The phrase ‘What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger,’ which was coined by German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, is now my motto for life. Read more to find out why.
I know that everyone faces adversity. History is jam-packed full of men and women who have battled the odds, or found themselves having to dig really deep to survive. And many people on a daily basis are facing things that we dare not even imagine. It’s all very well hearing about other people’s struggles and commending them on their progress, but what should you do when it happens to you?
Live-saving surgery
For those of you that know me, you will already understand the background. On New Year’s Eve 2023, I underwent life-saving surgery on my bowel. Not only did I have an extended period of recovery afterwards – 6+ weeks that I hadn’t planned for, but it all happened during a crucial time of year when I should have been completely focused on my business. Indeed I had spent months working on a strategic plan, which I then had to effectively postpone indefinitely. And then in September this year, I had a stoma reversal operation, which although successful, my recovery has been slower and harder than I had anticipated.
Of course, I am incredibly grateful to be alive, but when you are running a business, challenges like the ones I have faced can be very sobering. It’s obvious that your health always comes first, but then there is the money-side of things.
Making significant changes
Because of having to have so much time off this year, it became apparent to me that I had neither the energy, nor the enthusiasm to dedicate to growing my business. That’s when I took an exceedingly difficult decision to work for a recruitment company as their Sales Director. After all a regular salary is incredibly attractive, as is having the support of others in a team. But then in the last week, I was dealt another blow when this company went into administration without warning. I then found out that they hadn’t paid my last month’s salary either.
Even prior to the enforced redundancy, I had been doing plenty of soul search and catching up with business colleagues. I’ve spent time weighing up and pros and cons and have decided that I will be giving my all to the continued development of Total Spectrum. If illness has taught me anything it’s that I am stronger and more determined than I’ve ever been. I refuse to let what has effectively been a year of disruption and change define me.
The power of resilience
If you had asked me 18 months ago if I was resilient, I probably wouldn’t have known how to answer the question. Now, I am happy to say that I am proud of my ability to bounce back from difficult events and keep going, both physically and psychologically. I have also tried to maintain a positive outlook, stay focused on my goals, and remain motivated. And believe me, some days that has not been easy. My advice to anyone going through something similar is simple.
- Be kind and take care of yourself – time, a healthy diet, regular exercise, sleep and support from family, friends and colleagues are key
- Acknowledge your limitations – reprioritise and learn to adjust to your new reality
- Accept help
- Be proud of how far you’ve come – small steps are fine
- Be thankful
So my advice to you is when setbacks happen, dig deep. The solution is within you. If you’re looking to make changes in your personal or business life, when it comes to HR, recruitment (dedicated services for both candidates and clients) and life planning, please email debby@total-spectrum.com
