Facing Our Present, Reimagining Our Future

"You must never confuse faith that you will prevail in the end – which you can never afford to lose – with the discipline to confront the most brutal facts of your current reality, whatever they might be."

Those are the wise words spoken by Jim Stockdale, a Navy Admiral who fought in the Vietnam War and endured nearly eight years in captivity. Against all odds, he survived, and was celebrated for the courageous actions he took to save the lives of many fellow prisoners. When asked how he dealt with years of brutal imprisonment, he said: “I never lost faith in the end of the story. I never doubted not only that I would get out, but also that I would prevail in the end and turn the experience into the defining event of my life, which in retrospect, I would not trade.” This combination of optimism and realism is now known as the “Stockdale paradox.”

It’s a story of remarkable bravery. And today – at EY and across the entire business community – as we work through the extraordinary challenges of this moment, this story offers important lessons for us all.

Hope in the Face of Uncertainty

I believe Admiral Stockdale’s mindset is one that we all need to adopt today. To have the “faith that you will prevail in the end,” you must have conviction – the belief that you will prevail. In the face of uncertainty, that belief can only come from hope and optimism. It’s facing the brutal reality of the situation and still being optimistic that you will prevail that gives one the courage and the determination to take the actions essential to survival. 

While I have tremendous conviction in the preparedness, strength, and resiliency of EY and the clients we serve, I also am acutely aware of the brutal facts of the reality we still face as we stare at the daunting road ahead. By keeping both this hope and this reality in our minds and hearts, we can summon the strength to adapt to the challenges of today, while preparing for a better tomorrow.

Reimagining Our Future

I was also drawn to the lesson of never losing faith in “the end of the story” – the vision of a better day and a life-defining experience. Increasingly, I find my attention turning to the “other side” of this crisis. The term “new normal” is often referenced to describe our current existence; however, I don’t see it that way – I see our current state as a waystation en route to the “new normal” that awaits us on the other side of this crisis. The world will be permanently altered in both positive and negative ways, and I’m increasingly focused on those positive changes.

The small joy of having dinner every night with my husband and son has certainly been a very special silver lining of this crisis. I love my family and my work and, as a result, I’ve spent most of my life dividing my time as judiciously as possible between the two. While I have no regrets and feel tremendously gratified in both personal and professional aspects of my life, I imagine that, 15 years ago as a young partner, or 20 years ago as a new mom, I would have appreciated the ability to work from home remotely and efficiently. This crisis allows us to redefine the term “balance” and what it means for our highly ambitious and talented workforce. In fact, there are countless examples where stronger relationships have been forged with clients during this period of “virtuality.” The shared experience of encountering the unknown – and supporting one another through to the other side of it is a very powerful agent. The possibilities are truly endless if we free our minds from the encumbrances of the past. 

The bottom line is that we, and all organizations, have a unique opportunity to reimagine our future – and we can’t squander that opportunity. It’s the chance to think very differently about our business, how we create value and how we sustain the highest performing workforce.

Throughout EY’s history, our teams have helped clients through enormous challenges and extraordinary transitions. That’s when our people are at their most creative and resourceful, not because they convince themselves that everything is fine, or because they rest on their laurels, but because they constantly adapt and strive to bring their best, come what may. That’s what I’m seeing now, during this defining moment. And that’s what sustains my sense of optimism and conviction. 

At the same time, the reality of the situation – the knowledge that we have yet to face down the most formidable challenges of this crisis – fuels my need for continued action and execution. As long as we stay resilient through this crisis, and keep showing up for each other, we can tackle the challenges of the present with the mindset of Admiral Stockdale – and look ahead to a future where we, too, will prevail.