Positively Osceola asked a number of positive leaders in the community to share their hope and their plans for the new year, and how we can encourage and support each other in 2022. We asked Dr. Linda Travelute, CEO, Travelute Leader & People Development, Coaching, and Consulting to share her hope and outlook for 2022
Have you felt like someone’s been playing games with you over the past two years? I hear you. Kind of tough to muster up some hope when we’ve been through so much individually, as a community, and a nation, right? The rug has been pulled out from under us in countless ways.
Yet, I still hope.
My mentor and friend, John C. Maxwell says, “Hope is not a strategy”. But I’ll tell you what is… playing games.
Hang with me here and I’ll explain the best way to hope and support each other with a strategy for 2022 and make it a game that’s fun to win.
In the movie, Black Hawk Down a vehicle filled with bloody wounded American soldiers screams to a stop in the middle of a street where Somali bullets are flying in every direction. The officer in charge tells a soldier to get in and start driving.
“I can’t,” says the soldier.
“I’m shot.”
“We’re all shot,” responds the officer.
“Get in and drive!”
In life, we know there’s going to be pain. It’s a part of life. It’s a part of loss.
The question is, are you going to let it stop you from doing what you want and need to do?
The best way I have found to support others such as my executive coaching clients, community leaders, and clients who are business owners is to help them make a game of the pain.
In no way am I making light of the pain we have all experienced over the last 2 years. We’ve all been shot. But we have to keep driving. We have to stay in the game. Everyone feels like they are losing in some area of their lives right now.
Keep driving.
If we can see our challenges as a game, not only will we work harder to win, we’ll also learn and grow from them. That’s when the game becomes meaningful and fruitful.
With my clients and in my business, I strive to keep things positive, upbeat, and game-like. You know you can’t control what happens to you or around you, but you can control how you respond to it. So why not make it a game? Try to have fun, try to control your attitude, and help those around you keep it light.
When you stay positive and others go negative, you look attractive and they will want to be around you – because heck, you’re more fun to play with!
I caution you – especially if you’re a successful and a seasoned professional – you more than any other, need to practice this more than any other.
Why? Because you’ve most likely been hardened. Your years of experience and toughness can make you come off as intolerant and dismissive when others are dealing with problems. Be careful, “old pro.” to not be too serious. Lighten up and play the game. Turn every challenge into an opportunity to strategize and win.
I don’t know about you, but you’ll find me this year, more than ever, supporting others to stay in the game. No matter how difficult the challenge is, keep it as light as you can and you’ll have more fun even while the bullets are flying in every direction.
