RESILIENCE.
- whatshesaid2020
- Mar 1
- 2 min read
“Being the captain of my own ship” was a phrase I used recently when I shared an AI‑generated caricature of myself standing at the wheel of the R/V Hogarth, a research vessel used by USF’s marine biology program. It was a fun moment—me at the helm, smiling confidently, knowing the ship wasn’t actually moving under my command.
But the metaphor becomes far more real when life is moving—and not in the direction you hoped. Losing a job, facing uncertainty, or feeling the ground shift beneath you can make self‑captaincy feel daunting. There’s no stepping back to let someone else take the wheel. You have to keep steering through disappointment, frustration, and the unknown. You either figure it out, or you go down with the ship.
I chose to keep it afloat.
During a year of transition, I claimed perseverance as my word of the year. I spent six months navigating the job market—applications, interviews, travel, presentations, panels, and countless conversations with consultants trying to match me with the right opportunity. It was exhausting, humbling, and at times discouraging.
But I wasn’t alone. I was sustained by prayerful friends and family, and by a God who knows me intimately and provided in ways I couldn’t have imagined.
As I’ve continued reading about mental toughness, I’ve learned that perseverance is deeply connected to resilience, grit, and a growth mindset. Harvard Business Review notes that the qualities required to overcome adversity are the same ones that shape extraordinary leaders:
Sustained effort — “Consistent effort, even in the face of minor daily frustrations, compounds over time.”
Resilience — “Resilience is not about deflecting challenges but about absorbing them and rebounding stronger.”
Courage — “It takes supreme, almost unimaginable grit and courage to get back into the ring and fight to the bitter end.”
Mindset — “The main obstacle to achieving ‘the impossible’ may be a self‑limiting mindset.”
James Clear echoes this, writing that mental toughness isn’t just what gets you across the finish line—it’s what gets you to the starting line:
Show up when no one is watching
Keep your eye on the ball
Do a little bit every day
Don’t skip the days that are easy to skip
So the next time you imagine yourself steering the ship, flying the plane, or driving the car, remember: leadership of oneself requires mental toughness. If you’re looking for a resource to help build that strength, HBR’s 10 Must Reads on Mental Toughness is a powerful place to start.
Interested in my services:
Website: www.WhatSheSaid2020.com
Email: whatshesaid2020@yahoo.com
Cell: 414‑306‑0727
What She Said ~ Beverly
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