Change happens to us all the time. Normally, it happens so slowly that we don't particularly notice. Sometimes the change happens so quickly that we do notice. My life changed in September 2009. With sudden hearing loss and constant vertigo, my life took a sudden turn. I learned to ask for help; to accept that I can’t control everything; to see the current state so and to envision where I want to go. I'm adapting how I work, live, and travel so that I can be successful. Things have changed; adapting has allowed me to continue to live, work and enjoy my life. Does this sound like an agile approach to life to you? Irrespective of your changes, you must adapt to the new challenges. It may be a move to agile or working with partners and other teams who are adopting new ways of working. For some of you, change might feel subtle. For some of you, change can feel like a 2x4. How do you adapt to ensure you are still successful and enjoy your life?

1. Creating an Adaptable Life
Johanna Rothman
New: ManageYour Job Search
www.jrothman.com
jr@jrothman.com
@johannarothman
781-641-4046

2. © 2014 Johanna Rothman
WhatWouldYou Do If …
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A Midlife Crisis!
My old life was gone, never
to return
I had a new life, whether I
liked it or not
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The problem is not the problem.
The problem is how we deal with the
problem.
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Everyone Adapts
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WhatWas I? A Survivor
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Face the Loss
Before/After
What must you do?
What can you do?
What provides you joy?
What no longer enhances
your life?
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Small Steps
Take a step and get some
feedback
Learn from it
Repeat
Inspect/Adapt
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I Read More Books
My docs told me I was a
“medical mystery” and
there was no cure
Ha!
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See the Reality
Who can you fool most
often?
We need feedback to see
ourselves and our
capabilities
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Keep Laughing
I had plenty of pity parties
We made deaf jokes and
dizzy blond/broad jokes
immediately
Oscar Wilde said “ Life is
far too important to be
taken seriously.”
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Maintain Physical Health…
Drink water…
Gym, PT, dance, you name it,
I do it
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Emotional Resilience
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Another Great Resilience Book
Chapter 14
Sublimation
Altruism
Suppression
Anticipation
Humor
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Ask for Help
You cannot do what you
need to by yourself
Asking for help is a sign of
strength
It’s a gift to other people
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BuildYour Community of Support
I ask people at conferences
I ask people in my
workshops
People at the airport, on
trains
People are wonderful
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Family Support is Critical
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Achieve Some Success
Small wins make you feel
accomplishment and
provide you some feedback
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How DoYou SeeYourself?
How do you describe
yourself?
You are not a label or your
role
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Discuss the Undiscussable
Things will not proceed as
you like all the time
You will need to make
difficult decisions
You must be able to discuss
them with your family and/
or counselors
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Pick and Choose
I sayYes and No very
carefully
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Target for Success
What does success mean
for you?
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Persevere
What is the most desirable
trait in a candidate?
How do we learn to
succeed?
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Start Here
Take one small step
Get a little feedback
Learn from it
Try again
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Stay inTouch?
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pragmaticmanager
CreateAdaptableLife
newsletter:
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On LinkedIn:
www.linkedin.com/in/
johannarothman
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