Relying on Yourself: Building Inner Resilience for Outer Success

Relying on Yourself: Building Inner Resilience for Outer Success

Sometimes, life sends us reminders in unexpected ways. Last night, as I was heading to bed, I hadn’t noticed that my foot had fallen asleep. As I stood, I suddenly lost balance and face-planted. With everything around me crashing down—including my pride—I waited for someone to come to my rescue. But no one did, and I had to rely on myself to get back up. 

Then, in a fitting coincidence this morning, I read my friend Ralph Marston’s Daily Motivator, which perfectly echoed this experience, reminding me that “in order to move forward, you must be able to rely on yourself.” For meeting planners and association directors, self-reliance isn’t just a personal trait—it’s essential in leading others effectively.

Embrace Self-Preparedness: Life doesn’t often give us a heads-up before throwing us a curveball. Whether it’s a stumble at home or an unexpected change in a conference schedule, things won’t always go as planned. As Marston puts it, “things go wrong,” and our ability to adapt relies on preparedness. This discipline allows you to pivot confidently and meet unexpected challenges with resilience.

Find Strength in Solitude: Relying on yourself isn’t about isolation; it’s about discovering inner strength when support isn’t immediately available. For planners and directors, your ability to lead begins with the resilience you’ve cultivated within. Building that self-reliance makes you better equipped to inspire and guide others—even when resources feel scarce.

Own Your Success: Self-reliance is also about embracing responsibility for your own outcomes. As Marston suggests, this approach serves not only your life but also those around you. By focusing on your personal growth, you become a stronger foundation for your teams, ensuring that you’re prepared to add value to every project you undertake.

In professional life, self-reliance isn’t simply a fallback; it’s a pathway to resilience and leadership. By developing this inner strength, we bring stability and trustworthiness to every role we fill, whether guiding a team or managing an event.