I've been thinking a lot about resilience these days. What is it about us humans that provides the spark for some of us to bounce back from adversity while others shrivel and wilt? Obviously the tragedy in Japan got me thinking of this now but I have been fascinated with this idea for quite some time.
The Japanese just keep coming back. Whether it was rebuilding after two H-bombs in WWII, numerous earthquakes (even before this mother of all earthquakes) and an economy in the doldrums for more than a decade, the Japanese seem to just keep on keepin on. Some of this is obviously cultural and a wealthy society (let's not forget that Japan is the third largest economy in the world) certainly can attack problems easier than a poor country (read: Haiti) but I think it is more than that.
In our deep recession, why did some companies fold their tents and go home with nary a fight while others fought back to reclaim their position as viable, profitable companies?
We see the same thing in the sports world all the time. In fact, it is the essence of the coach's halftime plea to "dig deep and find out what you are made of" that we hear about over and over again. Some teams respond to the impassioned speech. Others do not.
If your company is still struggling through the current recession and you're wondering whether you are ever going to make it to the surface to gasp another breathe, take heed. It can happen but it takes a team effort and it takes everyone truly believing in themselves and in the cause. From Katrina to the BP oil spill to Egypt, we have seen great examples of how resilience can bring a people back. Now it's time to take stock of your company and see what you are made of.
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