Four years ago, disaster enclosed 33 miners in a cave in Chile. It struck me that their 69 days of being unable to get out and not knowing their fate, might prove instructive for of us today. I’m hearing people complain about physical distancing, whine about an absence of group activities, decry the closing of movie theaters, and grouse about being bored. Perhaps we could take some hints from the miners about how to respond to our current situation. Perhaps we might also rejoice that we can see daylight, hear the birds, eat food every day, and visit with family and friends thru technology. In comparison, what we are being asked to do is not that hard! Resiliency Lessons From Chilean Mine Triumph A worldwide web of viewers watched 33 miners being pulled to the surface following a 600,000 ton cave-in that happened nearly one-half mile below the ground on a barren plain in southern Chile. Besides showcasing the tenacity of rescuers and the miracle of technology, the miners themselves offer dramatic lessons in resiliency that can teach everyone. Lesson one: Hope relies on possibility not certainty. Shift foreman Luis Urzua practiced intelligent optimism when he reframed the event and steadfastly refused to give up. He maintained his leadership position and convinced the miners to eat only every 48 hours for 17 days. Without optimism, it could have been anarchy in that dark hole. When the probe reached the men, Urzua’s note that came to the surface expressed that hope: “We are fine in the shelter, the 33 of us.” This is not a note of desperation but one of optimism. Lesson two: Action is the antidote to anxiety. The miners stayed busy, continually clearing away rubble, monitoring gas levels, praying, and using the materials and medicine that eventually were sent down the shafts. In short, they controlled what they could control. Lesson three: Play to your strengths. Reports indicate that different men served different roles. Victor Rojas kept a journal throughout the ordeal and became the writer who said updates to the rescuers. Yonni Rojas used his experience in nursing to serve as the chief paramedic. Mario Heredia and Jose Gonzalez became the spiritual leaders, with Mario even requesting that a crucifix be sent down so he could erect a shrine. Edison Villaroel led the group in song, requesting that Elvis Presley songs be sent down. Imagine Elvis the Pelvis gyrating more than a half-mile into the earth! Lesson four: Laughter lightens the load. Surely bringing a load of rocks to the surface as a memento for rescuers showed a sense of humor. Sing-alongs, as described by reporters, did not appear to be funeral dirges. Lesson five: Faith can move mountains. Many of these miners expressed a deep religious conviction through their Catholic faith. Faith, however, is not the sole property of one religious group. To have a sense of a power beyond one’s human limitations is to tap into a wellspring of confidence and courage. Lesson six: Don’t bounce back. Grow through. After 69 days, many of the miners expressed finding another side to themselves and their lives. Changed men rose from the earth, men who vowed to live differently. Whether marrying a long-time girl friend, finding new comfort in family, or advocating for changes in mining operations, each of the 33 now have the possibility for becoming better through this ordeal. So it is for all who face events that might seem as dark and crushing as what happened on a cold day in Copiapó, Chile. The lessons offered by 33 miners might spark a chord to help many discover personal resiliency. #resiliency #resilient

In the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, President Trump’s press conferences have been labeled tone-deaf and lacking empathy and clear direction. Generalized statements about incompetent governors and an understatement of the need for medical supplies has damaged his ability to take command of this crisis. Here’s why: a resilient leader’s communication must take into account the emotions and experiences of individual listeners. To lecture the citizens of New York with the same words as the citizens on Wyoming is to ignore the reality of differences between these two states. As of this writing, NYC alone has over 67,000 confirmed cases and more than 2600 deaths. Wyoming, although the least populated state in the nation, has not reported any deaths. Two very different states require two very different types of messages. It’s a lesson for anyone in a leadership role: without context, general communication is ripe for failure. Lest the reader thinks this is a political post, let me use another example from my backyard—literally: the sinking of The Pilgrim. The Pilgrim, a full-scale, 3-masted replica of the ship immortalized by R.H. Dana in his classic book, “Two Years Before the Mast"—started sinking on March 30, 2020 in the Dana Point Harbor. For over 21 years, literally more than 400,000 fourth and fifth graders had spent nights on the ship, as part of a living history program. The children were put into challenging roles, becoming mates on each cruise. Like sailors in the 1830s, they learned how to rig the ship, prepare meals, and row boats into the harbor to get hides. Discipline and obedience to the captain was foremost as everyone had to be on the same page to make the ship work. Beginning on March 30, crowds gathered around the listing vessel that had entered the harbor in 1981, destined to become the largest classroom for the Ocean Institute. For the next few days, I’d walk down to the harbor and listen to adults sadly remember their adventures aboard this ship. Others recalled how the Pilgrim was always the centerpiece on the annual Tall Ships Festival. A sadness permeated the crowds. Now, cost and the vessel’s age destine it to the graveyard of ships that can’t be repaired or salvaged. This was all front-page news in the Orange County Register. Nothing appeared that day in the LA TIMES. The reason: what is heart-breaking news for residents of Orange County is not critical news for resident of Los Angeles—and rightfully so. Now more than ever, managers need to heed close attention to the individual concerns of team members. The anxiety of an employee who is a single mother with two children will be different than the anxiety of an older employee who is a few years’ short of retirement. Every situation is different. It requires exquisite listening—not only with the ears but also with the heart. Challenging times to be sure. The astute and resilient manager will carefully consider these questions first: What do I know about this person and how COVID-19 might be impacting his life? What does this person need from me in the way of support (over and beyond a paycheck—which might not be possible at this time)? When this crisis is over, what would I like this employee to say about how I/we handled it? In times of crisis, a sense of community, compassion and commitment will go a long way for helping us all deal with loss. Now—the ball is in your court. Let me know how I might help you. #management #leadership

With much of the world heeding the call for working from home and remaining physically distant, I am encouraging clients to use this space for GROWING through these challenging times. Since resiliency is about energy management, what are some creative outlets that light a spark and become sources of learning as well as joy? The answer for many: writing! In fact, it’s not just journal writing but writing to also publish! I asked my wonderful assistant to put together some things to consider if writing and publishing are on your stay-at-home list: Top Five Things You Need To Know About Self-Publishing Authors often cringe when I ask them if they want to self-publish. Many still think this type of publishing is for vanity projects and they worry that self-publishing will make them look unprofessional. Not to worry, the self-publishing world has changed for the better thanks to Amazon.com. Self-published books can become best sellers but it takes the right combination of hard work and luck. Let’s get to the top five things you need to know about self-publishing: Self-publishing is not for the feint of heart. You need to be organized, decisive and open to constructive criticism. If you lack any of these qualities you can hire someone to manage the project for you but you need to listen to them. You have more control. Working with a traditional publisher means a loss of control. You will have rigid deadlines, little input into layout or cover art and you most certainly will still have to handle the marketing yourself. You must have the time and the energy to work on your book project even if you hire someone to help. The final decisions will always come down to you so you need the time to research, reflect and make the final choices. Self-publishing is not cheap. If you want your book to sell you need to invest in it. It’s really easy to go with the less expensive options but you must have an excellent editor, a talented layout artist and a real, experienced book cover designer. If you don’t have the cash don’t self-publish. Start your project early. Don’t wait until the last minute to publish a book with a deadline you can’t possibly meet. You need to build your author platform on social media and grow your e-mail list. All of this should be done at least six months in advance. Some of the ingredients in successful self-publishing is knowing your audience, writing a book they want to buy, having a suitable budget, assembling the right team and enough time to start marketing the book before you have finished writing it! About the author: Bonnie Jo Davis is a Virtual Assistant who loves to work with authors. She has worked with authors, speakers, book agents and publishers in the past twenty-five years. She offers everything from proofreading manuscripts to creating e-books to content management and marketing and public relations. You can find her at bonnie@davisvirtualassistance.com or http://www.DavisVirtualAssistance.com. #Covid-19 #publishing #writingabook

During these dark days, every smile or tender gesture you can inspire is more meaningful than ever. Many of us work hard to be strong and committed to surviving but sometimes we forget that we need to help others build their resiliency skills. I hope the inspiring stories below will help you find a way to light up someone’s day. In a nearby town, a local poet called the Sidewalk Poet is writing poems on popular sidewalks. The verses are inspiring, thoughtful and smile-inducing. The city’s Facebook group is filled with pictures of the poems and everyone talks about how much fun they have searching for new poems. A few lucky people have even caught the poet creating the sidewalk poetry! Of course, staying 6 plus feet away from each other. A professor for a university moved all her classes online and her students are very stressed right now. Today was the first online class. The professor wore a dinosaur costume the entire time. Students laughed and thanked the professor for bringing some fun into an otherwise dark time. Those students will never forget this kind and joyous gesture. The Gavrieli company produces ballet flats called Tieks and they have a very large private Facebook group of customers who are passionate about the shoes. The Tieks staff started a movement called the #SewTOGETHER that includes gift cards for those who make face masks for doctors and nurses. Over 350,000 masks have already been sewn and donated to more than 1,500 medical facilities in all 50 states through this challenge and pictures of the masks in the group lightens everyone’s spirits. As an essential business in most parts of the United States, animal shelters have to remain open. People are concerned that staff and volunteers take a risk every time they leave home. To combat this, someone at a shelter puts out a call for people to sign-up as foster families. This gets the animals into homes where they can be cared for and socialized during this difficult time. Some shelters are reporting that the new foster families have emptied the shelter for the first time since they opened. Both the foster families and the staff and volunteers have benefited from this compassionate gesture. I’d love to know what small gestures you are making. Or, what gestures have brought a smile to your face? #Pandemic #Joy #Happiness

50 years ago today, April 22, the U.S. celebrated the first Earth Day. The enormous response of some 20 million citizens led to unprecedented change. Congress enacted the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Endangered Species Act. Republican President Richard Nixon created the Environmental Protection Agency. Earth Day became a pledge to craft a resilient natural world. Today, the clean air and water acts have been decimated in favor of high-profile industries. The EPA has become known as the Environmental Destruction Agency with scientists shuffled to the side and decisions made on political grounds. Today, the world faces the Covid-19 pandemic that is racing across the globe without heed to nation or demographics. The warnings were there but… Climate change has prompted Arctic sea ice to melt at speeds unimagined and has disappeared in areas larger than Norway, Sweden and Denmark combined. Drought and floods, endangered rivers and useless farmland spread across the planet. The warnings are there but… But today, I believe enough of us across the globe are speaking out, listening, heeding science, and demanding the same kind of action that occurred 50 years ago. I have hope on both fronts as I see scientists and medical researchers working together across national boundaries to understand the corona virus and develop a vaccine. I see a 17 year-old activist, Greta Thunberg, address the UN and the World Economic Forum, holding “grown-ups” feet to the fire. While dismissed by politicians, a stronger and more vocal generation rises in support. Here’s another reason I have hope. We’re seeing the results of what happens when we forego driving everywhere and use this “shelter-in-place” time to watch the world around us. My New York friends marvel at how blue the sky is. National parks are seeing the return of wildlife. Western bluebirds are flocking to my feeder and neighbors are singing to each other from front yards. We are alone—together. I’ve participated in a number of salutes and gratitude gatherings for first responders and medical staff. I see more outreach to the lonely, the hungry, and the un-sheltered as never before. Could it be that FINALLY we understand that this earth is OUR home and we ARE one family? Sure there are plenty of deniers and those who would seek only their own financial gain and political leverage. But I believe that enough of us—if we pay attention and act—can move from the crises of NOW into a better world tomorrow. Now that’s resiliency! #EarthDay #ClimateCrisis

Grocery shopping has become a nightmare. Lines snake around buildings. Food pallets are used to set up barricades that move shoppers—six feet apart—in a winding pattern like lines at Disney without an attraction at the end. Customers are masked, latex gloved, and noses bent to smart phones. But then, there’s my favorite store: Trader Joe’s. Since 1972, this store that started in Pasadena has stood out because it didn't rely on loyalty cards, sales gimmicks, and membership fees. It’s practices—to this day—are about value to the customer. Here they are: We buy direct from suppliers whenever possible, we bargain hard to get the best price, and then pass the savings on to you. If an item doesn’t pull its weight in our stores, it goes away to gangway for something else. We buy in volume and contract early to get the best prices. Most grocers charge their suppliers fees for putting an item on the shelf. This results in higher prices... so we don’t do it. We keep our costs low—because every penny we save is a penny you save. So, from the get-go, Trader’s has been a different breed. Now, give this current crisis, look what Trader Joe’s does to stand apart from the rest and remain resilient. Have senior shopper early hours (8-9am) every day. The other stores offer it only on specific days…and some for only 30 minutes! As the TJ employees sanitize the carts before giving it to you, they greet every shopper—always smiling, joking and most wearing that casual Hawaiian shirt. This goes on all day long, whether you arrive at 8 am or 5 pm. Create a magic moment. Today it was a man playing a guitar and singing to the folks in line—a sing along. A few days ago, I was gifted with a bouquet of purple tulips. You get the idea. A hallmark of resiliency is being able to reframe an event, to find a way of responding that is more powerful. Trader Joe’s has taken this crisis and found some ways to make small adjustments that—for the time being—offer customers respite. Watch this video to see innovative ways Trader Joe's deal with the current crisis. #TraderJoes #Innovation #Covid-19

Fourteen of my colleagues in the resiliency arena (plus me) bring you a wide variety of strategies to survive and (yes) THRIVE in this current lock down world. In one-on-one interviews with Marty Wilson, you’ll hear: Julie Lewis—widowed at 33 and later a mountain climbing expert-. Adventure teaches what’s really important Daniel Murray—how leaders can practice and use “strategic” empathy to move through crisis Karyn Buxman— a master in the craft of using humor to build resilience and immunity Chris Helder—where resilience and success go hand-in-hand Stacey Copas—the power of life-changing events as a place for amazing growth Diane Sieg- time to abandon unrealistic expectations and reclaim your life Julie Cross—the power of failure to build your resilience muscle Graeme Cowan—how to find the “one thing” that resets your mood Beverly Beuermann-King—discover the rhythm to life to cancel overwork. Martina Jewell—lead under extreme pressure with small wins and momentum Kristin Neff—learn the transformative power of self-compassion Jerome Wade— how to deal with work stress and executive fatigue Catherine DeVrye—the power of hope and help to turn stumbling blocks into stepping stones John Hotowka—how leap-frog problem solving drains resilience and how to flip it around Eileen McDargh—how leaders help others become heroes of their story, building internal resilience Collectively, you’re looking at a minimum of $150,000 worth of talent. But, not only do you get us all for a total of $197—but nominate someone else and they get the Summit for FREE! Click here to learn more!

This week, in the Christian tradition, Holy Week begins. While it is a reflection and remembrance of the last days of Christ, I discovered one small passage that I think holds healing and hope for all of us caught in the anxiety and fear of COVID-19. Regardless of background or belief, please consider these words: Rise. Take. Walk. While the context of the gospel story is Christ healing a man at the pool of Bethesda, it is those three words that I think offer guidance for these times. Rise. Get up and out of cowering under the bed covers. Rise above selfishness, greed, fear. Take: Take your talents, your gifts, your compassion, your abundance (which many of us have) and then… Walk: out into the neighborhood, the community, the family, and—at a safe distance—care for those in need. By reaching out to others, you begin to heal yourself. There are small ways to rise, take, and walk. For example, try walking outside and seeing other people. Smile, greet, and touch your heart. Watch how you feel and observe the smile that comes from others. Put your name on a volunteer list and see who needs your help. Rise and call someone who is alone. Take time to listen, share and hopefully laugh. And walk away knowing you both just experienced a burst of endorphins, the brain chemicals which reduce our perception of pain and fear. In these crazy COVID-19 times, remember you can heal yourself and help heal others. Rise. Take. Walk. #HolyWeek #COVID-19 #Pandemic

Hopefully, you've stopped laughing at the concept that indeed, there could be free time for yourself. What will ignite your desire for claiming this precious time is when you gain clarity over just what matters most at this point in your life. Remember, there is the Law of Diminished Return. Specifically, the longer and harder you work, the quality of your output decreases. Exhaustion leads to errors, sloppiness, and a good chance that more time will be spent in “do-overs” Relationships, if left unattended, can be compromised or even fade away. One of the case studies in my book Burnout to Breakthrough: Building Resilience to Refuel, Recharge, and Reclaim What Matter lost his marriage because his wife said he was married to his Blackberry—an Android smart phone. For example: I had dinner the other night in a 40-year-old tiny Italian restaurant. It was Valentine’s Day! Sadly, I watched literally every couple put their attention on a phone screen: texting, reading or emailing. So much for love and romance! Thoreau proclaimed that the first wealth was health. Billions in the bank might create a luxurious lifestyle but it won’t keep your muscles toned, your heart operating at optimum efficiency, or your brain from mental decline. 1. Block out time that you consider “sacred” for yourself. Set a goal as to what you want in that time. What fills your heart, your spirit, your body with energy? Happiness? Dare I even say “joy”? 2. If allowing yourself “me” time is a foreign notion, start small. Could you set aside 15 minutes in the morning to just be quiet? No noise. No newspaper. No talking. No cell phone. Just sit in an upright position and breathe. Picture the kind of day you’d like to have. Itemize all the things for which you are grateful. You might need to get up earlier but it could very well allow your “time” to become more controlled by you! 3. Identify and set a goal for whatever exercise is reasonable. Could you do that exercise at least 3 times a week? Walking? Biking? Running? Swimming? Weights? Yoga? Reward yourself each time you do this. I never exercised until I celebrated my 30th birthday. I decided to buy fun stickers and put them in my day timer whenever I did a form of exercise. It was a small start but how I smiled to open up a page and see stickers. I also protected that time by letting people know, if they wanted to schedule something, that I was already “booked”. I didn’t say the appointment was with myself. No one EVER asked me to cancel it. I took control of that time. 4. Who matters most to you at this time in your life? Are you spending time with them so that—if they vanished tomorrow—you’d have no regrets? It might be a child who wants your uninterrupted attention and time. Or—on the other end of the age spectrum, it could be an aging parent or a spouse. I cared for my Mom in the last six years of her life. Time with her—whether singing, sharing a meal, or reading to her—was precious. No regrets. My husband is considerably older than I. With the passage of time, my work attention has shifted so I can pay better attention and spend time with him. It’s a different life phase! 5. Lastly, in your “me time”, is there something you’d like to learn? To experience? It might be a future goal but researching and starting along that road gives you a sense that YOU are in control of your life. For those of us crafting this thing called “life” and finding free time for me-time could benefit from the wisdom I learned from watching toddlers. It might be well to heed their tiny voices. They tell us: Explore everything. Often. And over again. There’s something missed the first time. Smile and laugh much. Put your arms up when you need help. Can’t do everything alone. Fall asleep when your body says to. Taste everything. You don’t have to like everybody. But you can put up with some of them for a short time. Read books that make you smile and have funny, new words. Cuddle. Trust grownups who care for you even if they make you do things you don’t want to do. Love people who can’t get around like you can. And if all else fails, smile again. You’ll win them over every time. Grinning as I write this last line, I wish all of you a bountiful, blessed, bodacious, beautiful, bigger-than-your-biggest dreams, bursting with vitality 2020. And may we all find a child to guide us. #healing #life

Fr. Richard Hendrick, a Capuchin Franciscan in Ireland , was so moved by news of Italians in lockdown singing, Spaniards applauding health care workers, and neighbors reaching out to bring food to elderly, that he penned a poem. He said of these instances: “Together they reminded me that no matter the restrictions or dangers that this pandemic may bring, it will never touch the human soul and that we always have the opportunity to see beauty, offer compassion and touch the Divine, no matter our circumstances.” Lockdown Yes there is fear. Yes there is isolation. Yes there is panic buying. Yes there is sickness. Yes there is even death. But, They say that in Wuhan after so many years of noise. You can hear the birds again. They say that after just a few weeks of quiet. The sky is no longer thick with fumes. But blue and grey and clear. They say that in the streets of Assisi People are singing to each other across the empty squares, keeping their windows open so that those who are alone may hear the sounds of family around them. They say that a hotel in the West of Ireland Is offering free meals and delivery to the housebound. Today a young woman I know is busy spreading fliers with her number through the neighborhood So that the elders may have someone to call on. Today Churches, Synagogues, Mosques and Temples are preparing to welcome and shelter the homeless, the sick, the weary All over the world people are slowing down and reflecting All over the world people are looking at their neighbors in a new way All over the world people are waking up to a new reality To how big we really are. To how little control we really have. To what really matters. To Love. So we pray and we remember that Yes there is fear. But there does not have to be hate. Yes there is isolation. But there does not have to be loneliness. Yes there is panic buying. But there does not have to be meanness. Yes there is sickness. But there does not have to be disease of the soul Yes there is even death. But there can always be a rebirth of love. Wake to the choices you make as to how to live now. Today, breathe. Listen, behind the factory noises of your panic The birds are singing again The sky is clearing, Spring is coming, And we are always encompassed by Love. Open the windows of your soul And though you may not be able to touch across the empty square, Sing. March 13th 2020 Father Hendrick encourages the sharing of his message. #hope #life #healing

In Part 1, we looked at areas over which you have control of your time. Specifically, we looked at how you control the conversation in your head about what you can do and also what conversations might be necessary to have with others. We also looked at understanding your peak ability times and controlling what activities go into that time block. In Part 2, you seek to gather information so decisions can be made in a methodical manner. 1. Create a time log and monitor the amount of time each activity takes. This is not meant to be a tedious time-in-motion study. Rather, keep a written log (or use a phone app) that notes what time you begin something and when it is completed. What will also become clear is how many times you are interrupted. 2. With the time log, evaluate how long you thought a project would take versus the actual time. Make a note of what or who interrupts you and decide how to eliminate or minimize those distractions. Follow the advice of Cal Newport, professor of computer science from Georgetown University. He advocates eliminating all pop-ups from phone calls, text message, and any application that interrupts. Block out social media sites that pop-up at unwanted times. His book, Digital Minimalism, offers specific ways to control our interruptions in our lives. 3. Tackle the most difficult tasks when you are at your peak time. Break the tasks into 15-30-minute intervals so you can begin to see some forward momentum. 4. Prioritize activities and obligations after you understand the time commitments. If you need to perform tasks that are unfamiliar to you, remember to block out time for learning curves that could be steep. For example, when I traded in my 15 year-old car for a hybrid, I needed time to understand how to drive this piece of machinery which came with many strange sounds, warnings, and abilities. I had to learn how to use the Bluetooth technology, how to get the dashboard panel to read my phone’s map directions and more. In Part 3, we’ll explore just what you want in the precious block called “me time”. #time #timemanagement

I hear the laughter and disdain already: “Free time? Are you kidding?” “Me time? Huh? I don’t even know where “me” is these days! “What planet do you live on? We had a cutback and now I need to be three people!” I got it. The volume of work seems never ending. Family demands don’t stop. Folks are stretched so thin they’re like a rubber band ready to snap. No wonder that burnout is now listed by the World Health Organization as a global occupational hazard. But if YOU don’t take control of what you accept in those 24-hour blocks called a day, your life will vanish before your eyes. Notice that word “accept”. Unless someone is holding a gun to your head, your steady “yes” can be changed to “no, “not now”, or “who else can do this or help me?” I’ll be writing a series of articles about time control—not time management. Control precedes management. You want to find the definitive areas that are in your control first. From that time management actions can start. 1. Control the conversation about where your time goes. For example, there are activities that add no value to your organization or your life. But you haven’t stopped to question: “Why am I doing this?” Ask that question three times, each time with a different emphasis: WHY am I doing this? Is it because someone said so? Is it because no one stopped to question the validity? Is this old programming that can be changed? Why am I doing this? Is this really my “job”? Have I convinced myself that I am the only person who can do this? Have I bought into the notion that “by the time I tell someone how to do this, I could have done it myself.” That last belief can hold you back from helping others grow and possibly discovering a better way. Why am I doing THIS? Does it need to be done now? Can I do only part of it? Does this action I’m doing right now help or hurt me in the future? Could it be that “how” I am doing something is the burden. For example, if only a summary statement is required, why am I creating spreadsheets, a slide deck and footnotes? The conversation and thus control begins within your head and then can move out to teammates, a manager, or your family members. You DO have control. 2. Know what your peak performance time and control is what you put in that time block. For example, I am a morning person. If I try and do a difficult task after 4pm, it will take me much longer, probably be loaded with errors, and leave me exhausted. Rank-order your day into four time slots, from your most to least productive. Control what actions you put where. #time #timemanagement