Why STAMINA is so important

Stamina – the oft-missing ingredient when we talk about resilience

Australian Open tennis matches often go for 4 gruelling hours. It makes me exhausted watching. And then if a player wins, they get to go again two days later against a slightly higher ranked player for another 3 to 4 hours. The 2 finalists will have completed 7 matches and possibly 20 hours of top-level tennis in less than 2 weeks. In between they get to warm down, rest, recuperate, practice, and warm up before and after each match.

To be successful takes enormous skill, mental toughness, physical fitness, and STAMINA.

When people become overwhelmed by stress, get knocked down, have hurdles to overcome, we talk about the need for resilience. We know that there are skills to learn to become more resilient. And another excellent article on resilience skills from an Australian Health Professional here

I am becoming more aware that STAMINA is the extra ingredient required to not just be resilient (adapt well and bounce back quickly in times of stress) but have the kind of reserves that enable me to thrive under pressure.  Angela Duckworth might call it GRIT. I like STAMINA better.

STAMINA is something you must build for yourself. Like SELF-RESPECT, it is the gift you alone can give to yourself.  No-one can give you stamina. No-one can do the work for you that enables you to have stamina to endure and thrive under pressure.

Lessons learned from my recovery from surgery

I had some major surgery in mid-December 2024. The physical recovery has gone well. I took 3 weeks of rest and then started back to work after almost 4 weeks on a light load. A few days in, at the end of one day when I had worked a solid 7 hours, seen 3 clients, and done a lot of computer work, I realised that my stamina was still low. I sat down in front of the TV and felt all the energy drain from my body. I was exhausted. Physically, I am at about 75% full strength. Emotionally, I estimate I am operating at about 60%. I had to lead a large meeting this week, almost 6 weeks after surgery. To lead well requires bringing a lot of energy to the room. After the meeting I was exhausted. That night I slept like a baby.

What builds or rebuilds stamina?

I estimate it will take me another 4 to 6 weeks to rebuild my stamina to levels before surgery. I need to keep doing all the little things every day. Keeping on top of my work.  And, doing my exercises, and post-surgery physio every day. I need to look after myself and manage my schedule, so I do not overdo it unnecessarily. Without full stamina it would be unwise to operate at full throttle all day every day. Like an unfit tennis player, pushing past their limits, that would likely cause an injury.

My Word for First Quarter 2025 is STAMINA.

My Word for the Year is FLOURISH.  I am fully aware that to flourish in every area of life in 2025 I need to rebuild my STAMINA.

How is your STAMINA? What do you need to start to do every day to build the kind of STAMINA you need to FLOURISH in your life and business? No-one can do it for you. It may be the difference between flourishing and floundering in 2025.

John Drury Business Mentor – mentoring to develop the leader within you, and to raise up and empower the leaders around you. If you are interested in learning to become a better leader within your business, please reach out for a free conversation (Book here).

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