Don Roulo is the CEO (Chief Encouragement Officer) of Life Quest. He is a life, career and business coach as well as a Certified 48 Days Workshop Facilitator. He travels nationally and internationally to conduct business and career training as well as marriage and family workshops.

By DON ROULO

If you see me going to a business appointment, the grocery store or in one of my workshops, you will most likely see me wearing a bracelet which has E+R=O on it. It was given to me by a good friend, Kent Julian.

Kent is a dynamic speaker who travels the country and focuses on inspiring youth. He challenges them to take ownership of their response to every event in life. Whether we are 16 or 60, we can all learn a great lesson about taking ownership for our response to life’s events.

Because I wear the bracelet most of the time, both children and adults often asked the obvious question, “What does the bracelet mean?” I always love the opportunity to share and equip others with its meaning.

Here is what it stands for: Event + Response = Outcome

This formula originated with W. Clement Stone, billionaire businessman and philanthropist. It will equip you to have the family, life, career and business outcomes you really desire. However, many people live life based on the formula: Event = Outcome. The problem is they leave out the ‘R’, the Response part of the formula. This is the part makes all the difference in the world.

Let’s take a look at a couple of examples of what an E = O situation looks like and how to correct it.

You have a negative event occur in your career. You are notified your working hours will be cut starting next month, so this of course means a negative outcome for your life; less money for bills and no money for vacation. This is true if your Response is one which follows an attitude of this is the life and the cards you were dealt and you can do nothing about it. However, if your Response is to start a new job search, or start the side business you always dreamed of, the outcome does not have to remain negative.

A negative event does not have to automatically equal a negative outcome. The outcome depends on one thing and one thing only – your Response.

You have a very positive event occur in your career – a promotion. You are now a manager and make $10,000 more per year. This, of course, means a positive outcome for your life; more time and money to spend as you wish. A positive event equals a positive outcome, right? This is true if your Response is one which follows an attitude of effectively leading a team and managing your money wisely. However, it will not be a positive outcome if you feel you don’t have to work as hard and you can spend more money without considering the consequences of your spending.

A positive event does not automatically equal a positive outcome. The outcome depends on one thing and one thing only – your Response.

The entire key to making your outcome a positive one, regardless of the event being positive or negative, is your Response. You must take ownership of your Response to any situation.

Please don’t fall prey to living your life based on the formula: E = O. Don’t settle for taking the cards which are dealt to you. Take action and let your Response determine your outcome.

To have the family, life, career and business you desire, live your life by the formula: E + R = O.

Positive and negative events occur in our life on a daily basis. You cannot control many of the events that happen to you, but you can always control your Response to each and every event.

About the Author
Don Roulo is a life, career and business coach as well as a Certified 48 Days Workshop Facilitator. He travels nationally and internationally to conduct business and career training as well as marriage and family workshops.

As a business consultant, he has written business plans and worked to market products or services as well as organizing financial statements for investors. Because of his success in the sales and business arena, Don has been blessed with the opportunity to train, motivate and inspire others. His passion is to motivate and equip people to find their passion and achieve their goals and God given destiny.