Laura Wolfe Coaching LLC

Supporting the Evolution of Careers, Leaders,

& Climate Consciousness

Why? Part 2

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800px-Hurricane_Katrina_August_28_2005_NASAI am a weather junkie and spend a lot of time watching The Weather Channel (there – I’ve admitted it publicly!). The intensity, frequency and scale of natural disasters is mind-boggling. I really feel for the victims. Having been through Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and Gustav here in South Louisiana, I can say the aftermath is pretty awful.  My family and I have been fortunate and only inconvenienced by these storms (our worst was 9 days without power) but know many who lost much and some who lost everything.

I was teaching at LSU fall ’05 when Katrina and Rita struck. Lives were turned completely upside down. Most students had one or more displaced family members, evacuated from the storm zone, living with them in their apartments; childhood homes and neighborhoods were damaged or destroyed. Kids cried in class. The stories were incredible. It was surreal.

Since then I’ve thought a lot about resilience and every post-Katrina semester would ask students in my HRM class, “Why do you think Katrina happened to us?” Of course there is no answer to that, but I’m always looking for reason and meaning in things that happen. What I do know is that going through those storms created:

  • a lot of empathy and compassion in people’s hearts, especially when we see others dealing with similar challenges, and
  • a teflon-like coating of resilience and fortitude that makes us a pretty tough group, practiced and equipped to handle the ever crazier world.  You know the Nietzsche quote, ‘That which does not kill us makes us stronger’? Totally.

Resilience as a trait related to work success was the focus of Daryl Conner’s book Managing at the Speed of Change in the late 90s. It described (in much greater detail than below) these five characteristics of resilient people:

  • positive – view change as opportunity
  • focused – with a vision for re-establishing after disruption
  • flexible – high tolerance for ambiguity
  • organized – manage concurrent demands successfully
  • proactive – reframe changing situations coming up with new approaches

In a recently released book by George Anders called The Rare Find: Spotting Exceptional Talent Before Everyone Else Does, the author identifies resilience as a key to success and a quality for which companies should recruit. Bouncing back from something like a Hurricane Katrina actually makes someone a more attractive job candidate and a better employee during turbulent economic times? Imagine that!

So, if you are resilient, reflect it on your resume. 

Lastly, because a goal of this blog is to share useful information, here are a few more hurricane lessons:

  • If you live in a hurricane zone, empty your freezer by August and keep it that way until at least October.
  • Buy a five-day ice chest.
  • When a storm is imminent, wash all dirty clothes, dishes, and towels.  You will not regret this.

“It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one most adaptable to change.” Charles Darwin

(or maybe not – see: http://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/one-thing-darwin-didnt-say)

Why?

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red question markAre you stuck in a job that’s making you miserable? Do you wonder how you got to this point? Most of us have been there at one time and based on my experience, I am sure things really stink and am sorry for your pain. But, with a change of perspective, you can benefit from this mess through some valuable lessons. It is not often that life presents a steady stream of opportunities to practice and learn:

  • that taking long deep breaths, when you feel like screaming, can relax your system
  • how to NOT get rattled in the face of insanity (see above)
  • how to just let the craziness roll off (ditto)
  • how to take time to respond rather than saying the first thing that comes to mind
  • that sometimes no response is the best response
  • how to have difficult conversations in a cool and calm manner
  • how to be gracious and take the high road in every circumstance (this is especially hard)

Very often bad jobs and bad management go hand in hand. It is unfortunate and tough, but you really can grow by observing and learning, especially what NOT to do. Exploit your situation. Take in everything you can. Practice these lessons over and over. Make mastery of them a goal before you move on. You and your career will benefit enormously.

And, to help you through, some George Harrison songs:

George Harrison – All Things Must Pass

http://youtu.be/Vvp1IcPduyk

George Harrison – Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)

If you haven’t seen it yet, check out the Martin Scorsese HBO documentary, George Harrison: Living in the Material World.

A Change Would Do You Good

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We saw Sheryl Crow at the Hard Rock Casino Biloxi on Tuesday night (a very cool hotel and good time).  Some people discount her because she’s had so many pop hits and such commercial success but I think she’s a great rocker/blues singer/songwriter.  And, it seems change is one of her favorite topics.  Check out ‘A Change Would Do You Good’:

Also, here’s an updated Inspiring Change playlist.  Come on, help me out – would love some suggestions for what you would add…

  • A Change Would Do You Good – Sheryl Crow
  • Roll the Bones – RUSH
  • Don’t Stop – Fleetwood Mac (especially the version on The Dance featuring the USC marching band)
  • I Won’t Back Down – Tom Petty
  • The Power of Goodbye – Madonna
  • Owner of a Lonely Heart – Yes
  • Uprising – Muse
  • Sing the Changes – The Fireman
  • Roll with the Changes – REO Speedwagon
  • I Will Not Be Broken – Bonnie Raitt
  • Fly One Time – Ben Harper and Relentless7
  • Above the Bones – Mishka
  • Brand New Day – Sting
  • Cool Change – Little River Band
  • Hold On – Wilson Phillips
  • Big Girls Don’t Cry (Personal) – Fergie
  • Burning Down the House – Talking Heads
  • Already Gone – Sugarland (this song is a little relationshippy but Jennifer Nettles has such an incredible voice I had to include it)
  • You Get Knocked Down – Chumbawumba
  • Should I Stay or Should I Go? – The Clash

Here’s a reminder of my philosophy about the relationship between music and change:  First, you realize your current situation isn’t working so decide to create a new one. Think about the music you have been listening to, especially songs that remind you of the what’s been going on.  Next, stop listening to that stuff.  Just don’t do it anymore. Find something different to listen to.   It doesn’t necessarily have to be new music, just music you don’t know or don’t associate with your current situation.

Hey, Bulldog

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IMG_0020Is there something really important that you want to do but can’t seem to make it happen? Are people around you telling you not to do it?  Or, are they just looking at you in a funny or confused or questioning way as you try?  Do the obstacles seem insurmountable?

Reminds me of a phrase I learned as an undergrad at the University of New Orleans in the Hotel, Restaurant, Tourism Administration program. A member of the faculty at the time named Dr. Guyette was a very tough number. He actually created obstacles for his students in order to teach important lessons. He put the phrase “Persistence and Determination Alone are Omnipotent” in front of us at some point during those years and I have never forgotten it. I later learned it was part of this larger and famous Calvin Coolidge quote:

“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan “press on” has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race”

Persistence and Determination in action:

http://youtu.be/zt7rXE9vhNY

Because he was determined and he persisted, Gus achieved his goal, against some pretty serious odds. It’s worth pointing out that he did adjust his strategy in response to the environment – the pool wouldn’t go through the door full of water so he dumped it.

I’m a bulldog owner and know how tenacious they can be so this one really cracks me up. I’ll write about my darling Pearl girl soon. Here is one of her baby pictures.  She turns 2 years old this week.

 

 

 

And to you as you work to make your dreams a reality, Press On!!