Resilience in Action
BY RENS PLANDSOEN
When the FWX team asked me to write an article about resilience, I knew they approached me because I recently bounced back into a powerful position after encountering several challenging situations.
The funny thing is, I didn't see myself as an expert or a resilient person. I simply followed my
heart and did what I felt I had to do. So, I asked ChatGPT, "What does a resilient person look like?" It provided ten characteristics, which seemed to fit me perfectly. This realization empowered me to learn more about myself and recognize that I simply did what was necessary in each situation.
I believe I was born with resiliency.
Growing up with a mother who had been manic depressive since my teenage years, I developed the ability to detect bad situations from a distance. This skill gave me the capability to bounce back quickly when things went south. This challenging environment also allowed me to see what wasn't there in the present, enabling me to sense and read energy in various ways. This ability has helped me survive difficult situations.
However, I made a significant mistake in my career — an ego glitch — that took me three years to recover from.
Allow me to share my story:
After 16 years as an entrepreneur running my digital marketing agency, enjoying great moments of success, working for A-brands, and being recognized as one of the most successful Dutch women entrepreneurs, I sold my agency to a Swiss investment company. Following my three- year earn-out, I found myself without a job for the first time in 16 years. I traveled to a high- energy field in the UK and spent time with my family.
Eventually, I was approached by a headhunter to become the managing director of one of the Dutch Sports Federations. I felt honored to be in the running for the position, but my ego took control, imagining the prestige of being the first woman in such a role and the opportunity to orchestrate a major turnaround. My ego set a trap for me, and I couldn't have anticipated the challenges I would face.
The organization turned out to be toxic, and I struggled to implement the desired changes. The system turned against me. To regain my footing, I relied on my strong support network, used humour to maintain a positive outlook, and began teaching creative business classes to students.
Today, I work as a commercial transformation manager, a role I could only have taken on due to the tough experiences I've lived through in the past. These experiences have shaped me and allowed me to develop the resilience needed to thrive in challenging situations.
In conclusion, embracing my resilience has enabled me to grow through difficult experiences and come out stronger on the other side.
Recognizing our inherent resilience and learning from our mistakes can empower us to face life's challenges with courage and grace.
How do you recognize your inherent resilience?
What experiences have you overcome that empower you with resilience?