Overcoming Obstacles

I am truly blessed, because I’m able do what I love – helping people change limiting beliefs and unproductive patterns to empowering ones.

At one of our recent events, I was asked how I got into this field from my original career, banking. Hmmm. I pondered this question before replying, and I realized that two things were constants in my career: helping people and overcoming obstacles.

When I was in bank marketing, I loved creating campaigns and conducting trainings directed toward helping personnel meet their goals by generating new deposits and loans. Several mergers later, I left the banking industry to work for an agency providing direct marketing to financial institutions. But it wasn’t a nine-to-five situation; the best part was building relationships that resulted in true friendships, and helping clients overcome challenges in their personal lives as well as meeting their occupational goals. I loved knowing that when I traveled, I could stay at a client’s home and babysit their kids so they could have a night off. And the full-service marketing and advertising agency I founded was deeply fulfilling because of the great team that made our clients and our agency successful. Today, the senior copywriter is one of my best friends and still creates amazing campaigns and copy for marketing clients. And the client I babysat for remains a dear personal friend. The production director, Connie Phelan, founded Fire Power Seminars and invited me to join her in 2006 as co-founder. What an incredible journey!

Was it easy? No. Were there challenges? Yes – big ones. Were there risks involved? Yes. Would I do it all over again? Absolutely!

Getting back to the question of how I got here from my original banking career, the answer became simple. I got here by doing what I love, sharing my passion of learning and helping myself and others. I combined my talents with my passion to be the driving force to overcome any obstacle. Here are several things I have learned that may be useful for overcoming obstacles:

Know your passion.

• What do you truly enjoy?
• What are you good at?
• What do you want to do that you’re not doing now?

Commit to your outcome(s) and do not quit no matter what!

• Pay attention to your results; adjust and continue and keep going
• Have a strong “why” to your purpose. Why do you want what you want? What is your driving force?
• Be persistent – perseverance produces results.

Be flexible.

• Are your patterns leading to success or struggles? Take responsibility for your results and change your direction when necessary.
• Look where you’ve been and where you are without judgment. Change your course as needed.

Every obstacle is an opportunity for growth.

• Reflect upon some of the obstacles you have experienced in your life.
• Whether you moved through an obstacle or let an obstacle stop you, it caused you to change direction.
• Every obstacle gives you an opportunity to realize your full potential.

What is your greatest obstacle?

• YOU are your greatest obstacle if your perceptions are limiting your success. How are you using your mind?
• The obstacle is not the problem. Your reaction to the obstacle is the problem! Your reaction will determine how you respond.

Believe in yourself and in what you do.

• Amazing things happen when your talents and abilities come together.
• Empowering beliefs are the fuel for your commitment, enthusiasm and passion.

Give generously from your heart.

• Even if you do not have the funds to give, give from your heart. Volunteer or contribute to an organization.
• In giving, you will receive.

In summary, I leave you with the following quotes:

“Imaginary obstacles are insurmountable. Real ones aren’t.”  ~ Barbara Sher (Author)

“Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which one has overcome.”  ~  Booker T. Washington (Author, Civil Rights Leader)

“Stand up to your obstacles and do something about them. You will find that they haven’t half the strength you think they have.”  ~ Norman Vincent Peale (Author)

Karen Pfeffer
Karen is passionate about sharing powerful programs on communication, empowerment, team building and transformation. With a father from Kansas and a mother from Puerto Rico, Karen has a unique cultural mix that has inspired her to challenge stereotypes and “push the envelope” at every opportunity. She co-founded Fire Power Seminars with Connie Phelan in 2006 to empower individuals, organizations, and companies to achieve more than they ever thought possible.