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Key Bible Verse: We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed or broken… . We get knocked down, but we get up and keep going (2 Corinthians 4:8,9). Bonus Reading: 2 Corinthians 4:7-10

Your business will have its bad days. Every leader will face challenges: customer complaints or losses, cash-flow worries, production problems, and staff disputes. At some time in your career, you're bound to feel overwhelmed.

The key is in how you react. Are you a sad sack or do you maintain a positive "can do" attitude? Wasting energy by complaining won't solve the situation. To maintain perspective in times of trouble, ask yourself, "What's the worst that can happen as a result of this problem?" Isolated examples rarely devastate a business, but when they're repeated or cumulative, the results can be disastrous.

The best response is to take decisive action. First identify what went wrong. Set less important issues on the back burner and tackle the important priorities immediately. Next, identify lesser issues you can solve. Keep moving down your list of priorities until everything is back under control.

Be determined to learn from challenging circumstance. Involve your staff in establishing an action plan to correct the situation. This way, your problems won't crush you, and over the long haul you'll actually improve your business.

—Steve Marr in Business Proverbs

My Response: To what current challenge could I apply decisive action like this?

Thought to Apply: Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier. —Colin Powell (U.S. general & statesman)

Adapted from Business Proverbs (Revell, 2001) by permission.

Copyright © 2009 by the author or Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity magazine.
Click here for reprint information on Men of Integrity.

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Prayer for the Week

Help me, Lord, to cultivate a positive attitude that makes belonging to you look attractive.

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