What You See is What You Get

by Scott Harper

“You must see challenges as exciting opportunities rather than discouraging obstacles.”

Carey D. Lohrenz

March 11, 2026

Which do you see in these situations?

That employee is frustrating!

  1. - Someone to get rid of.

  2. - Someone who will help me grow.

They lied to me.

  1. - I need to avoid and disparage them.

  2. - That is a fearful person whom I can learn to make feel safer.

I’m stressed out.

  1. - There is too much to do.

  2. - I will find better ways to manage my time.

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There is no way through life without obstacles and frustrations. If your goal is to find a path without challenges, you may need to just put it in Park until you come to your senses.

Instead of worrying about the hurdles that you will certainly encounter, your best bet is to use the same energy that gets your blood pressure up and focus it on making yourself better.

Obstacles don’t cause our failures. Our failures come from how we respond to obstacles.

The obstacles will be there either way; the only difference is our perspective and response.

SHARPER LEADER:

1.    Which do you see?

  • Action Step: With your next obstacle, choose to look at it as an opportunity and see how it changes your view.   

 

2.     What obstacle has been holding back your ability to progress?

  • Action Step: Write down something that you’re having trouble letting go. Even if you don’t yet believe them, write down all the other (helpful) ways you can look at it.

 

3.    What is something at work or home that really frustrates you?

  • Action Step: Is it exposing a weakness of yours? Patience? Understanding? Forgiveness? Communication skills? Find a way to use that frustration as fuel for your growth.   

 

Recommended book: Fearless Leadership: High-Performance Lessons From the Flight Deck by Carey D. Lohrenz

Before next week’s The Sharper Minute: Pick one thing that you will choose to start looking at from a different perspective. Keep looking at it that way until you see it that way.    

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Lead. Learn. Grow.