Look, I have been through quite a rollercoaster ride lately: got a cataract surgery that turned into a retinal detachment, leaving me stranded at home for 4 weeks. And three out of which I had to spend the whole day (night included) with the head straight up. No driving of the car allowed, just stay put and wait for it to heal. I know understand a bit how prisoners at home do feel. Yeah, punishment.

And this one piled in on another issue of relative exhaustion due to another problem that is now cured. I am glad this is behind me, I can tell you!

As an independent professional, this means an income drop, shifted timelines, and too much idle time on my hands. Having a number of proposals open with prospects, this got me nervous obviously.

Choice is yours

There are two choices here. Either enter the realm of the victim and complain on how unfair things are or take it as yet another opportunity to learn.

And that’s rooted in your faith in yourself. The faith that things are going to be better, that you’ll come out of it better in a way or another. As for anything, the first sale is to yourself!

So, what can be learned here?

Here is my take:

1. Do not expect to kick back on your feet that fast after full anaesthesia, this will help keeping realistic expectations.
2. Call prospects and clients to tell them about your issue. Most of them will understand. How would you react if they called you with a health problem? If they don’t do you really want to work with such people? Thinking about it, I don’t.
3. It is a great idea to have insurance for those cases. I muttered every time I saw the bill but it turned to be a great idea. After talking with a few people, it is astonishing that a lot of them aren’t covered. Look, it is not a matter of “if” here, it is a matter of “when”! Get one.
4. Make sure you have either credit lines, cash in the bank, or any other form of credit secured at all times. It will come handy when you will need it. Bills do not care about your state. And have faith that you’ll be able to generate enough new business to come back from the deep. Do not wait to be thirsty to go to the well.
5. Call upon your support system: loved ones, family, and friends. Don’t bury yourself in a hole. It is bad for the mood and bad for the speed of recovery. Ask them to bring you something special, it will lighten the day.
6. Take care of the quality of your food intake. I am leaning towards organic food and it helps a lot. As a general rule, HiQ nutrients help, especially with brain work. Don’t feast on greasy, oily, sugary foods.
7. Medical care improves by leaps and bounds. Procedures are much improved from 10 years ago. There are new devices to measure, new materials, new lenses. And I met great people: surgeons, assistants, nurses. These are people who care.
8. Take care of yourself first. If you don’t, you can’t be fully in the moment when it is needed.
9. Turn idleness into opportunity. Read (or listen to) new material, focus on something alien to your habits. Open horizons.

So, to reach your top 3 outcomes, even when they just seem to swoosh miles away further, you need to have faith in your ability to resume the quest in a way or another. Yeah, you need to be an optimist!

Until next time, keep the faith!

–Philippe Back