I think that most people would agree that there are two kinds of people when it comes to looking at life’s challenges, those that view life as glass half empty and those that view life as glass half full. Recently I went on a 10 day motorcycle trip and visited several national parks with my riding buddies. Well into the ride one of our friends crashed his bike and because “we leave no man behind” the challenge was to get our riding brother home safely with his repaired knee cap. We decided that we would rent a vehicle and put one of our bikes in the back and then one of us could drive him home with him in the back seat. He could not fly because he needed to keep his leg straight due to the kinds of repairs that he received. We experienced numerous “glass half empty” people that said there was no way to find a vehicle that we could rent one way back to Vancouver Washington where we live. In fact they were so discouraging that we began to think there was no hope… that no vehicle existed.
Then we found Angela (Angel to us). When Angela said the words “let me see what I can do” it changed and recharged our world. You see a glass half full person looks at a challenge with the idea and confidence that out there somewhere there is a solution to the challenge. The energy level changes and minds start working towards the common goal of success. I believe you will find that most of the resilient people that profited during the last financial recession have a glass half full mind set. Now how do the actions of one person such as Angela help us as sub-contractors become better subs to our clients? I believe the answer would be in the words she spoke that inspired a hand full of tired and rejected bikers trying to get their broken friend home, “let me see what I can do.”
If we were to aspire to glass half full thinking when a challenge is raised by an owner or a general contractor, then we will certainly become part of the solution and not part of the problem. These owners and contractors recognize proactive, positive high energy problem solving when they experience it. I encourage all of our leaders at Cornerstone Masonry to respond to difficult challenges with,”let me see what we can do.” not, “it can’t be done.” Yes sometimes we need to enlighten design teams to creative solutions and we at Cornerstone feel like that certainly falls on our shoulders. I’m convinced that this is a new era of contracting that requires positive, can-do, forward thinking and this is what our clients in this market are looking for.
So I am challenging you who have survived with resilience and glass half full thinking in a difficult economy and who may now be experiencing a favorable robust one, to continue to press your team to respond to difficult challenges with a positive, creative, “see what we can do” problem solving approach. It is easy to say we don’t have the time or the energy to help you or there is no way that can be done. I’m sure that a glass half full energized, effective approach to problem solving for all our clients will produce glasses that will be overflowing with profits and many satisfied and repeat customers. As I may have said before sometimes when things are good we tend to neglect the philosophy that got us here today. So I am encouraging you and your team again not to grow weary in well doing and continue to attack every challenge with a glass half full attitude just like Angel did for the bikers; that did get their friend home safely thanks to someone who embraced life with a glass half full approach.
Cornerstone in the work-zone
Sincerely, Larry Bonife, President 