How to Make Progress
How to Make Progress
To make more progress in life, start looking at problems in a different way. Whatever happens can be utilised, if you think with the right mind-set.
Utilisation is the idea that you can use any situation as a stepping stone to make progress.
The principle of utilisation works on the assumption that every situation contains within it, the elements necessary for it to be profitable, in some way.
The trick to using the concept of utilisation, is to develop a mind-set that is primed to identify the profit potential of any situation. It takes a certain kind of mind-set to "see the seed" of a potential benefit in a heap of trouble.
For instance, in 1853, William Perkin invented the first commercial dye: the purple mauveine. He did it almost by accident. Perkins was not trying to make dyes. He was trying to synthesise an artificial version of quinine for the treatment of malaria. But he failed completely and instead, he accidentally made a dark, sticky goo that stained his lab coat. When he tried to wash it off with alcohol, the stain turned a beautiful shade of purple, which would not wash out.
Rather than be annoyed, Perkins immediately saw that he had the seed of new idea: and he went on to create the synthetic purple mauveine dye. That led him to be the founder of the synthetic dye industry. He became a millionaire by the age of 20 years.
You may think he was lucky, but remember that his "accidental" discovery relied on him having the kind of mind that can see a failure as a success, when seen from a different viewpoint.
There are many people who can think that way and, as a result, they enjoy more progress than the rest of us.
The phrase that these people use to tone their thinking is this:
"Within every problem there exists the seeds of an equivalent or greater benefit."
This statement may be true, and if you assume it is true, then it sets up your mind to seek the seed of the equivalent benefit. And if you seek you will, very likely, find.
Seek and you will find.
If you are looking for trouble you will find it.
If you are looking for food, you will probably find it.
If you are looking for an opportunity to work, you will find it.
If you are looking for reasons why you will fail, you will find them.
If you are looking for things that are wrong with you, you will find them.
Utilisation makes use of the fact that your mind tends to identify those elements in the environment, that correspond to your dominant thoughts.
Utilisation is based on the idea that if you assume every situation can be put to a practical, beneficial use, for the betterment of yourself and your family, then you will find that to be true.
In order to make more progress in less time, keep asking yourself these questions and expect a plausible answer from your brain.
- How can I use this situation to my advantage?
- How can we make what appears to be a bad thing, a good thing?
- In this situation, there is a seed of an equivalent benefit. What is that benefit and where is the seed?
Keep asking yourself these questions, and when you get the answers, act on them immediately.
Then life will become more fun and you will make progress in your life.
Definition: utilisation principle
In personal development, the utilisation principle is a guiding idea that says every event holds something you can use to move forward. It tells you to look for the hidden good in any setback, change it into a useful action, and use the gain to reach your goals faster.
Show CG4D Definition
- Treats every event, even a setback, as containing useful parts
- Needs a deliberate, forward-looking mindset to spot those parts
- Turns the found parts into clear actions that give an advantage
- Aims to move you towards your goals more quickly than other methods
Article Summary
When you hold a progress mindset, you treat each problem as a step, not a stop. Decide that every setback hides a benefit, ask “How can I use this now?”, act on the answer, and you will turn failure into fast success.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some questions that frequently get asked about this topic during our training sessions.
What is the utilisation principle in simple terms?
How does a progress mindset change my view of problems?
Why did William Perkin's failure become a success story?
How can I spot the ‘seed of benefit’ in a setback?
Which daily questions help turn setbacks into opportunities?
Does selective attention affect what outcomes I notice?
How fast can acting on answers improve life progress?
Thought of something that's not been answered? Ask Us Today!
Did You Know: Key Statistics
CIPD Learning at Work 2024 reports that 78% of UK L&D professionals list ‘building a growth-mindset culture’ as a top priority for 2024, up from 62% the year before. Udemy Business Workplace Learning Trends 2024 shows that employees who finished resilience and mindset courses logged a 28% rise in productivity metrics within six months.About the Author: Chris Farmer
Chris Farmer is the founder of the Corporate Coach Group and has many years' experience in training leaders and managers, in both the public and private sectors, to achieve their organisational goals, especially during tough economic times. He is also well aware of the disciplines and problems associated with running a business.
Over the years, Chris has designed and delivered thousands of training programmes and has coached and motivated many management teams, groups and individuals. His training programmes are both structured and clear, designed to help delegates organise their thinking and, wherever necessary, to improve their techniques and skills.
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