For the next couple of posts, we’ll discuss Monday Morning Choices by David Cottrell. He lists 12, but we’re going to review my favorites.

# 1 – The No Victim Choice (don’t let the past eat your future)!

We’ve got Doctor A, and Doctor B.  Both went to the same school, and graduated with the same GPA.  They both opened their doors the same month in the same town.

Doctor A will typically see 2 new patients per month at best.  He complains that he opened in the wrong area of town.  He also blames his lack of success on insurance companies, the unemployment rate and the health care crisis.  He frequently plays on the internet in his office while he waits for patients to come in.

Doctor B averages 30 new patients per month.  He is looking for an associate and considering opening a satellite clinic.  If he has any down time, he gets out into his community to do talks and screenings.

This is a short example, but which of these doctors has allowed life to happen rather than making things happen to move him forward? Which is the victim? Which is choosing to be a passenger in life & which is a driver?  Do you realize both of these doctors have chosen to be where they currently are?

Are you a driver in life or a passenger?  Do you fall victim to your circumstances or do you make the best out of a not-so-great situation?  Do you have a whatever it takes attitude or does your attitude take you down?  How do you deal with things that happen to you?

Cottrell says “no one can make you a victim without your consent”.  Here are 3 things he says you can do to make the no-victim choice.

1. Expect the unexpected. How you respond to the unexpected events that come your way is how you regain control.

2. Look for alternatives. There are always alternatives if you choose to look for them.  Don’t fall into the victim trap.

3. Spend your energy searching for solutions, not excuses. No matter what happens, keep moving toward your personal and professional goals.

I’ll end with the words of George Bernard Shaw “People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are.  The people who get on in this world are they who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and if they can’t find them, make them“.