FEBRUARY 2022
307-322-2545 • CHBEF.COM
What We Can Learn This February LESSONS FROM THE GROUNDHOG
Groundhog Day is a fun tradition: We ask a groundhog to determine if there will be six more weeks of winter or if we can expect an early spring. It has deep roots in European history, but strangely enough, the weather- predicting element isn’t what has made the holiday so memorable in recent decades. In fact, when you do a Google search for Groundhog Day, the first thing that pops up is the 1993 Bill Murray comedy film “Groundhog Day.” In the movie, weatherman Phil Connors is stuck in a perpetual loop of living the same day over and over again, and that day just so happens to be Groundhog Day in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Through his antics, Connors evolves and learns how to be a better person and ultimately a better community member, which is when the “spell” is finally broken.
Besides the hilarity that ensues, “Groundhog Day” offers a powerful lesson. If your days seem too repetitive, you may believe something in your life needs to change, but a rut can also be incredibly valuable. After all, it forced Phil Connors to become a better human being. I saw a chart the other day that had some bearing on this. It showed how to be on track with your goals, which is a good way to stay self-aware. If your life is on track, then you may not need to change. If it feels off- course, then it’s probably time to examine how you can climb out of the rut. It’s all about perspective and understanding your own situation. All sorts of scenarios apply, including your personal and professional life, but once you start seeing life for the values it encompasses, you may come to understand the rut you’ve been in.
Think about it this way: When the groundhog sees its shadow, that means we will have six more weeks of wintry weather. Some believe this is a bad sign, but if your livelihood depends on greater moisture in the soil, six more weeks of snow may not be a bad thing. It may have a greater impact on your future. Perspective — like the above example — is a powerful tool for any leader. We cannot control every aspect of our days or what happens to us or the people we serve. But we can control our reactions to what has occurred. For instance, when we fall or trip on something, we may get angry or embarrassed. But in the future, when we walk past that same area, we can be careful to avoid the thing that made us trip up in the first place. The same can be said when we metaphorically “fall down.” We have to look at these moments as an opportunity to learn. This can change the way we view the event that caused us to learn this lesson — much like how we can change the way we react to a groundhog’s shadow — and ultimately we will become better for it. When you can take your experiences, both good and bad, and mold them into strategies that help you and your team become better, you will become unstoppable. You’ve already experienced the adversity; now it’s time to grow from it.
ARE YOU ON TRACK?
NO
YES
TAKE ON RISK
REMOVE RISK
Make Cuts Try Something New
Diversify
Back Up
–Kit West
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307-322-2545
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