How would you like to build a hotel in a city bursting with opportunity? Here’s how spotting hidden possibilities can catapult your business ahead of the pack. Earl Nightingale once told a story about a friend who wanted to do exactly that. He searched up and down the West Coast, looking for the right place. Finally, he found it: a spot right next to a big university, with busy streets and restaurants all around. But there was a catch. An old brick building stood in the way, filled with the noise of a working factory.
So what did he do? Rather than accepting defeat, he picked up the phone and called the owners of that old plant. He explained, “Look, the city isn’t the same as it was when you first built here. New businesses have moved in. The neighborhood has changed. Why not sell the property, make some money, and build a new plant somewhere with more room?” The owners agreed. They sold the land. The old building came down. The hotel went up.
The hotel was a hit. Here’s the real lesson: while others saw only an obstacle, he saw an opportunity. Success often comes from looking beyond the obvious and acting where others hesitate. Spotting hidden potential and having the courage to act are what set him apart.
Nightingale also mentioned that genius, as described by the great psychologist and philosopher William James, means simply this: seeing things at home and at work with fresh eyes: “Look at them with the eyes of creation.” Building on this idea, Nightingale emphasized viewing things not just as they are, but as they could be, stating that our lives are full of old brick buildings that will remain if we don’t take action. This aligns with the idea that sticking to old methods leaves us behind, discouraging continuous innovation and change.
I will end with a quote from legendary playwright George Bernard Shaw: “You see things and say, ‘Why?’ But I dream things and say, ‘Why not?’”
Mark
Dr. Mark Edge
The WorkEdge Company
Telephone: 903-245-7851
Email: workedgetexas@gmail.com
Website: www.workedgetexas.com
Author of Holy Chaos To purchase the book, click here:
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