Teaching a Horse to Fly

(by Dan Miller)

The sultan of Persia had sentenced two men to death. One of them, knowing how much the sultan loved his stallion, offered to teach the horse to fly within a year in return for his life. The sultan, fancying himself as the rider of the only flying horse in the world, agreed.

The other prisoner looked at his friend in disbelief. "You know horses don't fly. What made you come up with a crazy idea like that? You're only postponing the inevitable." "Not so," said the first prisoner. "I have actually given myself four chances for freedom. First, the sultan might die during the year. Second, I might die. Third, the horse might die. And fourth -- I might teach the horse to fly."

Wow - I like this guy's thinking. Rather than giving in to victim mentality, with one creative suggestion, he creates four possible outcomes other than just being put to death.

Now – what “impossible” situation are you faced with today? Just lost your job? Just found out your bank is foreclosing on your house? Just shut the doors on the business you always dreamed of having? What are four new possibilities you could see – instead of just assuming crushing loss?

If you lost your job, you could:

Realize you’ve been “underemployed” and “undercompensated” -- do a great job search and begin a much better position.

Use your severance package to take your family on that much deserved vacation that’s been put off for too many years.

Go back to school to finish that long-awaited degree.

Finally have the opportunity to start your own business.