Stay calm.
Don’t panic
and
Don’t quit!
Be prepared… if you have an escape plan and adapt to the emergency, you greatly increase your chances of survival.
~Guest Information Book, Skamania Lodge, WA
As I read these words, how to elaborate on them escapes me. They stand alone, perfectly. They strike me as even more profound now than they did when I read them earlier this spring.
This advice brings forward many of the traits of successful entrepreneurs: calm… focused… persistent… prepared… flexible… survivor.
If I were to add anything to the statement, it would be “And keep breathing.”
What do you think?
How do you respond to crisis? What traits do you think are essential to being a successful entrepreneur? What choices have you made that increase your chances of survival?
Short and to the point. I love these kinds of posts. Just thinking about a single idea.
For me, the two words that stand out are “persistent” and “survivor.” In business (and in life) that never-give-up attitude gets me through the hard times.
Funny, Bob and I called ourselves “the cockroach family.” The term stuck and our grown daughter teases us with it to this day. We can seemingly be stomped on and we will reappear, live and well.
I remember when times were leaner with the business, when we faced a challenge, Bob would move to the comfy chair in the living room. We called it his “thinking chair.” Basically it meant that we were not giving up. We would figure out a way to solve the problem.
I still laugh when I think about him sitting in that chair, all pensive.
Thanks for making me think, Beth. Your posts always do that.
Judy, I love your story about Bob's chair! And the cockroach image is wonderful – that's really the epitome of "never give up!"
What I hear repeatedly is that it's the moment before we want to say "I give up" that precedes the breakthrough. Just a little extra push and creativity and persistence right at the breaking point, and swoosh! Off to the races! Thanks for sharing your insights, Judy… as always, you expanded beautifully on the conversation.