“tough” through physical, mental, and spiritual disciplines.
“Tough individuals,” he says, “are consistently able to perceive
stressful situations as opportunities for growth.”
Although Loehr refers to the executives he counsels as “cor-
porate athletes,” he’s not advising Olympic-level physical train-
ing. He advocates consistent discipline in all areas, as an athlete
must constantly train to be ready for the next event. This includes
physical exercise, eating right, and positive stress-busters, such as
a mental oasis of our favorite things.
Apparently Billy has been doing that all along as he’s experi-
enced the rigors of international travel. “When I am in yet
another hotel room in some city around the world,” he said, “I
often think of our mountain home, filled with a lifetime of mem-
ories and love.” He thinks of spring, when Ruth heads for the gar-
den, and the way “she has always kept a home of comfort and
beauty for our family.”
That’s exactly the sort of oasis Loehr advises we visit, to enable
our minds and bodies to release the positive chemicals that over-
come stress and help us rise to endure the inevitable “hits.”
We seldom think of calamities as opportunities for growth,
especially when they send us reeling. But of course, they always
are. In hindsight, we sometimes see that out of the worst came
far deeper understanding of ourselves and of the human condi-
tion—a crucial component of effective leadership.Bitter Medicine in Your Mouth? Check the Directions
Leaders have many occasions to feel bitter. Betrayal by a
trusted associate. A competitor’s misrepresentation that humili-
ates the entire team. A bogus lawsuit
destroying the company. Life is unfair, so is
competition, and like Billy’s intense distress
about Nixon, we may find ourselves with
bitter herbs burning in our mouths.
Like Billy, we have a choice: we can let
it fester or we can deal with it. “Bitterness can strangle a human
being,” Billy has said. “Bitterness is like an abscess.”
Experiencing Trauma and BetrayalThe last of our human
freedoms is to choose our
attitude in any given
circumstance.
VICTOR FRANKL