Lifeguard_jumping_into_action,_BEach

It’s summer time at The Resilient Worker Headquarters! Bring on the cookouts, the ice cream, and, of course,  the glorious trips to the beach.  Speaking of, I spent this past weekend on vacation at the shore. There is nothing quite like the sound of the waves and the smell of salt and sunscreen to set your mind at ease and melt away your everyday stress.  After a refreshing jog on the sand, I noticed the on-duty lifeguard mindlessly spinning his whistle back and forth around his fingers (They must teach that on the first day of lifeguard school!) Here was a guy who could spend day after endless day staring at the horizon without moving from his chair.  But if someone were to get in trouble, his adrenaline must kick in and he must be ready to immediately pounce into action.  Every second counts during those bursts of intense pressure.  How can someone seamlessly transition from one extreme to the next with confidence?  Because, while the lifeguard may look bored and inactive during his time in the chair, he has spent countless hours training for that moment when life or death is in his hands.  He has spent countless hours researching first aid techniques.  He has spent countless hours running on the beach.  He has spent countless hours studying the currents of the water.  His idle time may not be grueling or challenging.  But it is the time spent intensely preparing for his seconds of stress and trauma that allows him to be successful.  And so it is with all of us.

As resilient workers, it may feel as though as we are constantly busy.  But the reality is, there are only certain moments in the week or the month or the year that are mission-critical.  A pivotal sales call with a key client.  A challenging deposition in a landmark case.  A complex presentation to secure early-round funding.  A brief but intense skirmish on the battlefield.  A huge game against your arch-rival.  It is incredibly important to rise to the occasion during these defining moments.  In extreme cases, your entire career or even your life can boil down to a single moment or opportunity.  So does that mean the other time in your career has been wasted?  Of course not!  The time preparing for your big moment is the most precious of all.  This is the time you have studied the client’s needs.  This is the time you have practiced in front of the mirror.  This is the time you have performed countless drills in the field.  This is the time you have identified your target market.  This is the time you have put in at practice and in the weight room to ensure success at crunch time!  Your opportunity to shine during these pivotal moments hinges on the mundane and grueling work you put into preparing for that moment.

But what happens when we come up small in our biggest moments?   We talk too much and blow the sale.  We stumble in our opening arguments.  We fail to raise enough money to keep our business solvent.  We lose sight of the enemy on the battlefield.  We fall to our arch-rival.  How do we stay resilient after a devastating defeat?  First, we must ask ourselves if we truly put in the proper amount of sweat and work.  Effort and preparation are the table stakes for success.   It all starts there.  But even when we tirelessly prepare for our one shining moment, there is no guarantee of success.  If we are to maintain our resiliency after a defeat, we must double down on our efforts rather than curl up into a ball.  We must address our shortcomings rather than blame someone else for our loss.  Most of all, we must recognize that those moments of failure will always be followed by an opportunity for redemption.  No mistake is permanent.  No defeat is final.  No chapter is closed forever.  You need to tap back into that same effort and grit that initially prepared you for your big moment.  You will surprise yourself.  You will come back stronger than ever.  You will recapture the glory that you were destined to enjoy!

Until next week, keep smiling!