Episode 239: Is It Good? Is It Bad? It Just Is: Lessons in Resilience

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Is It Good? Is It Bad? It Just Is: Lessons in Resilience

Fresh off a 17-hour flight from New York and jetlagged beyond belief, Sacha joins Ish to talk about resilience, mental fortitude, and adapting when things go spectacularly wrong. This episode is raw, real, and packed with stories about handling crisis situations—from emergency room visits in New York to water landings in Fiji—and the lessons we can apply to workplace challenges.

Key Topics Discussed

Human Adaptation & Resilience

• How quickly we adjust to unexpected circumstances (from rookie to pro in 24 hours)
• The triumph of the human spirit in rapidly adapting to new norms
• Above and below the line thinking: be open, be curious, and remember that eventually everything's funny from a distance

Playing to Strengths in Crisis

• Recognising the different roles people can play when things go wrong
• Not everyone needs to respond the same way
• Everyone needs to respond with purpose in the forward direction
• Don't get stuck in "this is terrible"—move toward solutions

Workplace Applications

• How do we respond when things are genuinely hard?
• The choice: spread misery or move things forward
• What's the ONE thing you can do that makes things better?
• Delivers more value, helps more people, or makes this a more fun place to work

Key Takeaways for Leaders

1. Adaptation Speed Matters: The faster you can accept and adjust to new circumstances, the faster you can move forward
2. Reframe the Narrative: Practice the "is it good/is it bad/it just is" mindset
3. Leverage Different Strengths: In a crisis, let people contribute according to their strengths
4. Forward Motion Over Perfection: Focus on what moves things forward, not on perfect solutions
5. Choose Your Response: You can't always control what happens, but you can control whether you add to the problem or the solution

Action Items for Listeners

This week, when something goes wrong (and it will):

• Pause and ask: "Is this good? Is this bad? Or does it just...is?"
• Identify: What's ONE thing you can do to move forward?
• Recognise: What strengths can you (and your team) bring to this situation?
• Remember: Eventually, everything's funny from a distance—how quickly can you get there?

Episode Number: 238

The Not So Breakfast Show - A podcast for leadership and career development

Sometimes the best lessons come from when things go spectacularly wrong.