Why being optimistic on one of the toughest days of my life was key...

One of the toughest days of my life after my brother passed was when I was driving a garbage truck.

 I'm driving the garbage truck and this guy is looking at me…

‘What does he want?’ I thought to myself.

He's staring at me now…

‘Here is another angry or frustrated house owner who is going to possibly have a crack at me about something, who knows what’ my mind is still ticking over.

He's still staring intently at me.

Finally he speaks…

"Are you Beau Robinson?"

“yeah” I curiously reply.

"Don't you play for the Waratahs?"

And with those words my absolute heart and stomach sank.

Here I was at 23 years of age and I found myself, after having done pretty well in Super Rugby to that stage, now driving a garbage truck.

I wasn't a bad boy who had been given warnings for my behaviour.

I kept my life pretty clean.

The realization that here I was at 23 years of age, unable to pick up professional rugby contract anywhere in the world at that stage.

As a leader or somebody who no longer finds them self in employment, you’ll possibly find yourself going through some pretty tough days…

There's no point fighting that.

You've got to accept that and then manage that.

But you've always got to have something to be looking forward to.

You've got to be making sure that you're positive and optimistic.

Especially as a leader, everyone else around you needs that, no matter how much water the ship is taking on.

Make sure that you are remaining positive and optimistic even through the darkest days because that's what will get you through there and no one wants to follow a negative leader.

Make sure you're keeping positive and optimistic.

Your team will feed and thrive off that, I guarantee you.

Would you like to read more about how to overcome adversity?

Buy my book now.

www.beaurobinson.com.au

All profits go to batyr & the Black Dog Institute