Mentoris writes: Resilience revisited

At the beginning of 2023, many optical business owners were concerned about the economic outlook. Two months in and, despite some practices having a emptier diary than ideal, most I have spoken to have not experienced a decline in business. The SightCare Conference last month had a really good vibe and some great workshops, while the keynote addresses were enthusiastically received by members and guests. As we look forward to 100% Optical, it feels to me like there is a somewhat buoyant feeling around our profession at present.

Nonetheless, it seems sensible, following on from last month’s article, to revisit the subject of resilience. I have therefore taken the liberty of repeating below my own 10-point plan for building up your own resilience.

1. Expect change

Given my nom de plume, Mentoris, you may expect my first tip to come from a Greek source, so I will not disappoint you. Heraclitus, a Greek philosopher, is quoted as saying: ‘Change is the only constant in life.’ If we accept this, then we can expect change as a matter of course. This avoids some of the elements of surprise inherently involved with change.