The Lesson in the Storm

I wrote this last night to my email friends while waiting on the storm to arrive. I hope you find some value in it.

As I sit here waiting on Erika to hit the island I thought I'd send you an email before the power goes out. The storm has me thinking about silver linings and lessons learned. I've made more attempts lately to be more transparent about the ups and downs that entrepreneurs (myself included) go through in business. And  I have begun intentionally shifting from my usual self pity pouty party to focusing on learning the lessons in each setback, mistake and failure that I experience in business (and life) to be able to do better next time.

However, I've found that my natural is to hide these missteps and such because I don't like for others to see me fail or make a mistake. For some reason we as leaders and business owners have bought into the lie that we need to be perfect in order to be credible or effective. But it's not true. Our mistakes, our lessons learned, our vulnerability is actually what makes us human and relatable. It also helps us to help others. One of my favorite authors and researchers has done a lot of work with the power of  vulnerability, and if you haven't seen Brene Brown's TED talk, you have to watch it!! 

So, one of my focuses lately in my personal life and business is to be intentional about looking for the lesson in the storms. And then choosing to be more vulnerable and transparent about them, choosing to have a more positive attitude and sharing my lessons learned and experiences in order to help others. Sometimes it's a simple 'me too' and listening ear that can help someone else through a similar experience. Sometimes it's offering a word of caution or advice from personal experience that can save someone else from making the same mistake.

For example, this weekend we are experiencing the biggest storm so far this hurricane season and I expect to have some wind damage and flooding and power outages. BUT instead of getting upset or inconvenienced by it, I am choosing to see the silver lining in this literal storm. I am choosing to be grateful for the rain because we have had a bad drought this summer. I am choosing to be grateful for the power outage and opportunity for silence, reflection and peace. I am choosing to appreciate the beauty of the larger waves, the gorgeous clouds and appreciate the power of the wind.   

Recently in business I have had the opportunity to share some of my biggest mistake I made starting out with some new consultants who came to me for advice. For example, that time I didn't have a signed contract..that cost me $15,000. That was an expensive lesson. Or that time I hired a fraudulent coach for a certification program that turned out not to be what it was advertised (it was NOT John Maxwell, just to make that totally clear!!)  That was an expensive and hurtful lesson. And the list goes on and on!! BUT while I did not enjoy these experiences, I definitely learned from them and am now able to use my experiences to help others. And the further out I get from them, I am able to feel gratitude for the lessons, even though they were painful.

So, I want to encourage you this week to look for the silver lining in the storm. Where can you look back and use that experience for good to help others? What can you be grateful for despite the negativity? 

I'd love to hear your stories so please feel free to reply and share! This is a journey ya'll and we can all learn from each other. 

Here's to silver linings!
Anna 

  I'm Anna Olson and I am a leadership coach and consultant. I am certified with John C. Maxwell as a coach, speaker and trainer. I have worked with organizations for over 10 years to improve their cultures and develop leaders. Now I am bringing my expertise to my fellow entrepreneurs. I believe in doing what you love, always growing, and having fun! I believe that everything rises and falls on leadership. I 'retired' from my corporate job at 33 to work for myself with whoever I want, from wherever I want, which is currently on a beautiful beach in Puerto Rico. I find great joy in helping people love their life at work and at home by improving their leadership skills so they can add more value to people.