What's the worst that could happen?
Jen Dalitz
Chair of Qudos Bank, Non-Executive Director at iPartners, Trustee of Australian Museum. Executive Coach. What is the change that you will be?
So. What's the worst that could happen when you're a new parent at your child's new school... and attending your first athletics carnival... where you agree to run in the parents race even though athletics is not exactly your strong suit?
Well maybe - mid race - a gust of wind might lift your favorite cap from your head. And instead of letting it fly, you might grab for it, losing balance in the process and then – as if in slow motion – your legs might go from beneath you as you start falling backwards… and then over-correct forwards… and between losing your footing and forgetting to breathe and just having no clue you might suddenly swan-dive forward. Landing on your knees. Then chest. Sliding in the mud. The baton falling onto the ground…
And then you might scramble around, finding the baton, and the wretched cap, and somehow find your feet again. But it's too soon and your balance might not be back and in a split second you might tumble again for a second time.
Maybe I was seeking acceptance. Maybe I was trying to be helpful. Or maybe I just wanted to please my young offspring.
Whatever the motivation, this is one day I'd love to erase from history. But I can't.
Any of you who know me from my professional days will realise this story is at odds with my perfectionist tendencies. In my professional career I would have dwelled on this sort of spectacular failure for weeks and months. And I’d have used endless energy wishing it hadn’t happened, worrying what people must think of me. And none of that would have changed a thing.
Sometimes stuff happens and though we can’t always be in control of the situation, we can choose how we respond.
This blog post is the story of how I chose to respond, to laugh at myself, and to give permission to others to laugh too. (And boy, did they laugh!!)
Feel free to read along and if you break out in a giggle too, then do let me know, I'd love to join in!
https://jendalitz.com/resilience/the-worst-that-could-happen/
Head of Strategy @ Helium | Operational Excellence, Effective Business Design, and Transformation
8 年Looking forward to the YouTube link ;)
Engagement Specialist | Stakeholder Engagement | Trucking Industry Advocate
8 年Good on you Jen, you know the ones that laugh the hardest would never have the courage to do it in the first place! #motheroftheyear
Chair of Qudos Bank, Non-Executive Director at iPartners, Trustee of Australian Museum. Executive Coach. What is the change that you will be?
8 年Still trying to track it down Ed but seems I may have caught spectators off guard... Rest assured they'll be ready next time!!
Experienced Managing Director, team builder and sales leader.
8 年Lovely analogy Jen (and I'm sure it is 100% true)! I hope there's a picture somewhere....?
If that is the worst thing you have done.....you have a lot of catching up to do!!!!...I think that most of my best jokes....are laughing at something that id!!!