0
0
To say it has been an interesting week would be an understatement. Just a little over a week ago people by in large didn’t really have a care in the world. There were potential fears viewed as an outside chance of happening. However, the reality of it in most people’s minds was that life would continue to go on as normal… maybe with a few inconveniences. However, one week ago that all changed. Since then, they have continued to change.
“Adaptability is about the powerful difference between adapting to cope and adapting to win.” – Max Mckeown
When the world finds itself on the other end of this crazy time, it will come out changed. This is inevitable. How people react to that change will, in many ways, determine their future. Some people will be proactive and recognize that change is coming and prepare for it as they analyze the events that are happening. Others will wait to see what the changes are and then react accordingly. Still others will wait for the changes and deny that they every happened. All of these approaches to changes will have different results. Those who have read The Seven Habits of Highly Successful People and embraced those seven habits will try to proactively approach the change and see the opportunities that can be found. Those who wait for change to happen and then react will find themselves approaching things already a bit behind. And those who refuse to acknowledge the change happened will have a whole other set of challenges unto their own.
What is needed right now is the power for people to be levelheaded, proactive, adaptable, and all of this with a level of creativity. All of this will need to come with a focus on how to not just get through this, but how to turn the challenges of our time into a way to win. This will mean embracing new ideas, new ways to communicate, and new ways to succeed economically.
This is the time where people can succeed through adversity. People can focus on just attempting to survive or thrive. Here are a few tips for leaders who want to thrive through adversity.
Attitude is Everything
The power of the mind can’t be underestimated. As people are approaching adversity it is very easy to get caught up and overwhelmed with everything that seems to be coming at them. To succeed moving forward, people need to have an adventurous attitude that also has a sense of humor. There are two important reasons for this. Having a sense of humor and an ability to laugh and the decision to face the future as an adventure to be overcome. Through it all, it is absolutely crucial to maintain a positive attitude!
A part of having that positive attitude is a firm belief in the fact that “you can.” It is amazing what people can do when they believe they can do it and refuse to be told otherwise. I know in my own life I have been able to achieve things that people said would never happen over and over again because I’ve been crazy enough to believe it. Because of this, I directed a professional symphony at 21 years of age, have run non-profit organizations, and now am the executive producer on an international television show. If I can, you can!
Use the Past to Push through the Future
Your past can determine your future. I’m a strong believer in the fact that the decisions we make today determine the future that we live tomorrow. I also am a strong believer in learning from past experiences to be better during future ones. Those past experiences helped mold you into the person you are today and build up your strength for future successes. As they say, what doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger! Keep that in mind when facing new tests and challenges. They will just help build you as your stretch your comfort zone through each new adventure.
The Serenity Prayer is Your Friend
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference. – Reinhold Niebuhr
Be at peace with the situations you are in. Recognize that some things you can change, others you can’t. That’s ok. Just focus on making the things better that you have the ability to. Let the things that you can’t control be. The worst that can happen is for the things that are out of your control get into your head and drag you down. Instead, think of the serenity prayer and focus on what you can do and the adventure that is being had. Mindset is incredibly important.
Don’t Give Up!
The people who succeed during times of adversity are the people who absolutely refuse to give up. Not giving up is a mindset, a choice, a commitment, and a mission. It is not letting anything stop you from where it is you are going to go. Sometimes that means finding a way around an obstacle. Sometimes that means recovering from setbacks. It ALWAYS means that you “keep moving forward” as Walt Disney once said.
A big part of not giving up is knowing why you are doing what you are doing and why you shouldn’t give up. Knowing the reasoning, or your motivation, will help you to continue moving forward. This belief in why you are doing what you are doing will reinforce your ability to never give up!
