Have you ever wondered how you can rise above adversity?
How you can effectively harness the huge waves of economic downturns, disappointed attempts at goals, frustrations, and setbacks?
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| Photo Credit: Dexterity by mikebaird on Flickr Creative Commons |
Geoff Colvin, author of Talent Is Overrated: What Really Separates World-Class Performers from Everybody Else
His article was written for business leaders, but I believe that the principles are key success factors for each of us to exercise in our circles of influence, so that exemplify courage, grit, and determination in the midst of challenging times.
Success Factor: Appreciate the True Nature of a Crisis
“A crisis is an opportunity riding the dangerous wind.” Chinese Proverb
A crisis represents danger. But in the face of danger, you can choose to surf the wave, or you can turn and run in the other direction. A professional surfer respects the dangers involved with surfing, but she does not avoid the waves. Rather, s/he applies her skills and knowledge along with courage to the situation, and rides the wave.
Success Factor: Run To Face the Giants
“48 As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. 49 Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground.” I Samuel 17:48-49
We each have some choices when faced with problems, challenges, danger, hard choices. We can avoid the problems. We’re compromise our values. We’re tempted to run for the hills! As leaders, however, we can inspire and help those around us and close to us, by acting quickly and fearlessly. This does not mean that we have no fear! Rather, it means that we act courageously even while feeling fearful, and perhaps terrified! David, the character in the Biblical story, faced a professional soldier 7 feet tall with no armor, a sling, and a few stones, but with great confidence in his God.
Are you facing difficult times now? Is the cash reserve low? Have you lost a job? Have you lost a relationship? Are you the midst of a challenge that feels like a giant?
Acknowledge that your situation is severe. Don’t pretend that it doesn’t exist. Respect your fear, but don’t let it own you. Spend time drawing strength from God through honest prayer (Phillipians 4:6-7). Then, face your fears, face the situation, and surf the slump! Make a habit of confronting the challenges before you, instead of procrastinating or avoiding the actions that you need to take in the midst of the circumstances.
Pastor John Ortberg has written a great book on the topic of facing fear: If You Want to Walk on Water, You’ve Got to Get Out of the Boat
Success Factor: Watch How You Are Talking To Yourself
“He who would be useful, strong, and happy must cease to be a passive receptacle for the negative, beggarly, and impure streams of thought; and as a wise householder commands his servants and invites his guests, so must he learn to command his desires and to say, with authority, what thoughts he shall admit into the mansion of his soul.” James Allen
What do you tell yourself about hard times?
Do you believe everything the talking heads are prophesying about gloom and doom on the radio and TV?
Do you listen to your co-workers who are glum and down in the dumps?
Are you paying attention to other fear driven business owners who are sitting on all their cash and letting opportunities pass them buy?
Resilient people know how to stay strong during times of adversity. A true leader is able to acknowledge and validate the truth of hard times to his friends and family. At the same time, however, s/he draws strength from positive sources, has faith in possibilities and resilience, and is able to balance fear with courage.
If you want some simple strategies for dealing with worry in the midst of crisis, you may also enjoy this earlier article I wrote on this very topic.
Success Factor: Stay On Top Of The Wave
The road to success is dotted with many tempting parking places. ~Author Unknown
When the world says, “Give up,”
Hope whispers, “Try it one more time.” ~Author Unknown
Once you have gotten through one challenge, you may want to relax and take it easy. This will lead to atrophy and more crises. It’s critical that you stay alert to the dangers around you, that you communicate consistently with advisors, with mentors, and with everyone around you who is facing the crisis together with you. One of the symptoms of avoidance is a tendency to stick our heads in the sand a la Ostrich Complex (I made that up :). By taking one or more actions consistently to problem solve effectively, you will be staying on top of the wave and inspiring those around you to stand up and fight, instead of slinking off toward the hills.
Take courage this week! Are you going to hide in the background, or are you going to take the bull by the horns and surf that wave? Your choice will make all the difference in the quality of your life this week!
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Terrific analogy and very inspirational message Steve. No matter how tired or discouraged we may get – and we all do at times – it’s so important to keep up that positive self talk and keep moving forward. I really believe that where we are today is a result of all the decisions and actions we did – or did not – take in the past. Thanks for the inspiration!
marquita herald recently posted…Countdown: Wit & Wisdom on Preparing for Holidays with the Family
Marty, another success factor I did not mention here is the ability to reach out. I know that men in particular seem to struggle a lot with admitting they need help and being willing to build the relationships that will buffer them in touch life circumstances. We men have a lot to learn from women in this area (in general, of course)
Thanks for the great post. A couple of weeks ago we were talking about choices to a group my husband and I train every month. What a simple word and how powerful. We face choices from the moment we get up every morning. We either choose to get up and go to work or stay in bed and continue sleeping. We either choose to be a victim of our circumstances or create our future.
Alicia, I’m glad you enjoyed the article. I hope your group benefits from its message!
Wow Stephen- another hard-hitting post! I’m loving your blog!
As I read through the success factors, I couldn’t help but think of a song that I totally relate to- it’s called “The Climb”.
Ok, so it’s by Miley Cyrus, but that’s besides the point, LOL! So, the song talks about how it doesn’t matter how fast we get there, doesn’t matter if we make it to the other side of the hill, it’s the climb that matters. For whatever reason, I do my best work when I’m facing a crisis and I realized about a year ago exactly why that was…. I love the climb!
If you look at a struggle as a challenge or a puzzle to be solved, it becomes easier to overcome because you take the emotion and anxiety out of it and put your problem solver hat on.
By the way, I love the “Ostrich Complex” LOL!
Natasha Nassar recently posted…You Inc. Commandment #6: Thou Shalt Give Value First
Due to my 9 year old daughter, I became familiar with The Climb. It’s definitely a great song 🙂 “If you look at a struggle as a challenge or a puzzle to be solved, it becomes easier to overcome because you take the emotion and anxiety out of it and put your problem solver hat on.” I love this advice, and I’m going to use it as a mantra 🙂
When the world says, “Give up,”
Hope whispers, “Try it one more time.” ~Author Unknown
I quote this often, we must be the ones who decide what voice we listen to! Sometimes only our own hope is the only positive influence!
Lynda Cromar recently posted…Sometimes Failure Is Actually The Right Direction — Fail Forward In Your MLM!
Lynn, thank you very much! May we be the voice of hope to our friends and loved ones who become discouraged.
I really liked your point about, “Running to face the giants.” We need to run with Godly confidence toward the things He is calling us toward. Great post.
Dan Black recently posted…The 360 Degree Leader by John C. Maxwell
You wrote this especially for me, right Stephen? Because that is exactly what the last two weeks have been for me… riding one wave after another, with apprehension and then triumph! More than a little outside my comfort zone for sure, but I am glad for the experience.
I love the whole positive, adventuresome tone of this post. Thank you for sharing.
Willena Flewelling
Willena Flewelling recently posted…Getting Rid of the Agenda
Hi Stephen
Interesting post with some great tips for people. Very poignant in these difficult times. It is important not to procrastinate and to face what ever challenges you have and take care of them. Less stressful that way. The problem is unlikely to go away if its left.
Anne recently posted…QR codes: Where are they now?
Anne, you make such a great point. It’s so easy to want to crawl into a corner and put our head in the sand (Ostrich Complex 🙂 when times get hard. But it’s at those very times that our character is built. It’s how we become worthy of our future success.
I read you post on Success Factors For Surfing Slumps
I loved it they are so insightful I will be reading more
Thank You Have A Great Weekend To Your Sucess
Sharon
Sharon Johnson recently posted…Downstream Focus – Focus Yourself for Success!
Thank you, Sharon!