Problems as Opportunities!

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Today, Student Blog @ Mayflower英語教室 is proud to welcome Ted先生 as a guest blogger! He gave the following motivational speech at MPP3 (Mayflower Presentation Party #3) and it was a big hit, so it is being posted up here by popular demand! Let’s all give Ted先生 a warm welcome!

“Problems as Opportunities: An Approach to Independent Problem Solving”

Thank you for giving me the chance to speak this evening, Robert and Yoriko. Hello, everyone.  It’s great to be here and to see you all.

Ted先生♥自立型問題解決法！

My name is Tatsuya Ohmoto.  As Robert just introduced me, my nickname is Ted.  I’ve been one of Mayflower’s biggest fans since its foundation.  I had occasionally given some advice to Mayflower regarding concepts, curriculum, etc., in the past. However, from now on, I’ve decided to support by trying to be an example to Mayflowers. (NOTE: Ted is currently a teacher, and Chief Director of Mayflower.)  And that’s why I stand here tonight.

Independent problem solving

What I’m going to talk about tonight is an approach to INDEPENDENT problem solving (or 自立型問題解決法 in Japanese), which I learned at business school recently.  The title sounds a bit difficult, but not to worry.  It’s easy, as long as you consciously execute it.  As you know, we are always surrounded by problems every day.  Therefore, how you deal with your problems influences your life. If you take them positively, problems are chances!  I’m confident that if you follow this approach, your life will be more successful as my life has become.

First, let’s see how we normally tend to react when we face a problem, and then I will talk about the independent attitude towards a problem.  After that, I’d like one of the audience members to share his/her problem with us, and try practicing this way of thinking with it.  Remember, problems are chances!

So, as an initial example, let’s imagine you have a financial problem.  You’re rather broke. In the ordinary dependent attitude towards this problem, you might feel that you are between a rock and a hard place  (or “大ピンチ！” in Japanese).  Then, you would probably try to find the cause of the problem in other things that are outside of yourself. For example, you blame others, like: “my salary is very low”; “my boss underestimates what I have done”; “the current economic crisis is the government’s fault”; “in Tokyo, rent is very expensive”; blah, blah, blah.

And you are just sitting back and expecting someone to do something for you. Things bother you.  Your life is filled with dissatisfaction.  You feel stressed, and your life is just tough.  ”Poor me!” you think. This is how a person who has a dependent attitude would act.  People tend to act negatively without being conscious of it.

Now I’m going to explain what an independent attitude is with the same financial problem: You are broke. Congratulations! Next, you’ll adopt a “positive reception” or プラス受信 for the first time when you face a problem.  It’s a chance!  For example: “it’s a chance to work part time on weekends”; “it’s a chance to appeal to your boss”; “it’s a chance to study after work”; “it’s a chance to change jobs”; “it’s a chance to find a patron, papa, or whatever”.  Then you finally become aware of “self-responsibility” or 自己責任.  You try to find the cause of the problem NOT IN THE OUTSIDE WORLD, but in yourself.

American billboard: "All problems are opportunities in disguise"

For example: I had never tried to work hard; I had never tried to help others; I never communicated with my boss well;  I didn’t study hard; etc.  Then you choose measures to change your bad situation based on what you can do.  For example: I’ll cook and eat at home; I’ll study English; I’ll work part time on weekends.  A person who has an independent attitude LIKE YOU NOW HAVE is highly motivated.

You feel yourself growing.  You live your life to the fullest.  You have fun.  In the past, you only faced “a problem”. Now, you only face “your problems”, and you’ll use these problems as opportunities…as chances!  What’s more, your positive thinking influences others, so people around you will also be motivated.  You can change the world!  This is how independent problem solvers act.

Okay now, I’d like to ask for a problem from you.  Would someone please tell me about your problem? [Here a student talks about a recent problem in his life: he's overweight] Okay, the next step is “positive reception”.  How can you imagine this as a chance?  It is a chance to…. It is a chance to… [The student answers that this is a great chance to do some exercise.]

OK! Anything else?  [The student says he could use this as an opportunity to enjoy outdoor life.] Great!  Then, how can you find the cause of this problem in yourself?  [The student mentions his choice to overwork and the accompanying stress leading to his condition.] Great!  Okay! Then now, how would you address this problem? [Going for a working can help me slim down, and also get rid of my stress, the student imagines.]  Right! So you can start from what you yourself can do!  Wow! He really does sound better now, doesn’t he?  HE is an independent problem solver now. Congratulations! Let’s give him a big hand.

OK, let me wrap up my speech! I’ve got some copies of the template I talked about.  If you’d like to have one, please just talk to me after my speech is over.  If you use this approach at work, even corporate culture can change into something very positive!  And of course, you’ll be able to command the respect of others. In fact, this approach to independent problem solving is a life changing idea.

Once again, problems are chances!

Thank you all for listening…