I could have lost a leg today.
… 👀 and I ruined my favorite pair of work pants.
A near-tragic accident, while unfortunate, can provide valuable lessons, especially in a business context. I learned a few things from almost slicing off my leg, and I think they can be applied to business or personal development.
Crisis Management – Accidents? Nah, we call them surprise learning opportunities! Make sure you’re not caught off-guard with a solid game plan that includes communication strategies and backup plans! In my case, I was by myself in the woods and had only a cell phone to call for help. What a dumb, dumb. 🤦♂️
Risk Assessment – Why wait for trouble to knock? Keep potential risks in check and develop strategies to mitigate them. Remember, prevention is better and cheaper than, well, in my case, a leg. 🦵
Safety First – Safety isn’t just a slogan. It’s a way of life! From physical safety to data security and financial compliance, let’s keep it all wrapped up tight. Thank god I had the right kind of chainsaw (Thanks, STIHL) and outerwear that was meant to protect from accidents like this (Thanks, Duluth Trading Company, I am going to miss those pants)
Learning Opportunity – No such thing as a mistake, only lessons learned! Revisit near-misses, figure out what went sideways, and prevent it from happening again. The name of the game is always an improvement!
Resilience – We’re like rubber bands; we bounce back from almost anything! Resiliency and adaptability are the two secret ingredients to turning any setback into a comeback. So, in my case, it would be easy to say: “Welp, I’ll never use a chainsaw again.” But I made the decision as soon as it happened to reflect and make sure I didn’t put myself in that situation again. I’ll be back out there this weekend. 💪
Can’t Stop. Won’t Stop. 🏋️♂️
*Orginally posted about this on my LinkedIn page. Join me there too.