It’s late afternoon, and I’m lying flat on my back in my tiny one-person tent, barely big enough to fit myself and my backpack. Thunder booms overhead, and the wind shakes my tent violently. I tug my sleeping bag tighter, watching as raindrops pelt my tent, occasionally reaching up to knock away the pooling water above.
Normally, I love the sound of rain—I even play it at night to help me fall asleep—but it’s different out here, deep in the backcountry, when the only thing between you and the storm is a thin layer of nylon.
Lying in silence, I start to wonder if this kind of weather is normal for the Sierras. A huge lightning strike crashes overhead, and I let out a small scream—nope, this is definitely not normal.
I think about whether I staked my tent down well enough, then realize there’s nothing I can do but wait it out and trust it will hold. There’s a quiet resilience that grows in moments like these, when all control is stripped away, leaving you with just your preparation and mindset to get through.
With each crash of thunder, I feel a mix of fear and exhilaration. There’s something powerful in facing fears like this, being able to calm myself, lie back, and let the storm pass.
In the professional world, this same resilience is essential. Projects and plans don’t always go smoothly, and unexpected hurdles are often unavoidable. Just as you weather the storm outside, a strong leader stays steady through tough times, trusting their team and themselves to pull through. A leader who stays grounded and brave, even under pressure, becomes someone others can rely on, bringing stability and reassurance when the storm hits.
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