Sometimes we all feel like blaming someone for the hassles we now find ourselves in. Sure, there are plenty of people to blame, like the spammers or the hackers, maybe the virus or the trojan, or the friend that sent the email. What if we were to accept responsibility for everything, where would that leave us?

OK, maybe in a perfect world, I hear you say. Well, NO, this is about you, right now, taking responsibility for everything that happens to you, your computer, your life.

Ask yourself this question, “What is that extra step I could take to protect/ensure/ that I am a little bit safer than I was?”
When you have the answer, Fix it! Don”t wait till you are a victim of some catastrophe. Act now.

My job as a coach involves working with businesses to make sure they stay at the forefront of developments in their particular field. We do this by asking the boring questions. We stay at the front of the competition by making sure that the things you know should be done, ARE done. Simple stuff, but 99% of businesses and individuals fail to take heed of this simple fact…

You Know what you need to do next!

So that begs the question, “why aren’t you doing it?”

Again, there are some great answers…. no money, no time, not enough staff, to many other important things to take care of. Well there are ways around it and if you know that something should be done, why blame the spammers, hackers, virus or the trojan.

To many times I see businesses and individuals doing something outstanding in their lives only to forget to do the basics like adding the date to when their workshop will be run or, failing to take the necessary precautions to protect themselves, like insurance, like making sure their customers are contented, like failing to protect themselves from the spammers, hackers,virus or the trojan and then moaning when they are the victim.

SO before you get all defensive and feel that “they” are getting to you, Ask yourself… “What could I do, right now, to effectively take a step toward being completely covered or safe from attack (of any nature)?”

The answer you get is something you should think about getting completed.

I recently was working with the executive team of a school in Australia who were struggling to come to an agreement around what would be the best way to move forward. By clarifying what they were all working for, changed the circumstance. Instead of “Being Teachers” they changed their idea to “Providing an environment to learn”. That clarified, everything else moved as it was obvious what was required to “provide an environment to learn” where “being teachers” created many divisions.

This applies to individuals as well. We can’t just sit back and say they won’t get me, we must ask ourselves “What is the next step?” This then allows us to make changes in our environment that will improve our chances of handling our own outpoints in our systems.

So when you next start to complain about the amount of spam. Be very clear that you are able to make some changes that will allow you to deal with some of it. Then ask the question again….

Cheers… Bill

Bill is a Business Coach. Working with Individuals, Businesses and Organisations to create better environments and to develop and enhance business ”potential”, into successful business practices.  

(article posted to Computercops 08/April/04)