By Steve Beseke, beseke1@earthlink.net

Last week was a tough one for civility, doing the right thing and the art of simple life resiliency.

We heard the unemployment rate is still nearly 10 percent and more than 8 million Americans are continuing to look for their next great work adventure. Experts also said U.S. employment projections don’t hint at “normalcy” before 2012.

This has forced many of us to rethink and reinvent our careers – and work doubly hard to support our families. We have been burning the midnight oil – sometimes seven-days-a-week – to stay resiliently healthy.

So when two U.S. senators stood in front of cameras last week to basically sucker punch those of us staying resilient, I was deeply saddened and angry. What did they say or do?

A retiring Kentucky senator waged a nearly one-man crusade to twice block the extension of jobless benefits for those who may have nowhere else to turn for a bit of financial help. Members from both sides of the political aisle were aghast and disgusted with his insensitivity and sheer disdain for his fellow Americans in need.

Then, even worse, an Arizona senator had the gall to say extending unemployment benefits would perpetuate the laziness of those unemployed or underemployed. This statement was the ultimate embarrassment – to him.

I typically write exclusively about resiliency topics, but having two very influential politicians out-of-touch with the resiliency of Americans deserved a special comment this week.

Unemployment benefits have helped me retool my career interrupted by this tragic economy. An economy unfortunately still in disarray because both sides of the aisle are not willing to give a little for the common good.

I have very humbly become an internationally-known speaker and writer about career and life resiliency. It’s been a true blessing for a guy who has resiliently adapted to a lifelong physical disability (Cerebral Palsy) – and a lay off from my 25-year corporate communications executive career.

Without the unemployment benefits, however, my road would have been much harder and challenging.

I purposely don’t mention the senators’ names or party affiliations because they should not matter. Whether Democrats, Republicans, Independents or a reincarnation from the Whig party, this is not the time to play with the lives and resiliency of good people trying to make it through another day.

By the end of last week, both senators felt intense pressure to moderate their positions and the unemployment benefit package passed overwhelmingly.

The common-sense point: With so many still desperately looking for work with little success, this extension gives folks some additional financial relief for the sort-term future. Last week, sadly, an additional 34,000 workers lost their jobs nationwide.

While government cannot fund everything, these additional benefits may allow a few more families to stave off foreclosure, dust themselves off, stay resilient and get back on their feet again.

Government should never hold the lives and well being of any of us in the balance for unnecessary and ill-conceived political purposes.

Fortunately as America and other parts of the world have done for so long, cooler and more resilient minds finally saw the light on the 29^th day of a 30-day cycle. Thank goodness!

I, again, appreciate your constant support of my free resiliency advice web site. Until next week…

By Steve Beseke, beseke1@earthlink.net

Inspiration and resilience come in many forms. Great folks like you around the world have reached out to me through my speeches and writings to say they are extremely inspired by how I have successfully overcome the challenges of my lifelong disability – Cerebral Palsy.

Yes, I’ve dusted myself off to turn such a life obstacles into the persistent pursuit of the best that I can be. But there are so many others of you who may have much more profound challenges that are deep inside that can lead to tremendous pain and sorrow.

I, for example, was absolutely inspired by Canadian figure skater Joannie Rochette, who recently was awarded the Olympic bronze medal for her incredible – and resilient – performance. She received great scores and found something inside to give even more. Joannnie’s mother, you see, had just died of a massive heart attack in the Olympic Village only days before her daughter’s stunning skating competition.

Nobody would have blinked an eye if Joannie had just pulled out of the competition to deal with the tremendous grief of someone more important to her than anyone else. Yet, she persevered and showed all of us the true spirit of our human experience. Her resolve, dedication and persistence to still be her very best despite unimaginable heartache is the pure essence of how all of us can use our resilience in so many ways.

I have to adapt, compromise and be patient when I have my physical challenges of falling, losing my balance and walking a bit differently. But Joannie, and many of you, have had to deal with losses much greater than mine using your resilience to make it through successfully.

I’m also truly inspired by the many stories you’ve told me about in your everyday lives!

Joannie also showed us that resilience also means finding ways to use your inner strengths of adaptability and sheer determination to overcome. Not only the devastating loss of her mother, but the lifelong support she provided Joannie through – literally – the ups and downs of her outstanding skating career.

What was even more inspirational, she was able to handle all this grief in the intense glare of a worldwide audience and representing her country at the largest sporting event globally. I cannot have more respect and admiration for her…

When I lost my father several years ago, I was a wreck and that was in the privacy of my family and my own life. My life resilience is still tested every time a memory filters through of my father. ..many tears are shed. So, when I saw Joannie’s strength and compassion for her mother in such a public arena, it is a moment that helps me with the grief of my dad – and a wonderful example for the rest of my life.

Unless they are truly special, the fame of sports figures are only a momentary blip until the next great athlete takes the worldwide stage. I have a feeling Joannie will step up on the podium with the likes of Jesse Owens to offer the most inspiring example of resilience despite unfathomably tragic circumstances.

The next time something does not go quite right at work or in your personal relationships, please just remember the resilience, perseverance and sheer strength that one little-known figure skater showed the world. I definitely will…

I was recently a featured guest on a national radio show highlighting life and career resiliency. I will be adding a podcast link to this site very soon. Please let me know if I could help you or your company with the return on investment of resiliency. All of us can make a resilient difference…

Until next week, thanks for your continued readership. My worldwide resiliency blog has now nearly surpassed 1.5 million hits in the last year. Thank you!!!

By Steve Beseke, beseke1@earthlink.net

I was reading a great article by national columnist Mitch Albom the other day about dreams coming true and the resiliency of life. Instead of always highlighting my resilient experiences, I thought Mitch’s article throws a perfect resilient strike to what we’ve been discussing over the last year.

The story chronicled a laid off Michigan autoworker who pursued a new, unconventional career direction that all of us can learn lessons from. It is an example of what you have to do – to survive, to endure, to thrive, to adapt, to succeed. It also shows how any of us can reinvent ourselves with tools we already have in our toolbox – or, in this case, a bowling bag.

Tom Smallwood was an autoworker like his father before. Then, two days before Christmas in 2008, General Motors laid him off from his seatbelt assembly job. He applied for many jobs but never received a response. What was he going to do? He was in his early 30s with a wife, I-year-old daughter and a mortgage…and a bowling ball.

Bowling, of course, in normal times is not considered an alternate means of employment. But these are not normal times and Tom was out of options. He had always dreamed of being a professional bowler – as I have always dream of becoming the next Arnold Palmer. Tom had won some tournaments when he was young, but chose the “guaranteed-income world.”

Only, as many of you can attest, what is a guarantee anymore? Jobs we thought we would always have are gone and probably won’t return. Companies we pledged our allegiance are bankrupt. Homes are lost. Neighbors disappear.

So Tom took his bowling ball and practiced every day. If he hadn’t found a job by May, he would try to qualify as a pro bowler. May arrived. He was still out of work. So, he entered the Pro Bowlers Association (PBA) trials. Nearly 120 other hopefuls bowled nine games a day for five days. In the end, Tom was in third place. He’d done it: qualifying for a tour exemption. This meant he’d get a guaranteed spot and a minimum paycheck at each PBA event for a year.

When I was reading the article, the career reinvention theme truly hit the mark. How about you? Are you taking a hard look at your career options? I changed my careers from being a corporate communications executive to a motivational/career resiliency speaker – humbly with a worldwide blog with 1.5 million hits. It’s been hard and sometimes I still don’t roll the ball as smoothly as I should. But, like Tom Smallwood, I looked for a better way and found it. Now it’s your turn to take the next best step for you…

Now, more about Tom.

If Tom’s story ended there, it would serve a purpose, proof that a new “strike zone” can swing within reach, that careers can change directions. While all our stories don’t have great endings right way, Tom’s surely did. He drove his Chevy Impala to the PBA World Championships in Wichita, KS in December.

From the start, he bowled great. And now he was one of the last two bowlers left. (If you would have proposed this as a Hollywood movie, you would have been thrown off the lot.) The other guy on the lane was the PBA Player of the Year. A tall order for Tom.

His last shot. Tom needed one strike and at least seven pins to win. (Yes, the laid-off autoworker from Michigan.) National TV. Lots of money. Fame. And a job! With his heart pounding…well, you can guess the rest. All 10 pins went down and a $50,000 check came next. More than he’d ever earned as a seatbelt assembly person.

He said,” Getting laid off was one of the worst things that ever happened to me. But it led to the best result.”

There’s a lesson for all of us here: The new decade may be the one any of us can learn to reinvent ourselves. For me, Tom Smallwood and, most importantly, you!

Look forward to our chat next week. Thanks, again, for your constant support!

By Steve Beseke, beseke1@earthlink.net

All of us have resilient challenges every single day. It is how we overcome the many life obstacles that allow us to pursue our dreams.

My personal life resiliency begins with the way I have successfully adapted to a lifelong disability (Cerebral Palsy.) Basically, CP makes me walk a bit funny and fall down more than I want.

As you reflect and act on your life resiliency – especially at work – I suggest you think about some of the resilient strategies I have used my entire life.

I hope the following helps you think through your own unique ways to keep your resiliency at work – and in life – the best it can be.

Smack-Down Resiliency

At a hotel work conference a couple years ago, I fell and smacked my head against an unforgiving marble floor. I was taken to the emergency room with a couple of my valued work colleagues at my side.

All I was thinking was that I just fell in front of dozens of my colleagues. What were they going to think except to pity me?

Then, my inner resiliency voice said: “Don’t worry about what others may think. You need to focus on yourself and use the resilient strategies that have helped you succeed in life, such as your adaptability, focusing actions you can control, not dwelling on negatives, persevering and staying patient.

I was ultimately O.K. But what my colleagues said afterward, I will never forget. They said: “We did not feel sorry for you, Steve. We were amazed how adaptable and resilient you are in life.”

Wow! Talk about how a very embarrassing work moment that turned into something truly special.

How are you using your resilience to get past challenges at your work and life today?

Resiliency: A 24-Hour-A-Day Proposition

A majority of us are going through a lot of stress and anxiety in these uncertain economic days.

A recent survey showed more than 50 percent of participants were not happy with their jobs. Companies are also going through unsettling times with forced layoffs and trying to stay afloat.

This is where understanding and applying resilient strategies can help you overcome such obstacles.

The work and life resilient strategies proven effective for me and I hope for you are:

Adaptability at Work

A TV career commercial jokingly said many people that we work with we would not spend six seconds with in our personal lives.

So how do you adapt to work styles and personalities not necessarily ideal for you?

The first resilient action I suggest is, “Never judge a book by its cover.”

Don’t worry, for example, that a person may be of a different generation, different gender, different beliefs or – like me – a bit different physically.

Very early in my career, a supervisor was caught up a bit with my physical disability. He would go down to the lunch room to get me something to eat, never schedule a meeting unless it was a short distance away from my cube, etc., etc. He later said he thought I was in pain when I walked.

Unfortunately, he assumed something that he never asked me about and adapted much of his free work time “to help me.” Finally, I sat down to let him know I never need help unless ask for… He was shocked when I told him about walking around the State Fair, lettering in tennis and golf in high school, etc. After this, he was released from adapting his day to make my work experience better.

The workplace point: All of us need to be adaptive in our work style with others. I suggest never assuming a person can’t do tasks at work or only has a certain skill set without asking or observing the person first.

Understanding Your Resilient Keys to Business Success and Personal Fulfillment

The Art of Compromise

Many of us are taught to stick to our beliefs and not compromise unless absolutely necessary.

In your job and career, however, this narrowly-defined attitude can spell ultimate failure. There was a study that showed not being able to compromise was one of the top reasons work relationships failed.

For me, compromise does not mean always giving in to the eccentricities or demands of your co-workers – or even your boss. It’s giving a little on both sides to find a common middle.

The workplace point: Sometimes your co-workers or other colleagues are right on about the implementation of a project or idea. I suggest not letting status and egos get in the way of a great idea.

A senior manager friend of mine once told me of a great compromise example. He received the best work advice from one of the company’s hourly workers at lunch.

The manager discussed a new work/life balance plan was to be communicated the following week. The worker was interested but asked how will it be communicated to his friends on the “grave yard” shift.

The manager said they would have to attend the presentation or call-in. The worker said work/life balance is great for those on the right shifts, but the presentation timing might be a burden with families, getting sleep, etc.

The light bulb went off and the manager said he added presentations at the times convenient for shift workers. It meant a bit more time, but ultimately was seen as very proactive in communicating the message.

The manager compromised – not because of superiors – but because he listened to a typical employee. It ultimately caused him less stress because he did not have to go back and “fix” something out-of-whack.

How could you “compromise” with a supervisor, co-worker or direct report to make a project go smoother?

Knowing Your Strengths

All of us have tremendous personal and professional strengths – and, of course, a few weaknesses along the way.

As leaders, we want to feel great about our work without waiting for the next crisis to hit.

A study has shown workers can improve their strengths by up to 30 percent. If they use the same amount of time to improve their weaknesses, they can only get less than a 10 percent improvement rate.

I have found my greatest work success when I focus on what I do best. I know that is easier said than done because many corporate cultures look for our missteps instead of valuing our successes.

When I was asked a couple years ago to create layoff communications plans that would affect my work friends – and ultimately me – the first draft was not seen as not “hard enough.”

I took the critique and used my strengths of adaptability to re=craft a more direct yet sensitive plan that was implemented.

The workplace point: Unless you lack some core skills, I suggest not worrying as much your weaknesses. Spend at least 80 percent of the time demonstrating your strengths to your working world.

Finding Common Ground

Sounds easy, doesn’t it? All of us should be on the same page at work. It only makes sense…

But do your reports truly know what the goals of a project or company are? Do you? Does your supervisor? Any of these trigger points can break down the sense of accomplishment, happiness and content we need at work.

How do you find common ground to move projects forward at all levels?

Actions Within Your Control

To also stay productive at work, all of us should manage our work expectations better.

Do you have ultimate control over how your supervisor reacts to a project you’ve completed? Can you truly manage how your reports spend their time? Do you have control of how you react to these two situations?

The answer to the first two questions is probably “not.” But you can control the third question as long as you have the proper mindset.

Many times we derail our sense of accomplishment because we worry about events out of our control.

For me, there are only three things you can totally control in your work or personal lives: Our attitude, values and how we relate to people. All three are work essentials.

Studies show nearly 95 percent of the projects or people you work with are only partially controllable by you.

A CEO speech I wrote once illustrates the point. Just a day before, the CEO thought the original speech was perfect. But the next day, as if I were in the Twilight Zone, he wanted a different focus. Could I control his change of opinion? No! But I could control how I reacted to him, and how I re-crafted the speech. If I let the “process” consume me, I could have never wrote what turned out to be an award-nominated speech.

The workplace point: If you let your attitude and mindset slip, life and work can really spiral downwards.

What workplace actions are totally within your control?

The Three Ps of Resiliency

To help with “control,” I suggest you remember the three Ps – perseverance, persistence and patience.

Perseverance: What can any of us do to reduce work stress?

To me, persevering means understanding what you control and applying what I do best… I suggest applying this to your work experience.

An example: After being laid off from the dream job I mentioned, I looked at what I could control. I developed a personal business plan, looked hard at my personal brand and truly had a heart-to-heart with myself.

My perseverance led me to developing an award-nominated resiliency blog worldwide attracting more than 1 million hits and establishing a business where I could speak at organizations like this. Developing additional resiliency materials for those in need led me to staying healthy. It is very humbling…

The workplace point: The lesson I learned – and one I suggest you should think about – is don’t pity yourself because you have had a professional setback or are not happy at work. Look at yourself hard and figure out your work passion.

Persistence: That great work idea you’ve had that no one seems to hear or understand. It could save the company thousands of dollars, or make employees understand the company better. And you just don’t have enough energy or will to pursue it any longer.

Definitely been there, done that…

But just think about those resilient innovators throughout history, such as Edison, Ford and Gates. Each had their own set of work challenges – including many business failures – but they persisted. Look at where persistence got them and where it might get you with your own unique resiliency mindset.

My resiliency goal is to help millions of people to understand how their resilient strengths can make a difference in their work/life happiness.

Patience: You feel like you are not getting anywhere at work. Too much is being asked of you or the type of work you do is not interesting anymore.

For me, I stepped back and never regretted it.

I was a senior marketer at Medtronic a few years ago. It was an interesting, yet unfulfilling, job for me.

I made a significant income and had a lot of responsibility but wanted to move back to my work passion of directing corporate communications.

I did not hurry but it led me away from Medtronic to another company where I was extremely happy until this economic perfect storm hit.

My patience led me to my work passion instead of just settling…

Managing Your Personal Brand

Understanding and believing in your personal brand at work is absolutely part of your unique resiliency mindset. Since the layoff, I retooled my “brand,” and my resiliency business is very humbly a success.

Adaptable, persistent, perseverance, patience, being seen as easy to work with and a team player…how are you being viewed at work?

How are you managing your personal brand at work and in life?

Knowing and Understanding Yourself

To also stay resilient at work, I’d suggest tapping into your personal vision of yourself:

What gives you satisfaction in your current job or life situation?

Recognize what makes you happy. Set aside what you “should” like, and think about what you “do” like.

If I let situations control me, I might still be looking for my next great work adventure.

Your Resiliency Next Steps

Please take a moment to think of a couple areas you’d like to improve about your workplace or life resiliency…

I suggest listing them and see how you are doing after one month, six months, one year. You may be surprised at how even more resilient you’ve become at work, but more importantly, in life!

How are you using your resiliency to help keep yourself moving forward?

One last short personal story: Because of my disability, my parents had to fight for my individual rights in the 1960s and early 1970s as I was growing up. They taught me something that can apply everyday in the workplace for you. While they did not use the word resilient, they said:

“Never worry about things you can’t do, cherish your strengths to always be your very best.”

I hope this quote will resonate with your life and career as it has done with mine! I hope you are having a resilient day and look forward to talking with you next week!

It is truly hard to stay resilient. This is from a guy who thinks and lives resiliency every second of every day. It’s no wonder that many good folks are just throwing up their hands these days not knowing which way to turn.

Record unemployment, the stock market “yo-yo” dance and more than half of people still working not being happy with their jobs. The pundits have an easy answer: Government is the problem whether the Democrats or Republicans control the seats of power.

Our life resiliency is being bombarded with negativity on a daily basis with the 24-hour-a-day news cycle. Don’t get me wrong, I definitely want to know and understand world and local events. I, however, find that my resilience is sometimes compromised by the incessant “breaking news” about the latest comments from Sarah Palin, Nancy Pelosi or anyone in-between the schism we know as polarization.

I think we need to look past the “blame game,” and rely on ourselves to brush the non-resilient moments off. We need to overcome such obstacles and continue striving for our best as individuals and as a healthy member of the world community.  No, I don’t want to go back to Herbert Hoover politics, and being an idealist is not practical in these uncertain economic days.

My overall life resiliency, however, is challenged when I hear the Democrats blaming former President Bush. Or, the Republicans bashing President Obama for nearly everything wrong in America. Our resiliency as a nation and a world partner also is being knocked down when individuals let a few differences cloud the overall good Democrats and Republicans bring to the table.

The old saying probably holds true: “Our government leaders agree on 90 percent of everything. It’s that last 10 percent that can cause bottles of antacids to be bought.”

A generation from now will historians brand this age as the beginning of our loss of resiliency as a nation? Where we could not adapt, compromise and have constructive conversation about important national topics. Yes, we have had partisan politics since probably George Washington left the presidency more than 200 years ago. But our overall national resilience is being tested to the max in these very uncertain days.

Despite the very challenging times, my career and life resiliency speaking/consulting business has started well, But, as with any of us, this very humble success doesn’t mean I can’t stop being ever vigilant. Whether you are employed by a corporation or an independent business owner like me, I truly believe our country’s political climate does not bode well for prosperous employment and solving our significant national  issues – unless we stay resilient. Such challenges include getting 8+ million employed again, making sure 30 million folks without health insurance stay alive and stopping the acceleration of the foreclosure rate. The list goes on and on…

The next time you blame President Obama for being out-of-touch, House Speaker Pelosi for being out on the fringe, Sarah Palin for being a bit wacko or Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachman for just  being nutty, please step back and remember one thing. Whether we are from a different country or not, all of us lose a portion of life resiliency where we can only agree to disagree.

I sometimes struggle with my resiliency while worrying about outside events. Like you, I don’t need our nation and world choosing sides and not being able to work together on the basics of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness!

I guess I was wrong…I am an idealist who will never give up believing. I hope you continue believing, too.

Thanks, again, for reading and commenting on my article. Until next week…take care.

By Steve Beseke, beseke1@earthlink.net

All of us are resilient 24 hours a day. In saying this, there are moments in my life that I’ve just wanted to bury my head, cruise off to a south sea island and not worry about the every day craziness of life. This craziness may be caused by me having a truly challenging day at the office, losing confidence in myself with some part of my life I’m usually very great at, someone has said something I have taken the wrong way, or I just feel like I’ve let people down – including myself.

This is when my inner resilience voice has spoken very softly but firmly saying: “Steve, you are not going to get through this challenge unless you understand that life is much more than being a good worker, good father or being good co-worker. A resilient life is about being good to myself and learning from missteps I have made in my career and personal life. And then bouncing back from these setbacks to become even stronger.

As you think through your life actions, I’m sure you agree that sometimes being good to yourself is the hardest accomplishment.

When I literally trip and fall because my physical disability (Cerebral Palsy) has made my back seize up, this is when I need to use my inner courage to dust myself off and move forward again. When I have not been as patient with someone (including myself) as I should be, I have to remember how lucky I am to have such great friends and colleagues at my side. When I have disappointed myself because I did not properly gauge the best course of action action, I have to remember that I am not perfect and my next decisions will determine how I successfully move forward.

As I write to you today, I have received many comments about how you are thinking the same types of things. Are we good people to ourselves and others, will our kids grow up with the societal values that will help them succeed, will we accomplish our dreams to be differentiator at work – and more importantly in life… Such questions are at the resilient core of what all of us should be focusing in life.

We all live our resiliency every day, but I feel it takes a bit of extra reflection to make sure our resiliency in highly stressful times stays at least on an even keel. As I try to do, I suggest you reflect on what goals and values are truly important to you. Is it work? Is it your personal life? Is it both?

To be successful at long-term resiliency, I have found you need to truly understand what’s vitally important to your on-going needs. For me, I absolutely want to be successful in resiliency speaking and writing business. But then I remember a famous Booker T. Washington quote: “It is not the status or position you attain in life, it’s the obstacles that you have overcome to achieve your needs.”

The desire for me to stay successful in business is important, but the last few months have shown me that the success I have as a father, husband and friend are even more important. That is why my long-term resiliency has been bolstered by reassessing my needs and overcoming any work or life obstacles that lead me away from my personal commitment to my loved ones.

Life has been extremely challenging for many of us during this Great Recession. Nerves have become frayed, some dreams have been put on hold, and personal relationships have sometimes taken back seat because of the unabridged stress we have found in these uncertain times. But I suggest that nothing is as important as your family and friends. This wonderful support network will help you overcome any obstacles that come your way.

I am definitely not an idealist, but I have come to realize that 24-hour-day resiliency is not something you can take for granted in any way. Not many of us will be remembered for our profession in life. Instead, folks will most likely remember us for the values we teach our children and the resilient way we relate to all people.

So, the next time you have one of those unimaginably hard days, please think about all those folks on your side ready to help, comfort and get you through until life’s magical moments roll your way again. Because remember: It’s not that crazy things happen or you make mistakes in life. Your true success will come in how you react and make a resilient difference in your life’s managerie of moments!

Take care, and I will talk with you next week…

By Steve Beseke, beseke1@earthlink.net

The loss of life and utter destruction in Haiti leaves me (and probably all of us) devastatingly sad. Haiti and its good people have been severely tested before on many fronts. But their sheer basic life resiliency is now being shaken at the core and this highlights again to me how life can be so fragile – and at the same time wonderful!

As I’ve wrote/spoke about career and life resiliency for countless months, so many of you worldwide have poured out your pain of being laid off, loss of a significant relationship or other tragic life moments.

The devastation in Haiti, however, puts all of our (sometimes severe) challenges in perspective. Many of us have had to reinvent ourselves to successfully adapt to the current worldwide economic mess. But, in a matter of seconds, the Haitian world was turned into sheer hell that the country (and world) will be dealing with for many years to come.

While I’m sure most in Haiti have never heard of the word “resilience,” this is how they will claw their way through their earthquake-ravaged streets and move on with the basics of life. Finding clean water, establishing proper sanitation, avoiding disease, and staving off chaos and armed looters in the streets should force us to think about life resiliency in a much more pure and basic way.

As I work toward the success of my new resiliency consulting business, I glance up to the all-mighty and give thanks to the fantastic life I have lived for 50 years. Sure, not everything has gone my way, and my life and career struggles have been apparent from time to time. But I look at the great moments in life with my family, friends and terrific colleagues worldwide and feel so fulfilled. I hope you think through your daily challenges and realize how lucky you are to be alive and not having to worry so much about the basics of life.

The Haitian government was just scratching the surface of legitimacy before the earthquake. Their road after being a French colony has been filled with corruption, missteps and a lot of bad luck. This, however, is not the time to criticize or become polarized from comments by America’s fringe whackos.

For you and I, it’s time to be thankful we don’t have to endure the terrible circumstances in Haiti. It is also a time to stay resilient and understand that we don’t have it so bad no matter our circumstances.

As many of us have done before, we also need to open our hearts to the unfortunate folks of Haiti – as the world did when 9/11 happened in New York. Please give to your designated charity to help the good people of Haiti reestablish their basic resilience again… This act of kindness will also give all of us a boost of resilience as we deal with our every day (and important) resilient needs!

To me, resilience means more than just thinking solely about my individual needs. While my life is important, it also means doing what I can to help those in much more dire circumstances. This Haitian natural disaster crisis only reaffirms my belief. I encourage you to assess your life and give some thought about those in desperate need. This was a very healthy exercise for me and hopefully you will have a similar conviction…

Until next week, thanks again for the opportunity to talk with you about all of our resilient issues. Take care…

By Steve Beseke, beseke1@earthlink.net

A recent employment survey suggested that nearly 50 percent of those who still have jobs in this economy are dissatisfied with their work. More than 50 percent said they also don’t find their jobs interesting. Additionally, nearly 45 percent of workers do not feel secure about their jobs.

In these tragic times – with more than 8 million good folks laid off – the cynical conclusion to these findings is that workers don’t realize how blessed they are to receiving a steady paycheck. Fortunately, I am not a cynic and realize there are many underlying resilient reasons workers are dissatisfied apart from the challenging world we live in today.

Many of us have had to be extremely resilient as our jobs have evaporated over the last year because of heartbreaking circumstances. Workers, however, are going through similar stress because much more is being expected of them through company layoffs, while others are having their hours cut severely as cost-savings measures at companies.

The bottom line: All of us are in this resilient journey together. This is where our confidence can be the absolute key in continuing the belief in each of us.

Maintaining a baseline of confidence in good and not so good times is THE most important resiliency/adaptability factor that allows me – and you – to continue our work and life everyday.

Yes, incomes have not kept up with inflation. Yes, the soaring cost of health insurance has eaten into our take home pay. Yes, we are still losing far too many jobs to feel totally confident about comparable work again or keeping our jobs in the long-term.

If I read this survey 12 months again when I was initially laid off, I would have said to respondents, “Get over it…you are at least employed.” But now that I’ve carved out a new career as a very humble and successful resilient speaker/consultant, there are so many issues all of us have to think about – employed or not.

What is really disturbing about the growing job dissatisfaction is the way it can play into the competitive nature of our workforce down the road. The survey also found less workers like each other than just a year before and the trend does not seem to be slowing down. This does not bode well for work teamwork in the future.

I truly believe that this “new economy” will force us to think even more about looking out for #1 – ourselves. There’s definitely a true need to look out for #1, but many work environments depend on sharing ideas and adapting for the common good. Will this irrevocably harm our work relationships – and, ultimately our work success?

Too often in the future, our inner and outward resiliency will be critically tested as we navigate through such potentially turbulent work currents.

As I reached a half-century in the last couple weeks, life has always had its moments where I’ve wanted to shut the world out because I’ve momentarily lacked the confidence to move forward.

In addition to everyday work challenges, this also has been because I had just tripped over a crack in the sidewalk and fallen. (My balance is sometimes affected by my lifelong physical disability – Cerebral Palsy.) Or, I just had a conversation with my 14-year-old daughter that I knew could have gone better.

All of us have such issues – great and small – we face everyday. They can truly affect the confidence in ourselves.  Such survey findings may affect how we view our “new” workplace – even after the economy gets revved up again. Always focusing on #1 can have its disadvantages in adapting to such new paradigms.

I, however, suggest we don’t let such surveys sour us on the possibilities of our job we have right now, or the ones waiting for us just around the next corner. While we have to face the sometimes-sobering realities of the workplace, the resilience we have and the confidence in ourselves will successfully move us past these momentary challenges.

Please just continue to understand your strengths and confidence in yourself at work – despite the possible trends highlighted by any surveys. While all of us have gone through dissatisfied moments in our life, never stay dissatisfied with your most important asset – you!

Stay strong and resilient, my friends. Until next week…take care!

By Steve Beseke, beseke1@earthlink.net

All of us probably have dozens of New Year’s resolution examples throughout our lives that were great for the moment but ultimately hard to achieve:  Losing weight, spending more time with your family, finding a more fulfilling life…the list goes on. Unfortunately, the resiliency of continuing our goals after the first 60 days typically subsides, and we go back to the “routines” that make us comfortable.

Sound familiar? I found in my own life it’s not that I set unrealistic resolution goals, but sometimes my wavering self-confidence helps derail “the moment.” That is, until last year. The economy had just forced my employer to lay off1,500 employees – including me. I could have melted from the stress but decided to do something that you should think about.

I looked at myself warts and all and asked such questions like: “What do I want to do for the rest of my life and career?” “What life and career strengths do I have to offer the ‘new’ economy?” and “How can I use these strengths to my best advantage? “

It was not easy. I had been a very successful corporate communications executive for more than 25 years that the lay off put on hold.  I also needed to adapt to a lifelong physical disability (Cerebral Palsy) that was making it harder for me to walk as I reached age 50. Additionally, my wife had recently graduated with an additional college degree but she was only working 32 hours a week.

I’m sure your own unique life experiences have similar threads…

I also knew the type of jobs I had relied on were being the first cut at companies with few able to hire in these very challenging times.

After poignant reflection,  I knew that my writing and speaking abilities needed to be used in a new way. I needed to rely on my skills to carve a career role out for myself that may not have anything to do with working for a corporation.  How could I show my strengths to the world and make a living from it? Please read on to see how I am doing it.

As you look at yourself, please don’t push your strengths into a corner and let a few demons destroy your confidence. No matter what you think of tennis great Andre Agassi, he said something that hit home. Andre said his life challenges were a direct result of losing confidence in himself leading to more bad decisions in his life.

I could definitely relate, and I was not going to let “my demons” control my future life success. That is why I looked for the right vehicles to showcase my talents, and I found them in my worldwide resiliency blog and as an international resiliency speaker.

I used my step-by-step ADD plan: I assessed, I developed a realistic action plan, I did… I also had the tremendous support of my family and friends as I also used my three Ps of resiliency to keep me from the abyss: Perseverance, persistence and patience in myself.

The third P – patience – was my most important life ingredient. For me, patience was consistently hard to find in the past.  Because of resiliently sticking to my “plan,” however,  my resiliency business has been a fantastic ride so far.  I’ve been very humbled with more than 1.2 million blog hits in 10 months and speaking gigs from corporations and groups of all kinds.

I don’t mention this to pat myself on the back. I just want o help folks worldwide with resiliency while making a reasonable living from my talents. I do highlight my success as an example you can use in determining the next moves in your life.

I’d suggest you make the following New Year’s resolution to continue your life and/or career success: “I’m not going to underestimate my abilities to find a great career path, lose the few extra pounds or whatever my goals are in life.” Then, as the Nike commercial highlights, “Just do it!”

What other resiliency subjects would you like me to write about? Please send me an e-mail at beseke1@earthlink.net. Take care my friends!

As 2009 ends, we are unfortunately still seeing negative headlines and challenging economic news around the country and worldwide. There are a few resilient cracks in the economic armor, but all of us need continue looking inside ourselves for those important moments we need to stay strong.

That’s why we need to seize “our” day and remember the strengths and values we bring to the table every day – with our families, friends, co-workers and especially ourselves.

Please think through how you can seize positively through your day. Here is an example how I have successfully traversed though challenges.

When I was younger, I wanted to be in control of everything in my life and seize every moment of  the day. This sounds great, doesn’t it? It is only natural we want to be in control of all aspects of our lives. I found, though, that I was expending so much energy trying to be in total control that I was losing my resilience edge.

There were just some things I could not control totally at work, home and life in general that were reducing my resilience on things I could ultimately control, which included my attitude and how I relate to people.

I thought, for example, I was in control of my work life. I was doing great, with fantastic reviews, an “essential” tag placed on me, terrific compensation and much admiration of my peers throughout the company. There, of course, was the awful recent downturn in the economy, but I thought my exemplary performance would keep me in control of my fate. Man, did I have a lot to learn…

Within a matter of a few months of being “essential,” I became expendable no matter how much effort expended and control I thought I had. With no fault of the company, it had to cut to the bone including me. The lesson for me was there are some things – great and small – out of a person’s total control.

I hoped this would be my last company I would ever work for. What I found is you can never feel totally secure even with an A+ work performance record.

I have moved on to have success in many other areas, including resiliency speaking, presentations and training. I have adapted my control definition, and stayed in personal control of being strong, nimble and resilient. That is, continuing to seize every moment of the day in a slightly more realistic way.

Being nimble, adaptable – and more realistic - in all circumstances will allow you to stay resilient, in control and seize your day. Please think of one aspect of your life you feel vulnerable. Then, ponder how you would adapt and seize the day if an unexpected challenge happened to you. This will help you truly stay on top of being career and life resilient as we move into a new (and hopefully) more terrific decade!

Hopefdully your holiday season and New Year have been magical. Take care ’til next week.

Have you ever thought in your career or life: “What could I have accomplished in my life if only…,” or, “I should have taken this direction but didn’t,” or, “If only I would have made this decision, my career and lifer might be different.” I’ve definitely been there and done that.

All of us face these “woulda, coulda, shouldas” throughout our lives. There are decisions I have made that I sometimes regret and opportunities missed because I did not see them. But I have never let those  moments define me…there have been so many other times I have made the right calls and benefited immensely from them.

I’ve been able to jump over these hurdles because I try very hard to stay in the present and not look back. A friend of mine said of himself: “Looking back has always been a challenge for me because I nearly always paint myself in less resilient light and see more negativity than not.”

As I’ve talked with thousands of good folks like you each week, I sense that many of you also sometimes focus on such life negatives.  Let’s face it: We all do at some points in our lives. The key I have found is not letting these past moments torment you moving forward. Instead, all of us should celebrate the wonderful resilience that makes us very successful and worthwhile to all those in our orbit.

Staying resilient, especially during these very challenging times, can be very hard. Like me, you might have been laid off during this economic perfect storm, or know good friends that are struggling through their own life ups and downs.

For me, and maybe you, such challenges affect how we like ourselves and the confidence to look past them. Whether we are struggling at our jobs, or continue trying to be successful in our personal relationships, the past can sometimes affect how we react.

On a personal level, I’ve had to deal with a life-long physical disability (Cerebral Palsy), and it has caused me to lose confidence many times in my life. While I don’t see my disability now as an insurmountable negative, it can challenge how I view myself if I am not careful. Especially during these winter months, for example, I just have to be very disciplined when walking on snow or ice or I may lose my balance and fall.

All of us have our own set of unique circumstances, and I don’t talk about my disability to seek your empathy. I do bring my life up because it shows we need to balance our perceived negatives in a way that allows us an avenue to be successful – whether through your personal and work journeys.

One life strategy I have found to overcome such disability obstacles is to compartmentalize my difficult moments. You may want to try shutting a particular compartment door for awhile if a perceived negative or past burden becomes too much to handle. I never avoid the door again but I find another part of my life going well – whether it is life or career related.

These “other compartments” usually help build my confidence back up again where I can deal with that troubling door. Such resilient doors might be sharing a quiet and gentle moment with my wonderful wife, or counseling my 14-year-old daughter that not everything in life will go exactly as she wants it.

Juggling all aspects of life and keeping a healthy balance between what you can and cannot control – in your past and the present – is truly the definition of resilience. This balance allows me to successfully close the “woulda, coulda, shoulda” parts of my world. These include “If only I would be ‘normal’ and not have this disability. I could really be a success.”

But I have realized in the last few years – I’m turning 50 at the end of this month – that my disability is not the perceived negative I’ve always categorized it to be. It allows me to be more adaptive, be more accommodating to “differences,” and lets me understand how lucky I am to have a very successful resiliency business – and terrific family – despite any physical issues.

The next time you see a particular aspect of your life as negative or reoccurring year after year, just remember how lucky you are to have your wonderful life. There are still parts of this world that good folks like us are living and eating off of garbage dumps with little hope. Or, parents in some areas of the world have to suffer through infant mortality rates of 40 percent in the first two years of life. When I look at such circumstances, my disability – or your perceived negatives – most likely pale in comparison.

So, the next time a perceived negative (even a recurring one) rears its ugly head in your life, I suggest that they are never usually as challenging as first thought. Compartmentalizing and not allowing them to dominate your life will help you stay resilient no matter what obstacle comes your way.

Disability or not, I’m not going to let its past, present or even future dictate the confidence or belief in myself. If you tackle your unique “moments” with as much hope, you’ll never look back unnecessarily again and regret any decision you’ve made in your world.

I wish all of you the best of holiday seasons! Until next week…

With the holidays nearly in full swing, there is so much to be thankful in our fantastic world. Yet, so many of you, including me, have been rocked by the economy in myriad of ways in 2009.

In previous articles, I mentioned that I was laid off from my dream job earlier this year because of the economic perfect storm. You may have had a similar plight. Or, you are trying to adapt to a new scenario at your work because you are being asked to do much more because many colleagues have unfortunately received the pink slip. Sometimes even more challenging, you may have dealt with a personal issue of losing a loved one, struggles with your kids, or the ending of a long-term relationship.

No matter the instance, there are very few of these circumstances that should make you drop to your knees in shame, regret or sorrow. While your stress may have reached a crescendo this year, the All-Mighty – no matter what your faith – has a plan for all of us. Usually, this plan has many rewarding facets, and opens a door that you never thought was there before. It can be truly amazing!

For me, this has happened in a couple ways – professionally and personally. Both have been profound and have emphasized to me to always believe there’s a new resilient road waiting for all of us.

Professionally, as I mentioned, I began 2009 as one of 1,500 great employees who were beginning to be laid off from a terrific company. This company relied on credit to do business, which made it a multi-billion company through its more than 50 years. The Great Recession, however, brought this venerable corporation to its knees. More than 75 percent of its nationwide workforce has been laid off to date.

Then there’s me. A corporate communications executive looking for work that had disappeared – or at east been put on hold – from nearly every company. The open jobs out there at my level also were being pursued by 400 other qualified individuals. I’d get to the final group of applicants but there always was someone who had 30 of 30 requirements – while I had 29 of 30.

As you should in a similar circumstance: I began looking “outside the box” and finding a new course that could take advantage of my 25+ years of writing and speaking skills. After focusing on fine-tuning my personal brand, I began writing a resiliency blog and the rest has been so rewarding and very humbling. More than 1 million hits…top four personal branding blogs in the nation…speaking engagement locally, nationally and possibly worldwide….and, yes, gratification and peace of mine.

The point for all of us: Believe in your skills and look for ways to apply them in unique ways in these challenging times. You need to create a large space between feeling helpless (like I initially did), and finding something you truly want to do in life that, of course, pays the bills. I thought my previous position was fantastic but helping me and all of you get past our life and career resiliency struggles is much more rewarding and gratifying. What do you ultimately want to do in life?

For me personally, it was also an enriching year. My wife and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary, and our 14-year-old daughter is achieving her black belt in Kung Fu and doing extremely well in school. Most importantly, I found a way to look past my life struggles as a person with a disability (Cerebral Palsy), and show great folks like you the ways to successfully apply resilience in every part of your life and career.

Talking frankly about my disability as a resilient example to you was not an easy transformation for me. Those with disabilities are taught through experiences at a young age “to stay in the weeds” and not become too noticeable in this “normal” world. Especially at a young age, physically challenged folks like me don’t always want to highlight their “differences” because they want to fit in and be seen as “normal” as possible.

Now that I am celebrating 50 this month, I have found that you can’t worry about your perceived “weaknesses.” You need to focus on your strengths because that’s what folks will remember. Since my mid-forties, I began to realize that my disability, which affects my walking and balance, was actually a resilient strength not a weakness. It only took me nearly 50 years to realize my lifelong adaptability has made me a hopefully better and more compassionate person…

The next time you see yourself in a discouraging light at work or in your personal relationships, please remember all of your unique strengths that have allowed you to be successful. But also look inside yourself for an area or two that you can crystalize to be healthier and a more resilient person in all aspects of your life. I did this, and it is making such a difference in my life!

The holiday season is time for joy and a resilient anticipation for tomorrow…if only you make a commitment to see past the challenges and be the best and courageous person that you are. You know that YOU are that person…

Until next week, I encourage you to please stay strong and resilient no matter what challenges you are navigating through!

As pro golfer Tiger Woods found out recently, life mistakes can have a profound effect on our family and the fabric of our lives. Whether we make mistakes large or small, however, it is our resiliency, adaptability and honesty that will help us move past such challenges in our lives and/or careers.

I don’t want to talk any further about Tiger’s own personal issues except to say they reemphasize a lesson I learned many years ago: It’s not that we make mistakes, it’s how we react from those challenges that truly make the ultimate difference in our continuing success.

Circumstances Should Not Consume Us

While I have a very wonderful 25-year marriage, the point is we can’t let circumstances consume us no matter what those challenges may be. Many of us, for example, have gone through layoff challenges in this perfect storm economy or have been over-burdened at work because of extra duties added with valued colleagues being let go.

Should we feel down at least momentarily…of course. Should we lose our confidence for the moment because very challenging things have come to our doorstop…while I hope not but we are, again, only human. I made the mistake of blaming myself after my layoff even though I was told I was one of the top performers at my company. I also made a mistake initially thinking that I just had one course of action to try to find the same type communications executive position I’ve always been successful at in the past.

My additional mistake was letting such circumstances consume me without seeing the true skills and potential I had in this “new” economy. You also may have experienced this, but I did a lot of soul-searching after I figured out the types of jobs I was accustomed to were just not there – or at least not readily available – anymore.

I Did Not See My Life Gifts or the Broad Picture…

So where was I going to go and what were my next options. To be honest, I just did not know at first. Should I continue down the same employment path as before or should I do something else? Well, what I decided is an example that I suggest you consider as you move down your unique career and life journey.

Re-Looking at Your Personal Brand is Critical

I looked extremely hard at my personal brand and what I truly loved to do in life. I want to retire some day in Hawaii but that is not going to happen any time soon. So how should I use my many talents in life to continue being reasonably successful in life? After a lot of reflection, I decided to use my gifts as a writer and speaker to help others with their shared desire to have a happy life and very resilient future. But how could I do this?

For my health, I started to write this blog to keep my writing talents sharp and my skills in talking with people fine-tuned. It was a God-send and a true revelation…my common-sense resiliency strategies hit the right cord. I used my personal work resiliency moments and life challenges as a person with a disability (Cerebral Palsy) to help provide – as many of you have highlighted – real life vignettes that show how all of us can stay resilient.

While I now have more than a million hits on this blog, and have made speeches to organizations and individuals worldwide, the point is that I needed to re-invent the way I thought about myself leading me to a very resilient mindset. That has helped me maintain my confidence, stay persistent and be truly patient as I find ways to spread the resiliency message to (very, very humbly) millions of great folks like you.

Never Limit Yourself

The additional point: Please never limit yourself or let any mistake consume you to where you do not see your true potential – not only at work but in life. If I would have stayed the typical course, I’d still be out of work with much reduced confidence and a sense of diminishing hope. Now, I have a resiliency business that is so gratefully taking off. Despite my layoff mistakes initially, I looked at my self hard, determined what I absolutely wanted to do in life and developed a plan to get me there.

So, if you have made life or career mistakes or are facing other significant challenges, I suggest you never give up believing in yourself, your resilient attitude or the rock-solid values you live by everyday. While I personally went through my “black hole” after the very agonizing layoff, I found the resilient formula to be happy and healthy in my life.

Understand your personal brand and confidently go to where you want to be. I know you can have even more success than me if you only believe…

I will talk with you next week, and I hope you are staying resilient despite the possible missteps and challenges all of us inevitably face.

While I typically focus on career and life resiliency issues, many of you have asked me to discuss ways blogging can be used for professional as well as for personal endeavors. My free resiliency blog, which began as a way for me to stay healthy and focused after a layoff, has now helped me very humbly gain visibility and credibility worldwide on resiliency topics. I am so grateful that the blog has also assisted me in beginning my successful speaking and writing business.

In these challenging times, blogging can be one of many very effective and resilient tools in communicating with your employees and the world on a whole myriad of topics. As many of us use blogging as a way to express ourselves, there are numerous ways corporations can find ways to strategically make blogging work for them internally – and externally.

In a recent national survey, blogging for work purposes is now seen as an important way to help maintain a resilient mindset among employees. Many corporations – large and small – are looking at blogging as a way to get their executives closer to employees, while offering them a “real time” way to communicate with each other – especially in different offices and remote locations.

As I’ve talked with terrific folks like you worldwide, finding ways to further communicate messages or bring teams closer together are definitely at a premium in these very challenging economic times. If done appropriately, corporate or business blogging can become one of your most innovative and resilient ways to communicate messages that may be more effective than using traditional communications techniques.

A Resilient Beginning

Firstly, I’d encourage you to think about the following workplace questions:

Do you see blogging as only a fad with little obvious use in a business setting? Are you a bit apprehensive that your supervisors at your company would not see recommending corporate blogging positively? Do you see your current set of communications vehicles at work satisfactory in effectively getting information out throughout the company? Are you not sure of the various “out-of-the-box” ways of communicating such as business blogging is right for your company or corporate culture?

If you’ve answered “yes” to any of these questions, don’t feel alone. A recent national survey of managers and supervisors found that 83 percent of us said “yes” to at least one of these questions. More than 50 percent said “yes” to all of them.

Are you surprised? I wasn’t. I have spent the last 25 years successfully (or at least mostly successfully) testing and implementing new communications techniques. I remember when e-mail was in its infancy and there were good folks saying that such communications vehicles would not be used much except in personal correspondence.

As I highlight my journeys with blogging, here are a few corporate facts to mull over:

- 55% of corporations have adopted blogs for both internal (91.4%) and external (96.6%) communications, and are finding significant benefit to both forms.

- 70% of those corporations not yet blogging plan to start.

- More than half of all corporate blogs have started within the last year and penetrated nearly all industries.

The Possibilities Are Endless

After a layoff earlier this year because of the economy’s perfect storm, this truly tragic and painful experience led me to create a personal life and career resiliency blog for my health – http://resiliencyfirst.com. My blog’s success is now attracting more than 20,000 great folks like you worldwide monthly. This has propelled me to start a resiliency speaking and writing business reaching 100s of thousands – and I hope eventually millions – worldwide with the strategies for those who are struggling at work or looking for their next great work adventure.

Unique Ways to Convey Messages

As I was creating my business blog, I have made sure my writings stay “real” using my personal business experiences and my life-long challenges as a person with a physical disability (Cerebral Palsy). Both highlight common-sense resiliency strategies for career and life success.  The keys for me have been to be authentic, write about something I know about and tell my true feelings about myself and my resiliency topics – warts and all.

Importantly for my business, this also included:

1. What value will I provide my audience? If you don’t provide value you won’t get folks back.

2. What specific subjects can I write about in a timely manner?  I’ve now written 40 articles reaching so many folks worldwide.

3. What will get your attention? How do I get them to read it and think they should. Headline and first paragraph are everything. If they read nothing else that gives you the gist.

4. Write like you’d like to be written to…

Our Own Individual Deck of Cards

My physical disability (Cerebral Palsy) affects my walking and the right side of my body. While I don’t mention this lifelong challenge upfront in my speeches, webinars or blog articles, I do highlight some of my personal life experiences that have formed my resilient mindset in life. These “real moments” are so important in keeping your messages worthwhile to your audiences – whether corporately or for your personal experiences.

I suggest you always remember that the needs to be passionate, real, not preachy, gauge your audience and, most importantly, understand the right writing tone the blog should be. A corporate or business blog should not be written like a newsletter or an e-mail. Through my experience, it is best to write the piece in first person – as you may talk with someone over coffee.

Understandably, this is easier said than done. But as I write my own business blog, I use personal business experiences as well as my life vignettes to provide practical resiliency examples and strategies to my worldwide audience. I openly talk about my layoff experiences and my physical disability challenges to connect with audiences in my unique way. Again, I try to understand my audience and compassionately relate to their struggles and needs.

I, however, never put my life challenges above anyone else…there are many terrific folks like you that have your own unique set of experiences that may be more challenging than mine. Very humbly again , many have commented that my blog is like talking with them one-on-one…whether they are in Australia, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia and six of seven continents so far. I am so gratified that this is how I can keep my audience interested – and coming back for more.

For my business, I blog folks to help them tap into their own resilience. I mix in my personal and professional vignettes to show that all of us need to dust ourselves off once in awhile and get back in the “game of life.”

Whether it is me falling and hitting my head on a marble floor in front of work colleagues because of my disability or inevitable work challenges, my messages are always about adapting to circumstances sometimes out of a person’s control. Such real examples resonate with folks because I’m giving them a little of myself and showing that I’m successfully adapting to the cards all of us are dealt in life.

My business blogging  strategy is to show folks they can be more resilient than they think. All of us have a lot going on if only we believe in ourselves.

Why was I Motivated to Create My Blog?

Besides offering me a way to stay healthy after my layoff, helping folks through their struggles – whether looking for work or trying to find their next great adventure – was one of the main reasons I created my site. All of us need a little help and understanding once in a while, and I thought my common sense resiliency strategies might crack open the door to those who have had it had just shut in their face. It’s been a humbling experience having so many great folks like you worldwide follow and comment on my writings on a weekly basis.

This has allowed me business-wise to get established as a great resource, which has translated my demand for resiliency speaking gigs at corporations, colleges, associations and conferences. My blog’s success also has given me the opportunity to create an upcoming web site where I can offer resiliency e-books, taped presentations, audio podcasts and webinars to reach out for those of you looking to build own your own life and career resiliency.

Corporate or business blogging can make a difference in so many ways…

So Blogging is Hard Technically…Not!

As I thought about writing a blog, my main worries were not being able to write effectively or speak in front of terrific groups like this. When I was getting started, my biggest perceived challenge was how to do it technically. What blogging software should I use? How would I update my site regularly, etc., etc.? I may be able to write a speech or article like this in a couple hours, the infrastructure of computer technology can sometimes bring me to my knees for mercy.

I realized I needed to stick with my skill sets of writing and speaking, and seek the assistance of others to set up the technical and infrastructure aspects of my blog. I did some research and contracted with one of my Linkedin friends to set me up, so I could just focus on the creative end of things.

For less than $10 per month and a small set up fee, my Linkedin friend created a blog for me on Word Press, a publishing platform that makes it a snap just to post, post, post.

The key in posting, however, is the frequency in which you do it.

Setting a Schedule

Whether you are doing a business or personal blog, an important key to its on-going success is the frequency of your posts.

The blog became so fortunately a “regular read” for so many folks worldwide. People write me back messages using the words “great,” “fantastic” and “right on” in reaction to my resiliency messages. This “excitement” has translated to a large readership and the opportunity for me to reach out more with a new web site, speeches and webinars.

For my business blog, I post at least one new article every week. My readership is used to the routine now. If I disrupt their expectations and leave the site static for too long, I could ultimately lose credibility, visibility and influence.

Keeping on Subject is Important

I mentioned earlier about understanding your audience and only writing on subjects you know and feel confident about. While I have been a corporate communications executive  for more than two decades, my business blog is not about corporate speak. My business brand is about resiliency in your life and career. My readership is based on discussing candidly – through personal and professional experiences – about such resiliency issues. If I would go off my brand, I would potentially confuse and alienate my audience.

There’s an old saying that I think sums it up for me: “A company’s brand takes much work to attain and an instant to lose.” Staying on subject in a professional or personal blog will keep enriching your brand, so your messages stay pertinent to what your audience expects to hear from you. Please always remember, my friends, to stay on brand.

My Echo Can Be Heard

O.K., I thought I had a great idea about establishing a blog about resiliency. But then I worried about how my potential audience would find my messages. In a corporation, it is a bit easier because you’ve got a captive audience – so to speak – it is just getting them to read and see value in the corporate blog, which we chatted about earlier.

For me, I was out in cyberspace with ten trillion other sites wanting folks to click on them. To build my base following, I used other social media avenues – like Linkedin, FaceBook and Twitter – to link my blog and articles to the world. I also joined an online news publication that I wrote articles about resiliency and “advertised” my blog. It takes a lot of work to get noticed and move your Google analytics get higher and higher.

By using such social media and Internet tools, I’ve been able to get my business blog usually on the first page of searches in Google when folks are looking for info about life resiliency. Updating the blog on a regular basis also helps with the frequency to where my blog is seen.

That’s Great and Everything But What Else Corporately?

Possible ways to use business blogs is to establish a CEO or management blog as a way to offer alternative options to communicate sensitive messages.  Then, to make such a strategy more effective, the next step is to allow employees to post comments in reply to management’s blog entries…this builds a link between the two groups. In this way, executives can keep a finger on the pulse of their workforce, and managers can gain feedback on projects or ideas they might implement. This enables a “flatter” corporate hierarchy in the fashion of many modern corporate structures.

There is, however, more chance for a blogging mishap once you enable employees to leave messages on the blog. The opportunity for something inappropriate to be posted increases drastically.  If employee commenting is to be allowed, a much more involved policy on blogging must be developed. Also, this is a much larger undertaking for the HR and IT departments.

The riskiest and potentially most rewarding internal blogging model allows any employee to start new posts. I have used this corporately in the past. This situation can create a collaborative environment not possible without an online forum having the functionality of blogs. Without blogs, an employee might ask a question of a single or a few co-workers. By posting the question on a blog, a solution may be solicited from anyone in the organization with expertise in the topic.

The right architecture can connect employees from around the world for resource and idea sharing. Teammates can easily keep the whole team informed on project progress, and managers can announce to a whole office when their employees have completed impressive tasks.

Likewise, employees can use the blogs to stay in touch on a personal level. Blogs can be used to organize extracurricular sports leagues or other events, facilitate ticket and garage sales, or share birth and marriage announcements.

Externally Speaking

External blogs are made available on the Internet for the world to read. These are intended for marketing and for developing a community based around your products, brand and thought leadership. External blogs offer a forum for company representatives to communicate with the public. Executives can release important industry relevant news, developers can share product documentation, employees can provide a window into daily life at the organization, and marketers can communicate directly with their target audiences.

Like internal blogs, the external model may also implement systems based on the privileges granted to various users with similar risks and advantages. Stricter

policies create a safer, more legal-friendly blog while looser policies can create a larger and tighter community. Wherever in the policy spectrum a company’s needs lie, there are a number of best practices to follow.

Transparency is Key

People who read and write blogs generally speak plainly and expect others to do the same – whether in the corporate world or not.  Since blogging has become part of the main stream – at least on a personal level – folks are use to quickly dismissing messages that employ buzzwords and marketing speak. It is important that internal or external corporate blog posts always be candid and honest.

As I’ve mentioned, it should also be clear who is blogging and why. Most people want to know the source of any information and blogs are no exception. In the case of corporate blogs, readers will want to know the poster’s position in the organization and the motivation for making public announcements on the Internet.

Bloggers are already on the Internet and use it to relentlessly to check facts and sources. If they feel like a post is an attempt to hoodwink them with half-truths or camouflaged marketing messages, bloggers will make short work of discrediting an author — and the parent company. Credibility is particularly hard to recover in the blogosphere, and failed attempts at slighting the blog community frequently make head- lines. Several case studies address this golden rule of blogging.

There are definitely many more applications you can use corporate or business blogs to your advantage.  My own business example is one of many possibilities for you to ponder. I encourage you to look on the Internet to further expand your business or company’s world of corporate blogs – from customer relationships, to internal collaborations, to knowledge management to, yes, even recruitment.

In my business journeys, I’ve definitely come to realize that blogging is more than just a personal way to communicate your views. It’s a business strategy to enhance brand, image and profit margin.

I hope it also will be a great strategy and opportunity for you and/or your company!

You unfortunately did not receive that deserved promotion or increase in pay at your company. A supposed friend decides to end your 10-year relationship with an e-mail message saying out-of-the-blue, “We have nothing in common anymore.” Your teenage kids are having too many “teen moments” testing your sanity and patience. Your boss tells you today that layoffs will be happening soon including your position.

Those Inevitable Potholes

Life is definitely full of potholes in our world, and I suppose (once or twice) you’ve asked yourself, “Why Me.” I’ve also been through similar obstacles i my life, and I always remember something my Dad told me when I was young: “Never hang your head and focus on the things you can truly control in life.”

For me, this was my attitude when I was younger – I will be turning 50 next month. You see, in addition to all the typical challenges in life, I also had to deal with something not so usual – a lifelong physical disability known as Cerebral Palsy. The disability affects – sometimes significantly – my walking, balance and the right side of my body.

I don’t bring my disability up to tap into your empathy. Some of you may have life challenges more significant than I could imagine. I do bring up my life history because I still sometimes say “Why Me” as I unfortunately trip and hit my head on an unforgiving floor, or my back seizes up if I don’t treat it with “kid gloves.”

Reacting to Inevitable Life Moments

Wow! All of us have our crazy life moments, but my true success in life is how I react from those inevitable obstacles of my disability, a previous job layoff, or humbly starting my successful resiliency speaking biz. Do I pity myself? Do I think my life and career are too much? Do I retreat into an inner safe zone and not come out? Do I make my able-bodied wife, daughter and other loved ones help me unnecessarily?

Getting Back in the Game

No!!! I have rarely hung my head…I have dusted myself off and, to quote a famous Frank Sinatra lyric, “Got back in the game.” This is definitely easier said than done. The pain and heartache you may be going through with your own life challenges could be immense. “A distant connection of mine said he did not want to get out of bed anymore after enduring many, many months of trying to find a new job.

As I mentioned to him, if you are at that point, please see a professional to help guide you through. As I learned with my disability, there is always a light at the end of the tunnel. My family and friends have helped me muster even more courage to make a difference and very humbly show the world my unique gifts and talents.

Stopping the Excuse “Merry-Go-Round”

All of us can make excuses, and I especially used the words “I can’t” a lot when I was growing up with a difference in a “normal” society. My parents, again, came to my aid saying, “Never use the words ‘I can’t’ despite the challenges you face every day.” I have never forgotten their words – although inevitably I fall off the “I can’t” bandwagon once in awhile. For you, please don’t worry about things that have happened. Nothing can change a lost relationship, lost job or in the less-than-resilient way you have felt about yourself in the past.

What you can control – and what have found so reassuring – is your resilient attitude to move on and use the values you were taught to overcome, really, anything. If I had let the challenges of my disability consume me, I would not have a very successful 25-year marriage or great career including a very successful resilience speaking business today. I am so gratified that more than 20,000 of you are reading my resiliency blog worldwide on a monthly basis. My family and business have helped allow me to stay resilient and keep believing in myself. I am so fortunate!!!

I have turned my disability into a lifelong, resilient learning experience for me in this sometimes unforgiving but wonderful world. Please view your own unique life circumstances as opportunities for you to do things a bit different and open the true potential of the next stage of your life. I found that I could do it, and I know you can be as fortunate and successfully continue your very rewarding resilient journey!

Take care until next week. Thanks, again, for your continued comments and terrific support as we share a few valued resilient minutes with each other…