When I moved to the woods over twenty years ago I signed on to the local search and rescue team as a way of educating this naive city boy on the ways of the wilderness. 

The training that followed was incredibly interesting and valuable, even though it led to occasionally gruesome accident scenes and sombre body recoveries. 

Wilderness first aid was part of that training, and I loved it. As someone who enjoys bringing outside models into my business and yours, I started drawing comparisons from the steps of first aid to the steps of aiding a stalled or declining business. 

The first step in first aid—as it was taught to me, anyway—is Take Control. 

(ChatGPT clearly didn’t have the same instructor as me because, like most people, it skips this vital first step and jumps to Assess The Scene. I can see my instructor, Helen, tsk–tsk-ing unapprovingly.) 

The last thing you want at an accident scene is someone enacting a plan who hasn’t taken a moment to steady themself first (“Pull it together, Enns!”), then others. (“You, go for a walk and compose yourself. You, call 911.”)

What about you?

If I asked your team members if, before enacting your growth plan, you first steadied yourself and then calmly instructed others, what would they say?

I’m guilty of occasionally skipping the first step, too. 

“Do something—do anything—and things will happen” is one of my mantras, but if you’ve been frantically “doing something” and results aren’t forthcoming then it’s probably time to stop, center yourself, make sure you’re showing up with a calm presence, then impart that calm presence to others. 

Now you’re ready for the steps that follow.