What I Learned at the Naval Academy

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The more insecure you feel, the more frightening situations become. That’s because most people resist, making matters worse. Suppose you do the opposite: Accept fear, treat it like a passing shower, and focus on things you control. Your demons vanish. These and other tonics for hard times come from Mike Abrashoff, who discovered joyfulness as a plebe at Annapolis.

It may sound unfeeling, but I notice that hard times aren’t all bad. They force people with or without jobs to stay calm, overcome reverses, make the best of whatever happens. They’re often the most fertile times for growing what every business needs–proven leaders. Right now, companies everywhere are stretching their people to work harder and do more with less. In this Darwinian situation, the winners are those who accept being stretched, but on terms favorable to themselves. That doesn’t mean the winners are all me-firsters. In a healthy organization, the most valued stretchers are those who benefit the whole enterprise, not just themselves. They’re the next leaders in waiting.

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