I secured my brother as the speaker at an event that took place in California last week. What you may not know is that event planning requires extensive effort and coordination for months pre-event, and oftentimes turns hectic and chaotic near the event date. My primary point person on this particular event, Gina, was great! She was organized, (meaning we didn’t need to cover the same things over and over again), and she was always personable and pleasant.
Because I work with the same person over a long period of time when an event is booked, our calls and email exchanges form a personal connection as well as a business one. I can tell you what dogs are owned by the executive meeting planner at Harley Davidson, and where the senior manager for Stellantis recently went on vacation. My work with and for Gina was no different. But what I didn’t know…
Gina lost everything in the recent California fires.
We talked about the weather we were experiencing in Indiana (snow and ice), and how the smoke from the fires might impact attendance at the event. But not once did she even mention her home was destroyed along with everything inside! I can’t even imagine how she was able to function and work through the devastating loss, much less be one of the best I’ve worked with over the past 25 years or so.
When I found out and asked her how she managed to do it, she said:
“I focus on what I can change, rather than dwelling on what I can’t.”
Resilience
That mindset is a core principle of resilience — it’s called locus of control. It’s what helps you direct energy toward productive actions instead of feeling stuck or powerless. It’s about developing a problem-solving attitude instead of a victim mentality — and letting go of things outside your influence. Gina is one strong, resilient woman, wouldn’t you agree?
Hugo is resilient too — but even he could learn something from California’s Gina…
Now you know: The character “Mr. Hankey” from South Park was based on how Trey Parker’s father toilet-trained him as a child. Trey said he refused to flush the toilet, so his father told him if he did not flush down his stool, which he called “Mr. Hankey,” it would come to life and kill him.