Stay Rooted in Gratefulness, and Don't Die.

As I’ve been spending more time on this platform, I've noticed a lot of anxiety and stress expressed here over the past few weeks. I understand the frustration many are feeling in the current job market. It’s made me reflect on stress in general and how it impacts nearly everything we do in the name of productivity.

Sales is stressful. From customer interactions and pitches to monthly or quarterly quotas and potential rejection, it all adds to an already high-pressure environment that can break even the best of us. This kind of stress is something we, as salespeople, often condition ourselves to handle. For some, it fuels high performance, bringing out the best in us. But when the thrill and pressure subside, our focus can shift to unproductive areas. If you thrive under pressure, that's great—but sitting quietly in a room should not stress you more than your usual high-speed routine. Instead, it should be a time for reflection, introspection, and peacefulness—a time to cultivate gratitude.

To be clear, I'm not speaking directly to those currently out of jobs and seeking employment, as that brings a different kind of stress. The stress to ensure survival is just different. ??

In 2017, I faced a life-changing experience: I died. Yes, you read that right. After an accident, I spent four days bleeding internally while continuing my regular work from an executive chair in my home office, convinced I had only sustained a minor injury. I relied on painkillers, muscle relaxers, and a bit of whiskey to manage the discomfort, focusing on performance over well-being.

On Saturday, January 21, 2016, I awoke to a defibrillator shock with several people around me, astonished that I stood up and started shouting at everyone. I had flatlined, having lost over four liters of blood. After multiple transfusions and nine days in the ICU, I gained a clearer perspective, though it took a while to sink in. I even joined my Monday morning sales meeting from the hospital. But once home, reality set in: being declared dead, even briefly, has a way of resetting your understanding of stress.

Job hunting, having a job, and life in general are all stressful. While I don’t claim to be a psychologist or life coach, I do try to absorb good advice. After my father passed away twenty years ago, I was consumed by stress, mourning, and depression. Reluctantly, I saw a counselor, who shared something that stayed with me:

"Stress is not the event; it’s your reaction to the event."

Think about that. We manifest our stress. If we thrive in it, we can harness it productively. If we shrink back, we reduce our effectiveness. I’m not here to claim that I live a carefree life—no one does. But there is power in controlling your reactions. If you’re searching for a new role, approach rejection positively; it signifies that something better might be waiting. The same holds true if you lose a sale—if you have a strong pipeline, move on to the next opportunity. Frustration without a path for improvement is just self-inflicted stress.

Didn’t land the job you wanted? Even if you met all the requirements, there was something that didn’t align. We control little in this universe beyond our thoughts and actions, and even those can spiral. Case in point: Go to the gym and end up nearly dead. Accepting the lack of total control helps us find peace.

I own four businesses, and while I strive for daily gratitude, there are still silent car rides on Monday mornings when I anticipate the challenges of the week ahead. Better doesn’t mean perfect. If you’re searching for a life without stress, anxiety, or conflict, you’ll be disappointed. The goal is to ensure the positive outweighs the negative. The scales will balance if you find a reason for them to, tilting toward whichever side you set your bias.

My message today is simple: no matter what you’re facing, whether good or bad, it’s just something happening. You decide its significance. Choose to see life as a cup half full, and it may overflow one day. See it as half empty, and it will never be full enough. If your job search isn’t progressing, keep trying and adapting. Show your value, and demonstrate your worth. If the pressure is overwhelming, change your approach—it doesn’t mean uprooting your entire life but finding a better way forward.

I’d love to hear from you: How do you handle stress in your career or job search? Have you found ways to maintain a mindset of gratitude, even in tough situations? Share your thoughts or stories in the comments—I’m always interested in learning from others’ experiences. If this resonates with you or someone you know, feel free to share this post or tag someone who might find it helpful. Let’s build a community rooted in resilience, support, and a bit of gratefulness.

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