A reflection about personal resilience and business longevity made on my 34th anniversary
JOHN Hotowka
Energising Resilience and Change Keynote and Event Speaker – Giving you the skills and confidence to become more resourceful and resilient in times of high speed change to improve performance and mental wellbeing
In terms of resilience some people with age become grumpy, bitter and blunt, (which is not a firm of solicitors run by Snow White and her seven friends) but the way they choose to behave after experiencing the challenges of life.
On 19th June 2023 I celebrated 34 years in business, self employed. Has it been a fun and smooth ride all the way? NO!!!
Could I have done without the struggles and pains? OF COURSE I COULD!!!
I’d have every right to be grumpy, bitter and blunt but there’s one more question to ask.
If I had to do it all again would I change any of it? Strangely, NO!!!
I didn’t like the difficult bits and I wouldn’t wish difficulties on anyone but it’s the challenges that have made me the person I am today.
I’m not saying there’s no room for improvement because there is. I’m far from perfect. The fact is, even though I’m still a work in progress, I actually like who I am.
The odd thing is we learn more from challenge and failure than we do from success. And, thanks to the challenges and failures the successes and good times are not only appreciated more but there are also many more of them.
Writing this missal a year before my coral anniversary in 2024, I’ve reflected on what I think are the most important attributes for longevity when running a solo business, possibly to get through the trials and tribulations of life even.
As I pondered, coincidently I received inspiration from two films about two very different people and yet they both possessed the same basic attributes.
The first film was ‘The Darkest Hour’ about Winston Churchill and the second film was ‘Eddie The Eagle’ about Michael ‘Eddie’ Edwards. You can’t get two personalities who are more different and yet they had two things in common.
Firstly, when nobody else believed in them, they chose to believe in themselves. Secondly, they were tenacious and kept going until they reached their goal.
I’m not sure if somebody is trying to tell me something but shortly after receiving inspiration from those two films I also saw Gerald Ratner deliver a speech about his rise and fall and rise again in business. He too had massive self-belief in his darkest hour and is tenacious.
The message? Know what you want to achieve, stay focussed on your goal and keep going.
By the way, there was one other thing they had in common. They each found allies (at least one person) who gave them the moral support they needed during the times they felt down.
What do you think would be your most important attributes for longevity when running a solo business?
Award-winning keynote speaker | Management Consultant for Board of Directors, CXOs | Event host, Compere, MC | Expert in self-leadership, change and transformation | Mindset & relationship coach | Author
1 年Love this article, JOHN Hotowka! I think everyone could "have done without the struggles and pains" - but then would you build any resilience? not at all...Congratulations on such an amazing anniversary and I will keep it quiet that it is nearly as long as my entire life...hehe BRAVO!!
The Mental Wealth Strategist - Combatting isolation in the Workplace with the pursuit of positive Mental Wealth - Executive Coach, Speaker and Mastermind facilitator enabling more fun both personally and professionally
1 年Absolutely with you JOHN Hotowka - my greatest strength through my solopreneur business to date has been the support network around me - without it, I would have made far more mistakes, failed to make decisions and progress, and when recovering from challenging times, in real terms I might never have recovered. We all need good people around us asking better questions that we didn't think of, questions we knew but were too scared to ask and the questions we had asked but avoided or ignored the answers. Isolation doesn't work!
Director
1 年Well said John "Know what you want to achieve, stay focussed on your goal and keep going" really is key. Writing it down also helps make it happen.
Empowering Leaders to Unleash the People Power in their organisations. Building an army of empowering Practitioners for in house solutions and consultancy.
1 年Beautifully written JOHN Hotowka as always. I DID think that was a Solicitors firm, at first!!! ?? There is one shining attribute for me and that is to align with your core values. Sometimes we get taken off track... sometimes we may forget why we are doing this.. sometimes we change what they are, but as long as you are aligned with them, you will find mental wellness, happiness and fulfilment. ??
The Confident Club
1 年Congratulations my friend xxxx ??