[Review] Obstacles To Opportunity, by Pat Alacqua

When coming up against inevitable business challenges or crossroads, oftentimes the best solutions have already been uncovered. In his book, “Obstacles to Opportunity: Transforming Business Challenges Into Triumphs“, author and growth strategist Pat Alacqua argues that the best solutions are ones that are proven. He proposes that anything that has worked for another individual in a similar situation will typically work for you, but only once it’s customized and adapted to your situation.

To present proven practices, Alacqua spotlights the stories of dozens of prominent business leaders to describe how they were able to overcome the challenges they faced in their career trajectories. The stories and strategies depicted are designed to enable readers — whether executives, entrepreneurs, or those starting out in their careers — insights for getting through various roadblocks faced in the business world.

Alacqua bookends “Obstacles to Opportunity” with theoretical tools he uses in empowering business leaders to succeed, and with takeaways for amplifying one’s performance to achieve enduring success. He first introduces his Entrepreneur to Enterprise Pathway framework that details five distinct stages of the entrepreneurial journey — from ideas, to an entrepreneurial venture, to a startup operation, to a proven business, and ultimately to a professionally managed enterprise.  Each stage along the pathway presents corresponding challenges critical to both personal career development and overall company success.

The common challenges he describes that all businesses confront in moving from one phase to the next include:

• Recognizing customer needs
• Managing resource stretch
• Instituting professional management
• Adapting organizational culture
• Staying ahead of future problems before they emerge

The bulk of the book, however, profiles real-life leadership stories, each describing a career hurdle the individuals encountered and how they overcame it. These stories are segmented by themes, such as Time to Take Action that delves into action-oriented leadership, and Zoom Out to Zoom In, regarding challenges that require a micro focus.

For example, legendary sportscaster Bob Rathbun, known for his play-by-play sports commentary, dissects the challenges of communication in business — particularly in the lightening-speed world of messaging and texting. He cautions that impulsive actions driven by emotions can lead to trouble and harm relationships. Once we hit send, we can’t take the message back. He believes “…it is essential to limit reliance on technology and prioritize face-to-face interactions.”

Lessons in overcoming fear in the face of critical decision-making came from real estate guru, Alester Spears. He came to realize that instances in which he failed to take timely action were typically driven by his own fear — whether it was a financial concern or worries about societal expectations. He says that overcoming fear and making the best choice possible while staying aligned with his true self, is essential when pursuing goals and aspirations. He acknowledges that mistakes are inevitable, but adds, “Some of the most significant lessons and personal growth have stemmed from. making errors and learning from them.”

“Obstacles to Opportunity: Transforming Business Challenges Into Triumphs” provides a wealth of relevant examples, as well as tools and action steps, to assist in every business person’s leadership evolution.

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