Thriving in Tough Times

Guest Blog Post By Jeff Vankooten 2/14/12

Let’s go ahead and agree on one thing:

We are struggling today with too much change in too short a time. It can get on your nerves.

As a result stress is everywhere. Relationships are strained. Systems are breaking down. Nearly everyone is wounded. Mood and morale are low.

It is into this context that we live our lives and accomplish our work. But how? Previous strategies don’t cut it anymore in this shifted environment.

The one inescapable requirement for engaging such change today is resilience. It is being competent in the midst of intense stressors. Resilience causes us to be bigger than the challenges we face and provides the impetus for us to be co-creators with the future. Jim Collins and Morten T. Hansen point out in their book, “Great by Choice: Uncertainty, Chaos, and Luck-why some thrive despite them all”, that resilience is the signature of greatness.

The really good news is that resilience is not necessarily an inborn personality trait, but a set of capabilities that can be learned. It’s not relegated to only the extraordinary few. It means you all ready have the grit needed in this tough time to succeed in today’s unique moment.

You can be one tough cookie if you want to be.

It’s not going to be easy. Anything deeply worthwhile never is. Wisdom and strength come at a cost. This moment is an opportunity for you to step up, to prove to yourself you can do it, and inspire others to follow suit.

Change Speaker Jeff Vankooten is the author of “Bounce Back: How to Thrive in an Uncertain World” and a subject matter expert on resilience from Denver, Colorado.