Jennifer Baszile

Today could have been a frustrating day.

I began my day intent on creating a new great new training module for my team and learning a new software application that would save me time and money in my business.

When I arrived in my office (across the hall from my bedroom LOL) my best laid plans seemed like they were endangered because I had all of these situations(notice I didn’t call them problems) to resolve. I realized that I had not been paid for some consulting work that I had done, and when I called their accounts payable department I got the run-around. I received cryptic and annoying letter from my bank and another form letter from another company claiming I had committed error. To cap it off, a huffy email from an hot-tempered lead was sitting in my email in-box.

I could feel my fists clench as I envisioned my once productive workday sacrificed to busywork.

After a momentary spiral, I remembered what my millionaire mentors have told and shown me–Always approach your business solution focused, rather than problem paralyzed.

Remaining solution focused maintains your power and clarifies what’s really important.

In business, profit and productivity are important because we, as entrepreneurs, no longer trade time for dollars. We only get paid for results.

So I completely set the challenges aside. First, I invested a few hours in creating that new training module and learning that new software just as I had originally intended. I wasn’t about to let those issues throw me off my game. Only after I had stayed true to my priorities did I turn to the challenges I faced.

I followed-up on the outstanding invoice for my consulting services first because I deserve to be compensated for my expertise. Then I placed two brief calls to resolve the other two matters. In a total of fewer than six minutes, both issues were resolved in my favor. I left the grumpy lead’s email completely alone because she had already shown me that she didn’t qualify for my time. It wasn’t personal.

All told, the challenges that seemed monumental, and could have wasted my entire day, took less than 30 minutes to resolve. I devoted the rest of the afternoon to the business I love.

The next time you face what seem like a laundry list of problems. Re-define them as challenges, and make the decision to stay solution focused. You will protect your time, and you will have mastered another dimension of the millionaire’s mindset.