Skip to main content

Roadblocks Shouldn't Stop Your Dreams


 

We visited Klamath Falls, Ore., at the beginning of May. We had hoped to see Crater Lake, which is about an hour from the town. Unfortunately, while we were in Oregon, a snowstorm, which was unusual for May, hit the state. The road to Crater Lake was blocked, and the National Park Service staff couldn't let cars through the gate to the lake. The staff had not plowed the road. We were disappointed, but we got to see the beautiful snow and landscape of Oregon. We were cold, but we enjoyed our trip anyway.

This week in Florida, the Department of Transportation closed a highway to continue its work on the new bridge. While the roadblock was at 11 p.m. and didn't affect me, I started thinking about roadblocks. In business and in writing, you will be hit with roadblocks. How you deal with those roadblocks will determine whether you become a successful writer or business person.

Figure Out a Solution

When you are hit with a roadblock, take time to think through the problem. If it is related to character development, missing information in nonfiction or plot, you could figure out how to fix those problems. You could do more research, change the characters or write a new direction of plot. Whatever your roadblock, there probably is a solution. You just need to think about the solution not the problem and set a goal to get it done.

Wait Out the Roadblock

In some cases, such as traffic jams, you can wait, and the roadblock will disappear. If this roadblock is due to not knowing what to write or a marketing problem where you need a response from someone else, then you are able to wait. The roadblock might clear itself in time. Don't take too long to wait, but it is possible that the problem will go away.

Relax and Power Through It

If the roadblock is something significant that can't be ignored, such as a disgruntled client or an extra cost you hadn't anticipated, you need to address the roadblock without putting stress on yourself. You need to relax and deal with the problems as best you can. You do not want to bring in emotions to the problem or get stressed about it. Allowing your emotions to become the focal point of the problem will delay resolution and hurt your health due to the additional stress involved. Sometimes, praying to God about your problems can help too.

Be Persistent

Continuing to do what you do every day will help you in these situations. Being persistent will keep you on track in your business and in your writing. When you keep to your routine, something that you thought was a problem turns into something manageable. Chefs are persistent until they get the right flavors in recipes.

When you take control of the roadblock, you will realize your dreams of publishing a book or being a successful business owner.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Books to Buy During Easter

  Easter is just a few weeks away. Instead of writing about marketing or editing tips, I thought I would highlight some Christian books that you could buy for gifts. The Thief, the Harlot and the Healer tells a fictional story of strength and courage in 33 A.D. of a woman who had no rights. The main character by Mike E Clements was abducted as a young woman and forced into prostitution. She has the courage to leave the brothel and is looking for salvation, but she doesn't believe her life is worth saving despite what people tell her. The story leads the reader to Rachel kneeling before the cross and understanding how much God loves her. Words in Red: Witness for the Prosecution thinks about the people around Jesus and what they did for a living. The main character is a scribe for a leader in the Jewish religion who is trying to get evidence he can use to prosecute Jesus to death. The writer follows Jesus throughout his life and listens to His teachings. Colin Rank captures how

This Earth Day, Know Environmental Myths

  I love spring . It has beautiful colors, lots of sunlight and warmer weather. Earth Day is part of spring too. Throughout my journalism career , I studied and wrote writing about the environment. Because Earth Day is coming, I thought I would share some of the myths associated with saving the environment. While I am in favor of saving our natural resources , I save the environment with balance, prayer and patience . You might not agree with me. That is fine. This country was founded on the principle that everyone is entitled to his or her opinion. Here are some environmental myths. 1. Go Solar -- While it is a good idea to get solar for your home and generate renewable energy, solar power is not as simple as everyone thinks. Adding solar to your home could cost you $15,000 to $50,000 up front. There are tax credits and rebates available from the states and federal government, but those programs almost always require you to shell out the money and then get reimbursed. Also

Stand Up for Authors' Rights; Don't Let People Change Works of Literature

  It started when libraries banned Dr. Seuss . This is violating the 14th Amendment. Now, "Sensitivity Committees" want to rewrite Roald Dahl's books to make them "sensitive" to today's audiences. How can they know what Dahl wanted his characters to be. They are his characters. Only he knows what they are thinking and doing. No one can say, "It was meant to say this." That is the first problem.  The second problem is that if "Sensitivity Committees" rewrite characters and books, they are making everyone the same. That will read quite boring. In the real world, people say negative things, do negative things, do not care about being sensitive or politically correct, and act whatever way they want. Most people know what is right and wrong. Therefore, fiction should reflect life. That is why these stories stand the test of time. They reflect life, and readers can relate because they know people like the characters. The third problem is rewri