How persistence beat a negative mindset.

My printer just stopped working. UGH!!  I hate when anything electronic needs to be replaced.  It always takes much longer than I expect to replace it. 

The demise of my printer was no surprise.  For months I had been nursing it along.  Unplugging and replugging it in each time it stopped.  Reconnecting it to the Wi-Fi if unplugging and replugging didn’t work.  Finally, nothing worked.

Like I said I knew I was going to need another one and already had a new printer in my office. I just procrastinated installing it because I knew it would take me a while to figure out how to do it.  Time I thought I couldn’t spare.

Working from home?

So a week ago I opened the box that had my new printer in it and pulled out the printer.  It looked very nice but where were the directions.  It came with only a card that told me how to order instant ink for a year—nothing else.  I checked the box twice and opened the printer to see if the information was inside. No directions!  Help!  Now what?

It has been a while since I installed my last printer, I thought maybe now all you need to do is plug it in.  That would make me very happy.  I plugged it in and put the power on.  Buttons lit up but no instructions on the LCD and when I tried every button different lights came on but no instructions.

Now I am completely baffled.  I could call the manufacturer but that would take a while and I had allotted only a few more minutes for this setup.  I had other work to do. 

An Inspiration solves the problem.

Sometimes thinking about something else inspires you.  I was thinking about how to do something when you need instructions and remembered that my granddaughter told me she used YouTube when she wanted to learn how to make up her eyes.  Could I find a video on YouTube about installing this printer?

Eureka!  It was there including information about where to put the paper and how to install the print cartridges it came with.  Amazing.  I had figured that out by myself, but this would have saved me the struggle.  How to connect to the Wi-Fi was complicated since you had to press two buttons on the printer.  I never would have figured that out myself. 

Finally figured it out.

Finally, you needed an app from the manufacturer on your phone or computer to install the printer.  I never would have guessed that.  Once I downloaded the app, I managed to get the printer running.  It took time and I referred to the video a few times more, but I got it to print.  My persistence overcame my negative mindset.

What I learned.

What did I learn from all this?  First it made me remember that I love coaching and the work that I am doing.  With every job there are a few tasks that you don’t enjoy but have to be done. 

Second it is best to start something believing that you can accomplish it.  That voice in my heading saying, “I knew this would be a nose bleed.” slowed me down. 

And last that persistence pays off.  I feel very relieved that a job I had been dreading is finally done.

Got something you are dreading?

Got something you are procrastinating doing?  There is probably a belief that you have that is holding you back. (Mine was that installing new electronics always is confusing and hard.).  Let me help you find yours so that you can get the job done and you can get back to doing what you love.  To contact me, email me at asparker@asparker.com or call me at 781-598-0388.