Don't just survive – succeed!

Are we setting the benchmark too low when we suggest that you simply aim at surviving? Are we drawing on our experiences and telling ourselves that survival is strength? Does history tell us that? Does the show “Survivor” tell us that?

Why don’t you decide what you want your outcome to be after the next 2 minutes?

Your mind. Your behaviour. Your outcome.

If there is one thing that we all know we can rely on, it is that we all have the ability to reflect on history and our personal experiences. We can learn from them and then make a choice on how we want to reshape our future.

Resilience is about survival. Over the past centuries, decades and perhaps even more so over the past two years, we have seen triumphs of resilience during exceptionally challenging times. We have seen unsung hero’s show up day after day to provide comfort, support and guidance.

We have recognised that, as a collective, we keep striving forward. That is proof of our resilience, our ability to survive. But as the road forward appears to be longer than we anticipated, we waver, we doubt, and we question what we all need to do to keep that forward-thinking going, to stay resilient.

Each of us has drawn on tools and knowledge from lived experiences. We have committed to looking beyond ourselves, but still, we recognise that we may need something more to survive.

Survival of the fittest

Evolution has shown us that survival of the fittest has brought us to where we are today but there is so much more to it.

Beyond the notions of being mentally or physically fitter or better than someone else, I am asking each of us to look at what we truly want so that we step forward and live in a way that we genuinely want for ourselves. Does that mean we want to survive what we are living through at the moment?

The changes that we have seen over the years, in plan regeneration, in the development of our animal kingdom, in the transformation of our economies, have not just been from surviving, they have all occurred from reflecting, adapting and strengthening.

From survival to success

As we reflect on our immediate past, can we identify what has worked? What have we been able to adapt? How can we learn from these and become stronger?

When we look at successful people in history, one key pattern can be drawn on. Whether it be a battle, an individual or a corporation, they have all followed a similar path to reach success.

First, they have failed. But they haven't stopped there. They have reflected, learnt, and then identified what they can do differently to strengthen from their experience.

This is no easy step but what is the alternative? Do you stay in a holding pattern and be satisfied that you have survived? Or do you bring others on your journey, collaborate, have robust discussions and ask questions such as “what else?” to take small measured steps that lead to the path of success.

The path forward may be different from what you first envisioned but it is better to pause and take the time to plan a new path rather than repeating where you have been and getting the same results time and time again.

Resilience vs Antifragility

Whilst others pursue the path to become more resilient, think about what you want. Do you want to simply survive, or do you want to learn and strengthen from it?

The steps to develop this enhanced skill means that you will not just have a different path forward, but you will also have identified opportunities of growth personally and in business.

Antifragility is not something new, it is just that very few know about it, very few practice it and even fewer are able willing and prepared to change.

As a business strategist and advisor with years of experience in finance, I began to understand that we needed to know more, to be more. I have been grateful to undertake a 4-year degree as a Counsellor, but my learning journey continues through lived experiences and in formal training. 

For me success is to ensure that the people, leaders and businesses that I work with achieve their desired outcome. Survival is the first step but now we must do more. I succeed when you succeed.

My next step is to be certified to train in psychological safety. Success means something different for all of us.

Will you survive or succeed?