Ask most anyone you know about what their lives have been like in the last four years and you will hear many of the same stories of loss, sudden change, uncertainty, uprooting and chaos. Many of us have seen the reversal of fortunes, undoing of relationships, dissolution of career goals, merciless illness and loss of status, homes, health and expectations.  And in the legal profession, I am witness to many of these stories as I am frequently asked to help clients navigate and escort them through these troubled waters as they navigate their careers.

There are those of us who recover and move on. And there are those who do not. Many of us know how to move on...we might do it kicking and screaming and as a last resort...but I along with others bounce back and know how to start anew.

And the difference is Resilience. Resilience is the X-factor in determining whether we move on, bounce back, suck it up and warrior-on or whether we languish, get depressed and become complaining victims of life events.

This year the topic at Davos was RESILIENT DYNAMISM. A fancy & elegant term for what is a complicated, messy and ugly process.  My translation of RESILIENT DYNAMISM?  It's when you unexpectedly get your behind kicked really hard so that you fall down and then down some more, and yet you find a way to keep kicking right back until you bounce back.

Arianna Huffington in writing about resilience quotes the President of the Rockefeller Foundation, Judith Rodin who outlines the FIVE ELEMENTS OF RESILIENCE and who writes, "What distinguishes today’s threats from those of the past are the escalating rate at which they are occurring."

Yep.  Not a happy thought, Arianna, but brutally true. Funny thing about resilience is that just when you get up...more stuff comes along, harder and faster to kick you down again. So learning how to be resilient is now a human imperative. We have no choice. Learn to be resilient or get ready to put out the welcome-mat for human extinction.

In the interest of sharing tips on being resilient in your career and life, I have taken the liberty of redefining the FIVE ELEMENTS OF RESILIENCE outlined by the Rockefeller Institute  in simpler terms, as I understand them, and I offer some practical advice and ways to improve your resilience when it come to your careers.

According to the Rockefeller Institute, the FIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF RESILIENCE are:

1) Spare Capacity: My Translation & Tip: "Refuel”

The first step to career resilience is to find ways to refuel your energy level. We need to have the energy/willingness/desire to bounce back. Resilience requires that we take care of our bodies, diet, mind & heart so that the bounce-back process can begin to take root.  For some of my clients they refuel by playing golf or tennis, gardening, cooking or being with friends or family, or going away, or getting a massage, or just getting more sleep. Crisis and disaster--especially professional and personal ones--are draining. So step #1: focus on cultivating spare capacity by refueling mind and body.

2) Flexibility: My Translation & Tip: "Stop the Denial"

Flexibility is defined as the ability to change, evolve and adapt when faced with crisis. But before you can change or evolve you need to FACE THE CRISIS. In order to bounce back from a career set back or crisis and be resilient we need to be willing to face the crisis, stop any denial that might be taking root and accept the change that might be happening in our career. I spend a lot of time and energy working with people and trying to break through their career denial. Denial that they have been fired. Denial that they need to look for a job. Denial that they may need to retool their practice. Denial that they may need to adjust their lifestyle as they make other career choices. So being flexible means adopting a mindset of trying to be honest, open, and flexible in your thinking about what has happened and open to ways to move on.

3) Limited Failure: My Translation & Tip: "Crisis Containment"

 I call this step the career crisis containment process. It is the ability to contain the career crisis and not let it spread like wildfire to every other aspect of your life. It is about developing and creating boundaries around the crisis and not allowing it to seep like poison gas into every other part of our lives. Losing your job doesn't mean you have to gain 30 lbs, start smoking, drinking excessively or start other self destructive behavior. Not making partner or being fired as a partner doesn't mean that you wait 6 months before regrouping, or telling your spouse. And it doesn’t help to isolate or bad mouth every partner or associate at the firm. Enlisting the help of others in trying to contain the career crisis is key to resilience and bouncing back.

4) Rapid Rebound: My Translation & Tip:"Stop the Pity. Get a plan. Move On.”

We all know what a rebound is: it's a temporary person/gig/interest to help you get over the pain of the person/job/opportunity that got away. Rebounding quickly when it comes to career disappointment is no different than romantic rebound. You know the old saying about romantic rebounding: “If you can't be with the one you love honey, love the one you’re with."  That rebounding adage also applies to your career rebound. Stop obsessing or romanticizing the past job. Choose to stop the self-pity party and stop replaying the career drama over and again in your head. Getting a new career plan, a new resume, a new perspective, a new network etc. will help reduce the self-pity and obsessing and it will give you something new, fresh and hopeful to focus on. Getting and engaging in a new career plan--even if it's not your "dream" or "perfect" or "passion" job--is important in growing your resilience. 

5) Constant Learning:  My Translation & Tip: "Stay Curious."

A commitment to keeping your brain active, alive and challenged even in the midst of crisis is key to resilience.In my work with clients, I always recommend new books, articles, hobbies, classes etc. that they can engage in while they are in the midst of dealing with a career crisis.  A certain level of enthusiasm for continued learning is imperative for everyone when in the midst of crisis as it keeps you hopeful and engaged and reminding yourself of your best strengths and qualities. All good things that help build resilience.

So here it is.  Five Rules for Career Resilience:

1)      Refuel

2)      Stop career denial , face the crisis and get flexible;

3)      Exercise career crisis containment;

4)      Rebound with a new plan even if you don't love it; and

5)      Keep learning.

Wishing you all much resilience in all your life, love and career endeavors.