What To Do?
What happens when you put all of your eggs in
one basket...and you discover the basket has a
hole in it? - Jim H.
This question was sent in by a Pure
Excellence member a little while back, and when
I read it, I was struck by it's depth. I
know a little bit about the back-story that
brought this story to Jim's mind, but it also
brought to my memory the things that I've
experience to which the analogy applies.
(Anyone who has ever lost a job, had a personal
relationship disintegrate, or possibly had a
loved one or close friend pass away has their
own set of relatable experiences to which this
analogy applies.)
So, back to Jim's question: What
happens when you put all of your eggs in one
basket...and you discover the basket has a hole
in it?
I don't think there is a 100% sure-fire,
quick fix, guaranteed-to-work-in-all-situations
answer to that questions. (If anybody ever
tells you that there is, run from
that person <smile>.) Suggesting a list of
contrived generalizations would be a disservice,
because a question of this gravitas deserves
better treatment. What can be offered,
however, are some suggestions.
Specifically, I have two:
1. Don't put all of your eggs in one
basket. - I know, this is an easy response,
but it is one that deserves mention. It
falls under the category of "an ounce of
prevention is worth a pound of cure", and it can
not be applied to every situation. (If
you've already discovered the "hole in your lone
basket", this one isn't an option for you.)
I heard a situation the other day, however, to
which it does. I was listening to the
radio, and a caller mentioned how he had planned
for his retirement to be funded by a combination
of the pension plan of his employer and Social
Security. Unfortunately, his employer's
pension fell through, and his financial needs
would not be met by his remaining options.
So, what to do? Well, the optimal
situation would be to plan on being in a
financial position such that if one retirement
options falls through, there are others on which
a person can lean. (Political commentary
aside, there is no guarantee that Social
Security will be a viable options for many of
today's younger workers, so it is wise to plan
as if there will be no such benefits available
for you.) That is something that can only
work if it is given ample consideration ahead of
time.
In simple terms: diversify. The above
example was obviously in regards to financial
matters, but it can apply to personal
relationships as well. (If you develop a deeper
and wider network of friends and acquaintances,
you will have others on which to lean if some
are lost.)
2. Never underestimate your
resiliency. - Have you ever heard of what
some people have had to overcome, and thought
that it made your struggles seem miniscule?
I certainly have, I marvel at the amount of
inner strength and resolve that others have.
The truth is that we all have a larger reserve
of strength and resiliency than we might
imagine. We may simply have not yet been
called upon to exercise it. And we look at
what others have overcome with a "snapshot"
view, rather than considering the process that
they had to go through in order to overcome.
The key lies in coming to terms with your
pain, grief, loss, etc., and deciding to not
simply let things happen to you.
The human spirit is an incredibly powerful
thing, and once your mind is set on fighting
through the setbacks you've faced, and you begin
taking those positive steps, incredibly
excellent things become possible...and then they
become attainable.
Toss in your two cents:
Do you have other suggestions to Jim's "all
eggs in one basket" question. If so,
simply click on the link below to share your
thoughts.
Share your input on Jim H's question
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August 12, 2007
Jim Key
Founder & Director,
Pure Excellence Initiative
Recommended Reading:
Up Thoughts For Down Times
by Les Brown
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