The Sunday Mail
CHANGING PERSPECTIVES
Rutendo Gwatidzo
THE statement “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade” is far more than just a catchy phrase.
It is testament to the human spirit’s ability to find creative solutions in the face of adversity.
Nelson Mandela once said: “As long as poverty, injustice and gross inequality persist in our world, none of us can truly rest.”
This shows resilience.
On the surface, the idea of turning lemons into lemonade is straightforward, yet, when it comes to translating it into action, it is quite a mission.
The practical application goes beyond squeezing fruit and mixing it with sugar.
Turning challenges into successes requires certain steps to be followed, and some of them are:
Reframing adversity — Instead of dwelling on the negatives, view challenging situations as stepping stones and opportunities for growth.
Identifying resources — Recognise and utilise skills, knowledge and support systems available to tackle the problem.
Taking action — Proactively seek solutions from others and be adaptive. Share your story and, as you help others going through a similar experience, you probably help yourself as well.
Many people are reluctant to share their stories for fear of being judged.
You need to know that whatever you might be going through in life, you are not the first and definitely will not be the last.
Speak out and step out.
Break the silence to get assistance.
Remember, everyone faces challenges in life. Inasmuch as it is not easy, we all need to learn to turn lemons into lemonade.
Organisational status
One of the challenges in many organisations is that of having teams that try to solve problems with problems.
Thus, when challenges arise, instead of bringing solutions or think creatively, many of them will bring more problems.
For instance, a customer’s complaint about late delivery of a product can be compounded by the response given by the deliverer.
For example, bad roads and car issues can be given as convenient excuses for the late delivery.
However, inasmuch as the information given may be true, the fact that the driver should have left early enough to arrive in good time still remains.
The risk of losing the customer due to poor customer service remains, regardless of the problems the deliverer may cite.
The scenario is a representation of what happens in almost every department and industry.
As such, many businesses continue to dwindle and problems keep rising.
Challenges are inevitable and success will require teams that turn the setbacks into solutions.
The power of turning lemons into lemonade extends and applies to different aspects of life, as well as different groups of people.
Embracing the idea of turning lemons into lemonade can make the world a little sweeter because it comes with many benefits.
Being able to take a negative experience or setback and turn it into something positive usually brings fulfilment.
I remember growing up in the village, where life was challenging in many ways.
One of the challenges was going to school with no food for lunch.
My friends and I then agreed to take turns to bring food.
At the end of the week, each one of us was supposed to bring food once and the five of us would share.
The solution we came up with made things easier, even for our parents.
Even seemingly worst situations can bring something positive.
Most of the time, it pays to be positive even when the environment is negative.
Difficult situations can make or break people.
They can make one stronger and more resilient only if they approach the situation with positivity.
One author once said: “When life gives you lemons, sell them and buy pineapples.”
The statement simply shows that coming across challenges should not be a limitation. Did you know that what you call a challenge can be a solution to someone?
All you probably need is to identify that person and — boom! — you are good to go, because you then offload those lemons to someone who will make use of them while you probably get what you need in return.
General facts
Challenges will always be a part of life.
Every stage of life presents different challenges. If you choose negativity towards challenges, you may find yourself living a very miserable life.
Be encouraged and inspired to choose positivity even in the midst of challenges.
Positivity will help to open your eyes to see solutions.
*Rutendo Gwatidzo is the managing consultant at The HUB HR Consultancy. She is a multi-award-winning leader, consultant, speaker and coach. She is also an author of two books: “Born to Fight” and “Breaking the Silence”. Contact detail: 0714575805/ [email protected]/ Rutendo Gwatidzo_Official Facebook public page
