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It’s Day 3 of our self-quarantine, and I woke with James Stockdale on my mind. He was featured in Jim Collins Book, Good to Great. Here’s an excerpt from Collins.
Admiral Jim Stockdale was the highest-ranking military officer in the Hanoi Hilton. He was there for, I think, seven years, from 1968 to 1974. He was tortured over twenty times. And by his own account, Stockdale came out of the prison camp even stronger than he went in.
Jim Collins
A lot is happening, and it can feel like the world is coming apart at the seams. I confess my anxiety is up as I watch the news and the numbers climb and in California, the press conferences with Governor Newsom and Mayor Garcetti.
This marvelous ability to combine faith and facts—unwavering faith in the end game, confront the brutal facts that are right in front of you—this is the Stockdale Paradox. Every one of our great leaders was incredibly comfortable with picking up the rock and looking at the ugly stuff underneath and saying, “What are those facts?” Because if we don’t confront the brutal facts, they will confront us. The greatest mistake in public leadership, as Winston Churchill put it, is to hold out false hopes that will soon be dashed by events.
Jim Collins
We have to think about the next several steps. What are some terrible situations that we could face? We need to consider multiple “What if” scenarios to help us prepare mentally.
And what is my faith in my neighbors, my community, and local/State/Federal government officials?
We need to embrace some of these options, really wrap our minds around them because when things adjust, we’re not spending time deciding how we’ll feel – we’re already moving to the next piece. Stockdale gives a brilliant strategy, and we know that it works because as much as things are an adjustment from our usual patterns – I’ll take this over the Hanoi Hilton any day.
Dure to fear/panic, the store shelves are empty, but supply lines are not damaged, so new items will be in this week – probably today. However, I imagine that there will be another run on stores and toilet paper and more.
BUT
Our generation has never faced a situation like this, but our grandparents did, and they rose to the occasion. I’m confident that we can too, but we have to do the work.
Over the past few days, I’ve talked with a lot of my neighbors, and it’s been great. I’m pretty friendly, but it’s easy to stay insulated in our world – and that’s what I’ve done. I should’ve talked with them all sooner. I can’t fix that, but I can do a better job moving forward.
Think through some scenarios for your family:
What will you do when X happens?
What will be your next move when Y shifts?
If things get better, that’s an effortless adjustment, but if you’re already down the road mentally on how things could go – You’ll be better off.
Stay strong, I believe in you.
P.S. Don’t call 911 for lack of toilet paper.
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