Example: Effectively coping with change

The instructor, Todd, speaks to us from a brightly lit lounge with Urban Decor. My favorite example of someone using perspective to effectively cope with change involves a marketing professional I met a few years ago. I was booked to talk to a group of unemployed professionals who were part of a job search support group. When I arrived, I saw a large group in the auditorium listening to a speaker. She was a local business person and the volunteer coordinator for the group. Just as she was wrapping up before introducing me, she spotted someone in the audience and blurted out, "Shawn, I didn't see you sitting there. Would you be willing to come up here and share your story?" Shawn came to the stage and said, "Hello, everyone. Some of you know me. I'm a happy father, lucky husband, avid fisherman. I'm also a marketing executive who was recently downsized through no fault of my own. I went from six figures to no figures, fast." On a slide with a turquoise gradient background words scroll into view and then recede. "I've had to adjust my life." "So like all of you, I've had to adjust my life." We return to the instructor. After a few days of feeling like a complete failure, I knew I had to get some type of job, any job. I used to run a team of 30 people, but for the last few months I've been cleaning offices from midnight to 4 a.m. at 1500 Main Street. It wasn't enough, though, so I now also work demonstrating food at the grocery store. He said, "It's been challenging, but I'm doing well." Another slide reads , "It's become clear to me how much I have to be thankful for." In fact, it's become clear to me how much I have to be thankful for. So far, we return to the instructor, we've kept our house. My family is eating and I'm enjoying more time with my children. That day, witnessing his comfortable confidence and conviction moved me. It made everyone in the room realize that sometimes you have to dig deep, swallow your pride, and do what it takes. And when you do, you realize what really matters. It was a great gig and I had a blast chatting with Shawn that day. About a year later, I ran into Shawn at a shopping mall. He told me he had finally secured a new position similar to the role he had lost, but in many ways much better. He said, "Giving out food at the grocery store was kind of fun. While working, I made the decision to try and chat with people and get to know them. A few months in, a man tried a sample I was offering and we started to talk. Turns out he was a senior marketing executive for one of my old employer's competitors. He found out who I was and soon I had a new job." I said, "That's amazing." Then he added, "Guess where my new office is? 1500 Main Street." Shawn had literally gone from cleaning the office at night to sitting in the office during the day. I said, "Congratulations, Shawn. It must feel great to be back on your feet." He looked me in the eyes, grinned and said, another slide reads, "I never fell down." "But Doc, I never fell down. I never fell down." We return to the instructor. Shawn reminded me so effectively that day, that perspective is everything.