| Would you like to learn a skill set and technique so | | | | situation. |
| powerful that you could learn to recycle every failure, | | | | 3. Respond Based on Your Goals |
| disappointment, setback and discouraging situation | | | | Now assess the options in front of you. Some may |
| into a steppingstone for your success? Would you | | | | be better than others. Some may be more |
| like to go into every situation with confidence | | | | complicated or difficult to see. Weigh the pros and |
| knowing you will have the skills to convert it into an | | | | cons of each option. You might find your best option |
| experience with a positive benefit? | | | | right now is to persist in your current situation. You |
| Imagine skilled and highly trained fighters going into a | | | | may find yourself riding a wave bigger than you think |
| difficult and scary situation. They don't go looking for | | | | you can handle. It may be a wild ride, but at least it |
| it, but when it comes, they are ready and prepared. | | | | will be interesting. |
| They realize it will probably be very painful and even | | | | Remember, you always have choices. The only thing |
| scary, but with their training and developed skill set, | | | | you can control is your attitude. Regardless of the |
| their odds are favorable. | | | | wave, you have the power to choose. Make sure |
| You have an opportunity to use the same approach | | | | your response is in line with your goals. |
| to adversities and difficulties entering our lives. We | | | | 4. Forward Focus in Action and Attitude |
| don't go looking for adversity; it finds us. We cant | | | | You cant surf yesterdays wave. The past is the |
| necessarily avoid pain or suffering, but if we use our | | | | past. Now it is time to think creatively toward the |
| training, we have a better chance for survival and | | | | future. Take positive action. Dont let things happen |
| eventually find some benefit or lesson we can take | | | | to you. Create the conditions and outcomes you |
| and claim a victory. | | | | seek! Now that you are surfing the wave, maintain |
| Change, difficulties and adversity will happen. Your | | | | focus on where you want to go and what you want |
| only point of control is the surfing skill set you | | | | to do. Maintain a vivid mental image of your |
| develop to adapt and make the best out of | | | | successful future finding ways to keep taking action |
| whatever comes your way. It is not really what | | | | in that direction. |
| happens to you that matters as much as your | | | | When Bad Surf Happens to Good Surfers |
| response to what happens. Your response | | | | As you surf lifes waves, you will see good waves |
| determines your outcome. Think of change and | | | | and bad ones. You will have some awesome rides |
| adversity as waves of the ocean, then consider your | | | | and some gnarly wipe outs. You will meet fellow |
| response to those waves. Success is not necessarily | | | | surfers who want to help you out and those who |
| in your talents and abilities, but in the choices you | | | | would rather beat you down. There will be sunny |
| make in application to the waves. You can't change | | | | days to enjoy the beach. There will also be storms |
| or fight the wave. Your only real choice is to adapt | | | | that take away your enjoyment and opportunity as |
| to it. | | | | the sea becomes unstable and unsuitable for your |
| Apply the S.U.R.F. Strategy to Make the Best of the | | | | purposes. Injustice, rude people, hardships, difficulties |
| Waves | | | | and even some bad things will happen in your life. We |
| The S.U.R.F. Strategy is a simple, quick strategy to | | | | cannot control those. The only thing we can control is |
| adapt and positively respond to whatever waves | | | | our attitude and the actions we choose to take in |
| come your way. This keeps your attitude as an ally | | | | response. |
| working for you rather than an adversary working | | | | Living is not about playing it safe. Test yourself. Learn |
| against you. You cannot control the waves; you can | | | | the full measure of your surfing ability. Do not hide |
| only control your response and develop the skills to | | | | from the waves. You can learn from both your great |
| adapt to whatever comes your way. | | | | rides and your wipe outs. Opportunity does not come |
| The Four Steps of the S.U.R.F. Strategy | | | | to the passive. Be active and create your |
| The S.U.R.F. strategy involves four steps: | | | | opportunities. Sometimes opportunities only come |
| * Survey the situation | | | | through difficult situations. Adversity doesnt build |
| * Understand your options | | | | character, it reveals it. How you choose to respond |
| * Respond based on your goals | | | | to adversity reveals your true character. Your true |
| * Forward focus in action and attitude | | | | character is uncovered in the actions of your |
| 1. Survey the Situation | | | | response and in the choices you make. Your |
| When you are tumbled by a wave (adversity), you | | | | character is revealed in the promises you keep and in |
| have to regain your bearing and figure out exactly | | | | the convictions you hold true. Ultimately, your |
| where you are. Leave emotion behind and survey | | | | character is a mirror of the guiding principles in your |
| your situation. What new opportunities might be | | | | life. What you do and say reveal to the world who |
| found or developed? Now is the opportunity to | | | | you are. |
| create a new plan. It might be tempting to get | | | | You Cannot Control the Weather |
| caught up in the heat of the moment and feel like | | | | Neither you nor I can control the weather. We |
| you are without options. Take a step back to gain | | | | cannot control what it will be today and we cannot |
| perspective. With an understanding of where you are | | | | affect in any way what it will be tomorrow. It is |
| and what choices you have, you can make the most | | | | what it is. The same weather will make some people |
| of the opportunities. | | | | joyous and others miserable. When there is a snow |
| 2. Understand Your Options | | | | day that shuts down everything, kids rejoice, while |
| After you know where you are, begin to assess | | | | parents who need to miss work or scramble for child |
| options for moving forward. Focus only on solutions. | | | | care do not. Rain is great when the farmers need it |
| After you survey your situation, its time to make | | | | for the crops and devastating when the river peaks |
| way for positive solutions and options. Ask questions | | | | the levies. Hot sunny days are fantastic for people to |
| like: What can I gain? or What contacts can I make? | | | | enjoy a picnic, yet miserable when you are in the |
| Maintain a positive outlook regardless of the situation | | | | field working. |
| even if you do not immediately see the opportunity. | | | | Weather in itself is neither good nor bad. It is up to |
| Stay focused on the outcome you want and where | | | | us in our decision of how we choose to weather our |
| you want to go. | | | | personal storms and whether they leave us stronger |
| Look optimistically for creative ways to use the | | | | and more resolute or weakened and cowering until |
| situation for good dont lament your misfortune. The | | | | the next one. In the same way, adversities are going |
| opportunity may be hidden. Learn to look for it. This | | | | to come your way, just like the waves of the ocean. |
| is a creative success habit, and it only comes with | | | | All you can really do about them is learn to surf . . . |
| practice. Become an opportunity farmer. Look for the | | | | and convert challenges, difficulties and hardships into |
| hidden benefits behind each change and every | | | | opportunities. |