'You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face.
You are able to say to yourself, 'I have lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.'
You must do the thing you think you cannot do.'
~Eleanor Roosevelt

The road to success is dotted with potholes; the key to reaching the finish line is to learn how to navigate around these obstacles.

An obstacle can be a minor annoyance, like hitting a stop light (or a co-worker who doesn't see eye-to-eye with you). It can also be a serious concern, like a major traffic jam (or a looming deadline and a tight budget). Whatever the problem, you can handle it. Here's how:

The first thing you need to do in order to overcome an obstacle is to identify its root cause. What is the source of this problem? Once you know the reason, you'll be better equipped to deal with it.

Next, do some research. It's likely that someone else has already experienced a similar problem. There's no reason to reinvent the wheel when you can take advantage of a solution that has been proven to work.

You may need to ask for help, but don't look at this as a failure on your part. Even a first place racecar driver shares his success with his pit crew. Adding qualified and knowledgeable people to your team can increase your chance of winning.

Finally, consider your attitude toward the problem. Are you part of the problem? Try looking at things from another perspective and stay positive. A 'can do' attitude goes a long way.

When you hit a roadblock, don't give up. You may need to try another route, but with perseverance and determination, there's always a way to succeed.