Regardless of how successful or new a business is, we all have issues that arise that are unforeseen. We cannot stop issues or problems, all that matters is how we deal with them. When an issue arises, do you react or respond? There is a huge difference in the two. One will create success and the other will lead the business to failure. Let’s take a look at both.

The human side of us is to react when confronted with an issue. It catches us off guard, it changes our plans, it slows us down and it can wreak havoc on our business. After all, we just want to go back to work and reaction gets us back to work. Our reaction can be favorable and may work in the short term, but usually it is nothing more than a band aid on a deep wound. The reaction may slow the bleeding but it will not heal the wound.

The business person or entrepreneur side of us must step in. Knee jerk reactions are not long term corrections to issues. We must step back, take a breath and respond to this issue. Much harder than our instinct to react and keep moving. A response corrects the issue or problem not just the symptoms of the issue.

The real difference in whether we react or respond boils down to one thing, attitude. We must have a positive attitude when dealing with issues. All issues and problems seem bad at first. But if we just step back and respond with a positive attitude, we can usually find there is an opportunity in this issue. All issues are not as bad as they seem at first. Tear the issue apart, dissect it into pieces and look for the opportunity to change your business for the better because of the issue, not trash it with a negative attitude. Some of the best opportunities I have found came from an issue I thought would wreck my business at first glance.

Good luck with your next issue by responding and not reacting.

“Our lives are not determined by what happens to us but how we react to what happens, not by what life brings us but the attitude we bring to life.”—Wade Boggs

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Tim Wilhoit is owner/principal of Your Friend 4 Life Insurance Agency in Nashville, TN. He is a family man, father of 3, grandfather of 2, entrepreneur, insurance agent, life insurance broker, employee benefit specialist, salesman, sales trainer, recruiter, public speaker, blogger, author and team leader with over 30 years of experience in sales and marketing in the insurance and beverage industries.