Q:I have done a lot of research on the subject of resilience. I was wondering what ideas you could offer anyone who has suffered a personal or professional setback? —Wayne Pernell, Ph.D., bestselling author and high performance consultant
A:Resilience is the most vital skill for an entrepreneur to thrive.
But let's get this straight:when business people discuss resilience, they're usually referring to our ability to adapt to disruptions and carry on without losing assets or people.
That's a description of survival. We all know people who have survived trials and struggles. Maybe even disasters. However, some of these people aren't exactly thriving on the other side, are they?
With every disturbance, every challenge, they are thrown a little deeper into the pit. They become bitter, pessimistic and only want #1 because they are constantly afraid of the next fight. You know people who live in the pits, right?
True resilience is more than just surviving. It is about thriving despite loss, challenges and disruption. That's not to say that everything is always a big dory. We all struggle, we all falter, and we all have days when we want to quit.
True resilience is our ability to absorb life's challenges and turn them into something positive or productive through our improved attitude and action.
It means that on the other side of a disruption, your business survives and you gain something you didn't have before. Yes, you can also suffer losses. But you have learned lessons, gained new insights, or found much more gratitude.
With this new attitude and perspective, you can act in new ways. Your performance increases, your influence expands, or your community expands.
All because you, the business owner, are better off than before the disruption.
The best thing about resilience? You can share your new attitude and actions with others, increasing their resilience along the way. Knowing that you have helped others will propel you when the next difficult time comes, and you will have the resilience to come out better than before.
