RESILIENCE STARTS WITH ACCEPTING WHAT’S BEHIND THE CURTAIN
So much in life is presentation.
Especially social media - from beautiful hotels to breathtaking vacations.
Fun, beautiful, unforgettable presentation.
NEWSFLASH: Things were like this before social media - check out Mad Men if you have doubts.
BUT…
What happens when you get a look behind the curtain…when that thing or person isn't as amazing as you thought?
A RESILIENT MINDSET BELIEVES WHAT’S NEXT IS BETTER THAN BEFORE
When asked about the most important skill for an independent contractor, a resilient mindset is the first thing out of my mouth.
A mindset with the outlook that believes what comes next will be better than what came before it.
This belief doesn’t always come naturally, especially when you’re attached to the thing that came before.
Nevertheless, it’s essential for a resilient mindset.
FOUR CAREER PIVOTS. THIRTY YEARS. ONE LESSON.
…it made sense when I got my first post-university job in the finance industry.
But I quickly got bored sitting behind a desk, working with faceless money.
I wanted to experience more. To explore the world around me.
For me, that meant quitting my job, getting a passport and leaving the country.
I decided to teach English in South Korea.
The fact that I knew nothing about teaching or the culture didn't matter.
I just wanted to experience more than a sedentary 9 to 5, fighting traffic every morning and night – a sad life for a twenty something.
The less you know about something, the larger the resilience…
RESILIENCE STARTS WITH KNOWING YOUR AUTHENTIC SELF
TRUST BUILDS RESILIENT TEAMS, NOT TOOLS
…it’s tempting to look for a shiny tool to help your team navigate a complex change, for example.
Tools offer teams a simple color, number or code that can help people understand each other and manage differences.
For a resilient team, however, priority number 1 should be building trust, not using an over-engineered tool.
Don’t get me wrong, there are some great tools out there – I’m licensed in several.
Nevertheless, they require brain power to absorb more information – some tools are complex in themselves.
People need more simplicity in their life, not more complexity.
RESILIENCE ISN’T A SKILL — IT’S A STORY
"When it comes to stories, here are a few conclusions I’ve made over my 30-year career:
We are the stories we tell.
Stories help us relate to others, understand our drivers, and solve problems.
Everyone has stories to tell – all you have to do is ask.
Personal stories, success and non, build resilience.
5 BOOKS THAT TAUGHT ME RESILIENCE — ONE STEP AT A TIME
“…he recommends respecting their experience and what they bring to the table.
In other words, don’t try and be an expert on how they are and what they need. Ask them.
Furthermore, never assume you know the answer to someone's problem or hold the secret knowledge they cannot access.
They know best. Not you.”
HOW REAL LEARNING ACTUALLY WORKS: 3 THINGS NO ONE EVER TOLD YOU
“…two things I’ve learned about change in connection with human behavior:
The best way I can help someone make a change is to encourage them to fully embrace the whole of who they are.
Once they fully experience themselves as they are, integration and change occurs naturally.”
THE OBSTACLE IS RESILIENCE: 3 TIPS TO CREATE LASTING CHANGE
To create lasting change, it helps to have a clear vision of what you’re moving toward - before you can let go of something.
Imagine you’re holding on to an unloved job because of the good salary it pays…
It would be A LOT easier to let go of if you had a vision of a better-paying job that fires you up.
Some behavior changes require getting knocked down with a bad virus (see blog post); others call for external motivation or someone to help you eat that elephant.
