How I walked my talk

I often get asked to give my '8 Keys to Resilience' talk. It really hits home and in part I believe it's because it's a very different take on the "5 pillars of resilience" (yawn) that seems to abound.

After giving a quick tour of some of my own 'dirty laundry' (aka life challenges) which lead to the post traumatic growth which inspired the 8 keys, my first key to resilience is to challenge yourself physically - or as I like to say "Jump off a bridge". The mental gymnastics that you go through to get yourself to do something which scares you is incredible, and confidence shows up right on cue - after you've shown a fair dollop of courage, and not before.

Because just like golf, you can't read a book and suddenly play like Tiger Woods; likewise, resilience only comes as you experience this thing called life, and hopefully come out the other side of each event.

Once you have jumped off a bridge with a bungy rope firmly tied to your ankles, or whatever that 'thing' is for you (it could be tango dancing, singing karaoke, going up a tall building in a glass lift, public speaking, doing a BMX course, or swimming with sharks), whatever else life throws at you will never be quite as difficult. Hard, yes, but more ... in perspective.

Whenever a challenge shows up now, I just think to myself - I've walked on hot coals; how hard can this be?

So, to prove that I do walk my very own (resilience) talk, and as a thank you for going on the guilt trip with me as I raised money for the Toss the Boss campaign, here is the video of the skydive in aid of Project Futures. Collectively we raised over $35,000 to help victims and potential victims of human trafficking, slavery and help stop the c. 2m children being sold into the sex trade each year.

For those who sponsored me, I say a heartfelt thank you again. And for those that didn't .. well, I've still got $600 to go, so you'll find the link below just in case ...

So here is 6 minutes 38 seconds of joy, for you all.

And if this has inspired you to face your own fear, then let me know. I'd love to hear all about it.

You can still donate to the event here.

#leadership #genderequality #endhumantrafficking #disruptiveleadership

Author: Julie Alexander, juliealexander.com.au

Julie is the founder of a global consultancy partnering with successful business leaders to produce breakthroughs in critical areas of their business. By creating shifts in thinking and behaviour fundamental to success, unleashing disruptive leadership and empowering people to create dramatic shifts in performance, her Culture Incorporated program transforms company cultures so that team members thrive, solid bottom line results are attained and sustainable competitive advantage is achieved.

The Private Coach program also transforms people, building their resilience, and gets them out of their own way.

Julie is a culture and business performance specialist, a writer of blogs, a facilitator, speaker, trainer, coach and mentor. You can get to know her on Facebook and Twitter.