You have heard it before… “It’s not a challenge it’s an opportunity!”

What exactly does that mean?

How can this huge hurdle someone has placed in front of you be an opportunity? It’s going to be difficult, it’s going to cause change, it’s going to take a lot of time which I do not have! Time is a function of priorities. That is a discussion for another time. However, what I am going to focus on is the mobile device challenge… err opportunity. Mobile devices are part of most IT discussions, strategies, roadmaps, and challenges right now. I promise you, this is an opportunity.

If the business and/or executive management want Ipads, it’s the perfect time to ask for additional funding or additional people. Dealing with Android phones is going to require changing how smartphones are managed. Which means it’s an opportunity to request an opening of the purse strings. Your business is requesting new functionality from you. Are they willing to pay for this new functionality?

Are you the partner the business is reaching out to help solve their technology challenges? Should you be? That’s how “opportunities” happen. Your company needs you to help them enable their associates by securely implementing tablets. They do not know if the solution integrates easily or if it is running windows, and the technology probably is not a technology you are comfortable with and know well. Use this as an “opportunity” to explain these things to management and negotiate what you would need (people, money, equipment?) to meet the organization’s requirements and help them meet their goals.

Now, that’s an opportunity!

Embrace the technology, assist the business partner with defining their requirements, document the risks using good Information Risk Management, and then drive results!

This is why successful IT folks look at challenges as opportunities.