missed opportunities that were available if I would have simply applied the secret I’m about to share with you now.
The situations that I dread the most, are BORING ones. I HATE having to sit through a mindless activity when I would rather be doing something else, ANYTHING else! The law of attraction states that what we focus on expands and for many years, I found myself stuck in boring situations at an increasingly frequent rate. It wasn’t until I met Karl Wolfe, now one of my most trusted mentors, that things started to shift for me.
Karl called me out one during his weekly class for zoning out. He said “Are we boring you?” Feeling embarrassed and caught red handed I responded “No, I’m just really tired.” “Baloney” he said, “you do this every single week and if you keep it up, I’m NOT gonna let you come back. If you’re doing this behavior in here, you’re probably doing it all the others areas of life so what is the impact, Robbie?” In that moment I realized how often I zoned out and walked through life virtually “checked out.” Karl explained that in every moment, there are countless things happening that we could learn from.
To illustrate this point, let’s take a worst case scenario of being stuck in activity most of us would prefer to avoid. Let’s pretend we work at McDonalds and we have two options for how we choose to spend out time:
1) We can do the exact minimum amount of work required to avoid getting fired while we constantly glance at the clock waiting for our shift to be over so we can do something more rewarding.
2) We can start to notice all the things that are happening around us that we could learn from. How does the french fryer work? How do the cash registers operate? How much money does this place bring in per day and how much is being spent per day. How does the accounting system work? What are my coworkers like and why are they working here? Why does everyone make fun of people who work at McDonalds? Do they think people like me are stupid? Am I stupid or am I just too lazy to get a higher paying job?
Option 1 will keep us stuck in “Boredom Hell” while option 2 has the potential to open our eyes to something more. What if we actually used our free time between burger flips at McDonalds to figure out how we could improve the system and make the business run smoother. We then found a solution and approached our boss to let us be in charge of implementing it. Do I hear PROMOTION!?!?
So here’s the secret if you haven’t figured it out by now. Approach every situation as a curious student. Ask yourself questions that engage your creativity rather then zoning out. Look at ways to improve things and add value to other people’s lives.
You would think this concept would be an obvious one but look at society. How many people are actually trying to improve things and create value for others? Compare that to the amount of people who are just trying to survive and get by comfortably.
When I looked back on my life since graduating college I made an interesting discovery. When my intention in life was to be comfortable, I was usually quite uncomfortable. But when I switched my intention to serve others and provide value, my bank account starting growing and found myself extremely comfortable by default. In fact I can’t even remember the last time I found myself in a situation I didn’t want to be in. And in the rare occasion it does happen, I choose to leave or use the tools I shared above to engage myself and turn things around. Does it sound like I’m bragging? Well it should because I AM! 
I never thought it would be possible to have the freedom to do whatever I want to, whenever I want to. But looking back, it was really quite easy once I made this simple shift.
You and I both know that this information is useless unless we put it into action so start by leaving a comment below about the areas in your life where you find yourself bored or stuck. Next, identify the things that you can focus on instead to add value and engage your curiosity. DO IT NOW!
Cheers,
Robbie Kramer
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@Kevin
HEy Kev, The difference is. I always have work to do, lots.
Pursue the one that’s more fun. Fuck loyalty.
@Robbie Kramer
Sure especially since I summarized million thoughts into those 3 sentences. But first off, let me just said I spent all morning talking to my last boss (let’s call him boss A with job A) and working on my resume. I figured that after posting this to throw caution into the wind and just explore opportunities to begin with.
In job A, I won’t actually be working with boss A. We just report to the same big boss (not that I’m at boss A’s level since he has waaay more responsibilities).
So here’s rest of the low down. I work for a huge company, so much so that each division is almost like another company altogether.
In my current job (job B), I got pulled in because I’m young and the group needed some fresh perspective. This is a very old and traditional industry (eg. my office was built in the 60s). Things are, as mentioned, been working on old (but working) cogs. I’ve been here for almost a year, and we’ve seen some changes (which is the stuff I like to do).
However, I’ve been tasked with the stuff (accounting) I hate along with that. I just feel that there can be so much more things that can be changed, but in a way I’m limited by my circumstances (what I know and how involved I am in actual decision making).
I’m a big fan of Jason Calacanis and he recently had a huge rant on Gen Y’s and how we lack loyalty (the argument is a longer and more complex than that). I fully agree. Sometimes, we just have to stick it up with something that’s tough for a while before moving on – there are advantages to that. Also, I don’t know where else I can move on from job A, whereas the older people in job B are presumably moving on soon. Because of this, I feel compelled to stay on with job B. Yet, part of my heart says if all things equal, job A is very appealing.
@Einar Coutin
When I worked in the budget department, I was made responsible for the headcount report. There was a Standard Operating Procedure for it, but it was just way too long and boring and tedious. So since I rarely had any work to do anyway, I decided to spend all my time on a macro that can do everything in basically one step, and in less time than the Standard way.
I was really happy when I finally finished it. But now I see other people still doing it the old way, because they don’t have much to do anyway. So that was a bit disappointing.
@Einar Coutin
Sounds like you are on the right track Mr. Crouton!
@C-Dub
Thanks Cary, cool article about the Smiths. I can’t believe Will Smith travels home from China every week to see his son’s games! Baller!
@Mike
You’re on the right track Mike! Tease people and give them shit, it’s a great way to entertain yourself. I take it you’ve read Killer Conversations Part 1 but if not, check it out and all the other posts under the flirting, playing with tension tags for more resources. The trick is practicing consistently and with everyone. P.S. Where are you from?
@Dave F
Can you explain this statement, Dave? I don’t see the logic there.
I’m most likely not going to pursue it because I’ve only been in this group for only a short period of time (I’m a big believer in loyalty) and there is unfinished business. It would be an accomplishment when I am the guy to put this group ‘back on track’ again.
@Einar Coutin
I caught myself zoning out 3 times today. Now that I think about it I must had done it 10 times.
Great article Robbie!
I just read this article this morning too about Will Smith. Lots of the same stuff you’re talking about. He’s an amazing role model too!
http://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/Will-Smith-and-Jada-Pinkett-Smith-Talk-Family
When I started at this company I worked hard as hell. My average was 50 to 60 hours per week. As a developer, and learning all the time a very complicated system that was A LOT. First thing I did was when I had to opportunity to improve the system I made a proposal and contributed by implementing a very simple tool that saves a lot of time.
6 to 8 months later I got hired full time.
Right now I’m working on the test system. I have mentioned streamlining it several times and no one wants to do it.The Excuse is that is too hard work. I guess I will have to push and do it myself.
At least I have one idea on how to do it.
Because it is a boring, repetitive and stressful activity that takes a LOT of time and effort. Is great for learning how the whole system works but is very repetitive which makes it boring.
I find myself bored and stuck in both group social situations and one-on-one situations with girls all the time. I want to be that interesting, fun, value-giving guy who makes everyone’s time better, but besides a few fun routines I’ve learned, I often have nowhere to go other than the boring cop-out conversions/questions. It’s even moreso for creating attraction and getting physical.
I guess I just need to focus even more on looking for what opportunities situations have to offer, and giving people-men and women-shit for nothing, like blaming them for everything (and why I’m bored), but I need some help here.
I’m an accountant by trade, which isn’t the most exciting one in the world. My group consists of older people (my immediate boss is 62, I have a co-worker is 70, and the rest of them are married with kids close to my age) and I find it hard to connect with them, unlike in my previous group where my manager and I shoot the sh!t all the time.
There have been times I hate my job. Being straight laced and crunching numbers suck. I am more analytical and I enjoy teaching people things.
I make things better by putting a spin on things. I try to improve the process on things that I think are lame and inefficient (did I mention I worked with a bunch of old people?). During audits, instead of being that accounting dick, I speak people’s language and present things from their point of view instead of telling them what accounting wants.
Like you mentioned Robbie, whenever I try to be comfortable in my job and half-ass things because I don’t enjoy them, I hate things even more. When I hustle (a Gary V reference), I love life.
There is an opening within my company for something that is still financial but more up my alley, working with my previous boss (the one I got along real well with). However, I’m most likely not going to pursue it because I’ve only been in this group for only a short period of time (I’m a big believer in loyalty) and there is unfinished business. It would be an accomplishment when I am the guy to put this group ‘back on track’ again.
Other than my ‘job’, there are so many things outside of work I do that make me love life. I don’t let me job define me. However, while accounting is not the passion that I am cashing in on, it is not a deal breaker.
Really nice article.