This past Saturday morning I had an experience which drove me nuts. I had to scrape my windshield! To make matters worse, it was that type of ice that you needed a jackhammer to get it off the windshield.

Seriously?!?! It’s April and I’m just tired of the cold! I long for the days when I can just go out to the truck, start it and drive away. No scraping, no gloves or coat … just off I go.

This is a scenario that plays itself out every spring. It’s almost like clockwork when it starts happening. People start complaining about the lingering cold weather as if it’s the coming of the apocalypse.

For some there’s no consoling them when it comes to the delayed arrival of spring. If you were to give someone advice about the weather what would you tell them? 

I know what I’d say because I’ve given this advice many times in the past. When it comes to the Canadian weather you have three choices:

Change your opinion – you live in Canada. Do you like the culture, healthcare and everything else? Then what would it take for you to accept the Canadian winters too?

Change something in your environment – park your car in the garage, install a remote starter, or go buy warmer clothing. Whatever it takes, change something in your world so you will feel better about the weather

Leave – Pack up your stuff and move to a warmer climate because I’m pretty sure we’re not going to stop having cold weather.

Are you grumbling about the lingering cold weather this spring? Then what are your going to do? 

As for me, I don’t actually have a problem with the cold. I actually choose a combination of options 1 & 2. I love Canada, and that includes our cold weather. 

Thought of the week

Last week, I told you the downside to giving advice. When you give advice, they give you the responsibility for the outcome. Sometimes though you will find yourself in a position where it seems giving advice is the only option. 

The secret to giving advice effectively is to ensure they cannot give you the responsibility for the outcome. 

To ensure ownership for the outcome remains with them give at least three options. It doesn’t matter how good the options are. I’ve given some pretty wild ideas at times for the sake of giving three options. 

Then to really ensure they have the responsibility for the outcomes ask: “now forget everything I just said, what are you going to do?”

Put the other person in the driver’s seat to decide what direction they’re going to do. When you do this both of you will be better for it.