If you're going through hell...

“If you’re going through hell, keep going.” a quote rumored to belong to Winston Churchill.

The quote’s simple. It’s direct. And is seems to be the most logical way to get out of nasty situation. I lead a business that has its fair share of ebbs and flows. Our service model was created to give flexibility to our clients and our service involves very talented people. When our clients experience downturns or slowdowns with their hiring (which many of them have in the early months of 2023), it is not uncommon for judgement call to be made, which leads to impacting people’s careers. And rarely are these planned with advance notice.

It’s times like these that Churchill’s quote seems the most fitting. Change can be hell (for some). Careers pausing & changing can be hell. Delivering painful news can be hell. And working to not be consumed by negativity during times like these can be hell.

How do we keep going? How do we keep moving forward when the very place we find ourselves seems to be all consuming?

Here is how I process these versions of hell and keep moving forward. Remember that situations happen for us, not to us. Cliché – maybe. Accurate – most certainly. Everything that has ever happened in my life that would have been hell-like, has led me to where I am, so take Churchill’s advice and keep going- because beauty is still around you, you just can’t see it right now.   Don’t stop moving. If you ever find yourself impacted at work and a job changes or goes away – afford yourself some grieve time (no more than a few days) and then get up, prepare the resume, call everyone in your network, lean on your contacts and friends, and move your career search forward. Sitting still will only delay the end game of you finding your next adventure. Look in the mirror. It will be easy to blame during these times. Remind yourself that what you have in your control is the ability to love and share compassion, so do that. It will be more productive than blaming the world around you for what has happened. Could there be something you’ll do different in your next role? Is there something that you tolerated in the role you’ve lost that you want to avoid in the future? Learn from these changes and be wiling to look in the mirror and grow from the decisions and feedback you’ve been given. You have gifts that no one else has. You have skill that no one else has (the way you do). You’re unique. And you are powerful- so if you find yourself in a hell-like spot…don’t stop moving forward.

If you enjoy these posts, please subscribe to The Paperclip Thinking Blog and don’t be shy to leave a comment, because I love discussions & dialogue. Paperclip Thinking delivers life & career advice (based on real life experiences). Want more discussion in your life about these topics- check out “The Venue” – a Zoom based discussion club that I facilitate every other Wednesday. To join the community, please email me (travis@paperclipthinking.com) and I’d be happy to welcome you into the world of discussion-clubbers.

Understanding.

It is Martin Luther King Jr. day and as I reflect about what this man stood for - I hear the word “understanding” over and over in my head. Could I seek to understand more? Could the journey toward a willingness to understand other perspectives lead to more love and compassion in our world?

Martin Luther King Jr.’s behaviors support that this man cared so deeply about humans loving and respecting one another that he was willing to dedicate his life (literally) to the cause. That level of care, passion, and interest are beyond intriguing, to me.

Continued reflection had me contemplate the behaviors Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. wanted to eradicate and how he witnessed so much hate, anger, jealousy, fear, discontent, and a general sense of disgust between humans. Instead of some attempt at a broad stroke answer that could eradicate the fear that leads to the hate that leads to the destruction of life, I’m going to focus on me. One person, one set of behaviors, and I’ll invite you to do the same.

I can choose, every day, to be a different and more understanding version of myself and I believe that I could do more to support a more loving and peaceful world. I can ask more questions, I can have more dialogue, I can be willing to appreciate differences – not condemn them. I’m going to choose to be more “purposefully understanding” and this type of understanding and curiosity could ease some of the pain so many of us feel every day.

My love to Dr. King for the ultimate sacrifice he made, as a man, attempting to make our world a better place.

Thoughts?

If you enjoy these posts, please subscribe to The Paperclip Thinking Blog and don’t be shy to leave a comment, because I love discussions & dialogue. Want more discussion in your life - check out “The Venue” – a Zoom based discussion club that I facilitate every other Wednesday. To join the community, please email me (travis@paperclipthinking.com) and I’d be happy to welcome you into the world of discussion-clubbers.