Walk the Week- If You Stumble - Get Right Back Up

My Apple watch has a fall detection system that reacts to a hard fall. I have triggered this a few times accidentally when bending over and then straightening up quickly. It taps your wrist, sounds an alarm and displays an alert. You can tap “I’m OK” or, if you really have say fallen off your bike and are hurt, you can make an emergency call. The thing about falling is not so much that it happens, but what you do afterwards to recover and get right back up.

In life and our professional work, we will inevitably experience low moments when we have metaphorically fallen. I experienced one such earlier this year when I was ill and hospitalised. However, I have managed to “get back up” and have now happily returned to work. It is I suggest how we deal with adversity in our personal and working lives that ultimately defines us as people and as professionals.

I acted once for a supplier on a major global contract negotiation in the retail sector. We spent literally months endlessly negotiating the minutiae of terms and conditions, project implementation??and service levels. The discussions were tense and we were thrown out of the negotiation twice by the customer for being unreasonable - about limits of liability as I recall. We finally, after many late nights ,came to an agreement and the contract, which was to be signed in hard copy, was printed out by the customer’s lawyers. I was in their office checking the document when the bombshell dropped; the customer’s US parent (which hitherto had no involvement in the discussions) contacted our senior management and said they would not sign without a 10% price drop. Our bid manager and others in our team were all for throwing in the towel and going home. However, with some financial machinations were able to come up with an offer acceptable to the customer and its parent – and we signed the next day just before our financial year end. We definitely stumbled but got up again to succeed.

See this blog?Get Back Up When You Fall Down: How to Overcome Failure?by the author Mike Robbins who says:

“Remember: it’s okay to do it wrong. Too often, sadly, we fall or make a mistake, and then decide we can’t get back up. Boldness is about having the courage, willingness, and commitment to get up when we fall – even if we’re scared or don’t think we can.”

and observes that failure should be seen as an opportunity to learn:?

“Facing difficulties in our life can be incredibly beneficial – if we choose to allow our challenges to be growth opportunities.”

See also this really good Forbes article?Embracing The Fall: How To Be OK With And Grow From Failure?which applies the analogy of rock climbing and fearing a particularly difficult section and sets out some pertinent lessons learned including

“How many times do we do this to ourselves in business? Creating our own failure by being afraid of failure in itself? You fail either way with that mindset. Trust in yourself and the work you have already put into your business. If you are not willing to try, you will always fall short.”

and

“Look for new solutions and ways to accomplish your goals as well as your company’s goals. By staying open-minded, you will be more apt to see the path to success.”

I also like this blog?On Falling Down and Getting Up?from Psychology Today which commences:

“Challenges are a part of life. In evolutionary terms, challenges are biological stresses that stimulate the adaptations that we see in the diversity of life all around us. When we take the long view it's easier to see that challenges, and the adaptations that arise to meet those challenges, are an important part of life and living.”

and goes on to say:

“This idea of falling down and getting up is also found in the Japanese phrase "nana korobi ya oki". This literally means "seven falls with eight getting up". On first reading it seems the math is a bit messed up with 8 times up with only 7 down. But the figurative meaning resonates with me as in no matter how many times you get knocked down, stand up.a

It’s really all about resilience – bounce backability if that is permitted English. See another Forbes blog?Building Resilience In The Workplace: Strategies For Success?which commences

“In today's rapidly evolving workplace, resilience is a crucial skill that empowers individuals to navigate challenges, bounce back from setbacks and maintain high performance. Building resilience enhances your ability to adapt to change, but it also promotes well-being and encourages a positive work environment.”

and goes on to “explore practical habits for cultivating resilience in the workplace”?including:

·???????Develop A Growth Mindset

·???????Practice Problem-Solving and Decision-Making Skills

·???????Prioritize Self-Care

Here are some great quotes about getting right back up, dusting yourself down and getting on with it.

“If you get up one more time than you fall, you will make it through.”?Chinese Proverb

“Falling down is part of life. Getting back up is living.”?Anonymous

“Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”?Confucius

“When life knocks you down, try to land on your back. Because if you can look up, you can get up. Let your reason get you back up.”??The American politician and motivational speaker Les Brown.

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”?Winston Churchill