Resilience: It shows in your response!

Resilience is a term we often hear but rarely pause to truly unpack. For me, it’s not just about weathering the storm; it’s about seeing the storm as an opportunity to grow, adapt, and improve. I’m a firm believer in the mantra that everything happens for a reason. This mindset fuels my positive outlook and a "glass half full" perspective, both in life and throughout my career.

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After more than 30 years running large hotels, I began to notice a shift. I was performing well - sales, profits, guest satisfaction, and staff retention were all strong - but something within me felt 'off'. The passion that once drove me had dimmed.

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I was on a treadmill, working hard but no longer feeling the same spark. Reflecting on

this now, I believe that uninspiring leadership definitely played a role. So, when a new opportunity arose offering fresh challenges, an appealing package, and promising leadership - it was no surprise I took the leap (and the flattery of being headhunted!).

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Things were great until they weren’t. Nineteen months in, COVID-19 hit, and my role

was made redundant. This was a first for me and, admittedly, a blow. However, I

didn’t allow myself to dwell on disappointment. Life’s challenges are often out of our

control, but how we respond is entirely up to us. Rather than wallowing, I focused on

the opportunities this situation presented.

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Within a month, I had charted a new course: setting myself up as a Hospitality

Consultant. By the time my garden leave ended, I had secured a couple of lucrative

contracts to get started. Building on my existing ILM Business Coaching certification,

I decided to expand my expertise further. Earning accreditation into the Worldwide Association of Business Coaches™ (WABC™) was a proud moment, one that

reinforced the value of investing in self-development. I also became a licensed

practitioner for Leading Energy Profile, a cognitive psychometric profiling tool. These

additions have not only enhanced my consulting work but have become the

cornerstone of what I do today.

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Looking back, redundancy was a catalyst for positive change. It pushed me out of a

comfort zone that no longer served me and gave me the freedom to shape my own

direction. Today, I’m in charge of my own learning, growth, and ultimately happiness.

Resilience isn’t about avoiding life’s punches; it’s about how quickly you get back up,

ready to face what’s next. It’s about showing that challenges don’t define you - your

response does. And sometimes, those challenges are exactly what we need to find a

better, brighter path.

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Antony Penny

AWP Consultancy