Sales Man Up
Enduring The Storms of Life
We all face storms in life. Some are more difficult than others, but we all go through trials and tribulation. That's why we have the gift of faith.
Joyce Meyer
With the announcement of Hurricane ETA tracking our direction last week, my family and I, like most Floridians, sprang into “preparation mode”. Batteries and flashlights were checked, gas cans for the generator were filled, and water containers were topped off. When you’ve gone through and come out the other side of a dangerous storm, you tend to take things a little more seriously.If you haven’t endured intense weather, then there is no point of reference.
A number of years ago, we saw this played out during a family vacation to Franklin , North Carolina. Our family rented a cozy cabin nestled in the Blue Ridge mountains, next to a small meandering stream. For the first few days, it seemed like a slice of heaven. Until we got the warning call from a relative, that Hurricane Opal was tracking our way. Being Floridians, we headed to the local supermarket for supplies. The locals were so chilled when we told them a Hurricane was forecasted to hit NC. Needless to say, when Opal ripped through Georgia and arrived in the Carolinas that night , trees snapped, power lines went down, and that lazy meandering stream turned into a Category 5 rapid . In the aftermath, when we drove into town, the '' Welcome to Franklin “ sign read , “ Welcome to F”. The baseball fields and parks were flooded, and the only restaurant open was Pizza Hut, because they were the only ones who had a backup generator. Carolinians never saw hurricanes in the same light after Opal ,and neither did we. Storms impact our lives.
Which leads me back to the original thought about storms - everyone endures them! This has been a “stormy” tumultuous year for all of us. COVID 19, social distancing, working from home, political changes, social unrest , and changing markets have impacted many companies that I know. So how do we make it to the morning light ? Here are a few thoughts :
Everyone goes through a season of Storms: Don’t become a victim, because that mindset doesn’t do you or anyone else any good. Everyone and I mean Everyone goes through some type of trial or tribulation. No exceptions. It is ok to acknowledge the existence of the storm without allowing them to run over us. Yeah the storm hit. Now let’s rebuild !
Don’t Compare Storms : I’ve done this and lived to regret it. Fact: we never know all of the facts. There is always a backstory or a hidden narrative within each person's life, including our own. My goal is to choose not to judge or compare myself to another, but rather focus on owning my actions, and taking care of my own backyard. It is not my job to try and fix anyone but me !
We can't control the Storms, only ourselves : This is a biggie. If we allow ourselves to get so worked up over things we cannot control, then it is easy to digress into the blame game. Redirecting my focus on what I have the ability to control is empowering. I cannot prevent a storm from knocking out my electricity, but I can have my generator tuned up, gassed up, and ready to provide backup for my family. Choose to control the things you can, and let go of the things you can’t .
Learn to Prepare : response-ability: Colin Powell stated that “ There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.”
Whether preparing for a storm, or preparing for a presentation; it is the ability that we have to respond that determines the outcome. It is the planning and strategy we act on in advance that pays dividends at the end of the story. Passivity never accomplishes anything, but taking strategic action does.
Focus on the Sunlight : Choose to be the kind of person that looks for the silver lining within the dark cloud. Be a realistic optimist. Yes, people have been affected by the pandemic.Yes, markets and businesses have been greatly challenged and even decimated this year. Yes, the path of successfully doing business has changed and what worked yesterday may no longer work today. But here’s what does - being responsive to our client’s needs, extending patience through challenging times, and taking responsibility when the ball gets dropped and being honest about it - these are characteristics of the heart that transcend trends, markets or economies. Look for the light that comes AFTER the storm and keep your umbrella close by!
The greater the difficulty the more glory in surmounting it. Skillful pilots gain their reputation from storms and tempests.
Epictetus
