PTSD = My Business Superpower

I know some will see my title as controversial. Please read the full post to see the positive message of encouragement.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that may develop after exposure to a terrifying event or ordeal in which severe physical harm occurred or was threatened.

Let me start by saying that I’m naturally an optimistic person. Many who know me best would likely even say that I’m optimistic “to a fault”. I’ve learned to accept that about myself and at times have found that it can be encouraging to others. So that’s my intent here, to encourage. Encourage my fellow Veterans to embrace the challenges we’ve faced as the fires that forged us into the leaders we are today. Also to encourage all of the citizens we’ve been honored to protect to understand us a little better and help us assimilate into the business world so that we can all be successful together.

Each of us who has served in combat has our scars. Some are visible while others are internal and are shared only with our closest circles, if they’re shared at all. I’d like to share my scar with you all because I truly believe it’s had a very positive impact on my life and I think we can all benefit from some positives about PTSD.

I knew I was different when I returned from combat in Iraq, but I didn’t know exactly why or how. I just knew I was angry and hyper-alert all the time. Thankfully my wonderful wife urged me to seek counseling, so I sought out a PTSD specialist in Austin. Through months of EMDR therapy I learned to ease my stress by identifying the root trauma and the negative emotions associated with it and re-mapping the circuitry in the brain to remove the negative emotions. I honestly don't know exactly how or why, but this worked for me and I can now say that I’m at peace with my experiences in combat and can recall them without the feelings of anger and anxiety (the negative emotions associated with my root trauma) that I used to feel.

This process of re-mapping the brain has always fascinated me. Admittedly I'm no expert on the subject, just an enthusiastic reader - mainly when I'm on business travel.

After reading one of these articles on a flight across the country recently I began to daydream a little bit as I do. My brain had been transformed by the trauma I experienced in combat and there had been some negative side effects. The un-failing optimistic in me quickly found some other transformations from my combat experience that were very positive.

• Attention to Detail - in combat this skill was critical for survival. We constantly scan the side of the road for IEDs, or the tops of buildings for snipers, or around corners in an attempt to intercept threats before they can materialize to full force. I admit that for me this re-wiring was in large part due to USMC Boot Camp in San Diego, but I believe it’s directly related to my PTSD as well. One cause of PTSD is extended periods of time where heightened awareness is required, which leads to extended periods of adrenaline secretion. This re-wires our brains to always be on the look-out for things that other may not notice. Running missions at all hours as most of us did would classify as such conditions. This has translated into a real-world skill for many of us as leaders in business where's it's manifested daily in the quality of work we provide, even under stressful circumstances.

• Quick Action (Apply with CAUTION!) – This too was rooted in our basic training, but for me I believe it was hard-wired by my PTSD. I say this only because this too seemed different when I got home. In combat we’re able to react quickly because we’ve typically planned and rehearsed the mission for hours. We all know the plans will fly out the window when rounds start flying down-range and all we’ll have to go on is small unit tactics and Commander’s Intent. In business this has become an asset for many of us because we can think clearly when things get tough and bring others together to stay on track toward mission accomplishment. I’ve personally learned that I need a good partner to keep me honest with this one. This isn’t combat! So we normally have time to "pump the brakes" a little and bring everyone together around a Quick Idea that can lead to Quick Action. In business where the decisions are normally not life-and-death we must allow time for due-diligence to make sure the best decision is made for the organization. However, there will always be a place for someone who's willing to take ownership or responsibility to drive projects forward.

It could accurately be said that even non-PTSD combat Veterans possess these same qualities and I’m not implying that only PTSD Vets have these skills. This is how I choose to view my PTSD. In my mind it’s not a “Disorder” at all but I can see how renaming it to "Post Traumatic Stress SUPERPOWER" may cause some issues. Good thing it’s not my job to name it. I merely get to choose how I live with it every day and I choose to view it as My Business Superpower.

I challenge you to do the same with whatever you’re facing today. It may not be something as "somber" as PTSD, but I truly believe that the challenges we face every day can become our Superpowers. For instance, if you struggle with public speaking there's a pretty good chance that's at least partially rooted in a concern for what others are going to think about you or your message. Don't let this fear control you. Harness that concern to strengthen your pespective on how others will receive your message instead of you personally. If it makes sense, then adjust your message to better resonate with your audience. By harnessing your fear of public speaking and regularly practicing that new thought process over time you're re-mapping the brain to allow that fear of public speaking to become your Business Superpower! Please share your Superpower Stories so we can all learn together.

Thanks for reading,

Todd

@toddscar

"The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new." -Socrates