Testimonials

I was the first person called

Tom Kelley was the corporate VP of Human Resources for a 5.5 billion savings and loan that was taken over by the Resolution Trust. "In essence I reported to the Chairman of the Board one day and the next day to the Managing Agent of the Resolution Trust. I responded by being proactive and writing a new strategic plan for my department that night. I was the first person called to the new Managing Agent's office. I was ready and established immediate credibility with the new leader versus going into shock and dismay and becoming emotional and reactive. Al has truly taught me the importance of resiliency."

I have the power and the choice

Kasey Pritchett writes, "My current job is very stressful. Not the nature of the work, but the people I work with. There is a lot of other's people's baggage I am required to tolerate and work around as well as a lack of leadership. Dr. Siebert taught me that I cannot change anyone, but I do have the choice in how I respond. Since Dr. Siebert's seminar, I have been doing a lot of inner work. I have been playing with allowing myself to be really pissed off about how our project is run and what is allowed to go on within it as well as playing with the use of humor, laughter, and patience toward the situation. As a result I have learned about how each energy form impacts me as a whole person... what feels good, nourishing, and in my control and what feels bad and chaotic. Through this process I am not only learning how to re-channel energy in a way that is helpful, but also re-engaged some of my personality traits that have assisted me in being resilient in the past (i.e. courage, stubbornness, perception, synergy, and ability to let go and trust my 'self'). The process hasn't been easy because in order to really be resilient you do have to really allow yourself to sit with and be mindful of the not so great feelings and be able to experience it long enough to process how each emotion/situation 'feels' throughout your mind, body, and spirit. For me this means I have to really muster all my mindfulness and courage to do so. However I benefit from it and have even added pilates, yoga, and mindful breathing to the mix to help the process along.

"I have always known myself to be resilient. I have never accepted the notion of being a survivor or a victim. These are negative, self-defeating, and empower robbing connotations in my book. Dr. Siebert's remind me of the skills I already possess and that I have a choice as to whether or not I use them. It's about using the skills you have, making the effort to learn the skills you lack and finding your own flow, and then making the choice to use these skills in your life. There are no victims and there are no survivors. There are just people in situations. I have the power and the choice in how I look at/alter the experience."

I enjoy life more and find opportunities that others miss

Dr. Glen Fahs writes, "I have known Al professionally since 1979. When I was became the Director of University Extension at Portland State University that year, I was responsible for the annual fire chiefs conference. There was only one agreement out front that the advisory committee had: Dr. Al Siebert should be our general session speaker again for the third year running. They advised the same the following year.

"When I was the chief training officer for the State of Oregon, my section was responsible for guidance on layoffs during the recession of the early nineties. Our choice for a trainer was Al who did two workshops repeatedly for us, one called "Thriving on Change." They filled consistently with a better turnout than any other program, and all participants came away with the confidence that they could handle and gain from the coming events that scared them most. Their confidence led to creativity, and the very difficult situations they faced were handled very positively. The State of Oregon gave him an award as the External Trainer of the Year.

"I have always believed in optimism and did my masters thesis on the value of internal feelings of control. Al's counsel has been a strong reminder that I can choose to feel the victim or the person who makes the best of any situation. By believing in my own power, I enjoy life more and find opportunities that others miss.

"I am currently Director of Training & Organization Development for Cascade Employers Association."

It has allowed me to enjoy continued success while many of my peers are floundering

Marilyn Trinkle writes, "A down economy can make for challenging times at the workplace. Layoffs, strapped budgets, constantly changing job descriptions and overwhelmed workers are only the tip of the iceberg. As a sales and marketing executive I've had my share of workplace strain in the past several years. I often remember and put into practice something that I gleaned from Al's teachings. He encouraged me to resist all the hype surrounding workplace stress, which would only serve ultimately to bring me down and make me feel victimized. How true. Rather than to go along with popular thinking and agree in my mind that my job has high levels of stress, I have chosen instead to practice resiliency by coping with each situation as it comes up. This strategy eliminates much of the anxiety about my job in general, and allows me to focus my efforts on one issue at a time. It has literally saved my bacon more than once and has allowed me to enjoy continued success while many of my peers are floundering."

I am a living example of Al Siebert's work

Lisa Norris, a federal employee, calls herself a "living example" of Al Siebert's work. The day she sent us an email, she had just finished two days in a windowless room discussing governmental concerns. She said the walls were covered with flip charts and they had been over everything again and again. She felt smothered and ready to move on. But, when asked to present a summary she took a lesson from Siebert's work, put a new spin on the material, and presented it in a way that revitalized the other participants.

Resiliency has been invaluable in helping me deal with daily strain and stress

Tory Majors says Al Sieberts processes has been invaluable in dealing with stress, problems, and change especially when dealing with the death of relatives and friends.

Order Resiliency Now

Back to Resiliency Home Page