Mindset: Be Calm

Hi! I received a few questions last week about stress especially given the uncertain times the past few years and the current external events the past few weeks. Mindset is described as a set of attitudes held by someone. I am a positive, glass half full kind of person. Positive thinking is a mental and emotional attitude that focused on the bright side of life an expects positive results. A positive mindset means making positive thinking a habit, continually searching for the silver lining and making the best out of any situation you find yourself in.

Below is one of the questions received from a new connection that requested to remain anonymous. Permission was given to share with all of us for learning, growing and feedback.

Hi New Friend,

I am so stressed out. I have followed you and appreciate you accepting my connection request. I cannot get my mind in a good state given all the craziness in the world. I don't know if I am alone or if I am just too overwhelmed for worry about everything. I think I just need to figure out how to relax more. You seem like a happy and proactive guy so what works for you.

Thanks,

Stressed Leader

Years ago I started in a new leadership role. My family and I had discussed the opportunity and decided to pursue it given the growth and excitement that would come from it for all of us. The very same day that I started was a huge crash and the tipping point of the 2007-2008 Financial Crisis. Clients were canceling their programs, partnerships were being paused indefinitely, people were trying to salvage campaigns and a huge sense of uncertainty hung all over all parts of both personal and professional lives. It has been my first day with the team. I was also in a different state away from my wife and young children at the time. I had figured out temporary housing and was simply trying to get started strong on this new opportunity when the the world hit with unexpected force.

As a leader, it went from who is this new team member to how do we address what's happening with all the uncertainties with clients, how we can help them and get a handle on revenue impact. It would be a moment to either react or figure out how to shape our new world and transcend our current situation. It is easier said than done but those were the two options while at the same time trying to gain your new footing, lead by example and help others. At the end of the first day, our GM/VP would call a manager meeting.

This manager meeting would be 45 minutes and would zero in upon our current state of state. We all were on the same page and figuring it out together. Plans, changes and proactive implementation of processes were all discussed and shared. At the end of the meeting, our GM/VP was leaving when she came back in the room, said welcome to me and quite a first day. She then looked at me and said in the middle of everything - be calm. Those two words resonated in terms of not only that day and the current environment but in daily reflection of how to handle whatever comes your way.

I choose to be calm. I choose to be happy. I choose to control what I can impact. My mindset is then a result of what I have chosen.

It takes work. It takes focus. It can though be a reality through putting in the work and daily framing of it.

Active patience, focusing on what you can control and playing a game worth winning were three areas covered in a meeting last year that referenced a |"3-2-1 Newsletter" topic from James Clear. I thought they were relevant themes from the question received and topic about mindset.

Patience takes work. Focusing on what you can control takes work. Playing a game worth winning take work. Being calm helps with all of it by getting your mindset straight.

"7 Ways to Be Calm"- (be calm, settle down and stay calm)

1. Take a deep breath
2. Think before speaking
3. Visualize your happy place that brings joy and peace
4. Repurpose your energy
5. Focus on the facts and not emotions
6. Think about the big picture
7. Be kind to yourself

I have been fortunate as discussed last week to have incredible formal and informal mentors that I still utilize today. The "7 Ways to Be Calm" is my own personal approach to staying in a positive and proactive state to help be in the moment but also navigate for whatever has come my way - good, bad, happy and/or sad.

I hope that story has helpful. It was an example of being in the moment when so many things were creating noise and panic could easily have overcome the day. It shows to listen to what is being said, hear what is being said and they make a choice to implement it. Those two words of "be calm" are one of my three key mottos that I reflect and live each day. I remain appreciated to this day of the hunker down, welcome to the team and remember these two words for your new role and career from Shawn Bartelt.

Thanks again for joining the newsletter and will continue to respond to the group weekly. Please feel free to share with anyone who can benefit from the discussion and lessons shared.

Questions can be added here.

Thank you.

DP