Elena del Olmo, a Senior Lecturer at Les Roches Marbella, talks about the attribute of resilience – something we all need more than ever in these challenging times…
Have you ever seen a dog complain about an illness? Maybe a slight guttural sound in the throat. But, probably, still expectant to play with you or ask for that treat they very much deserve.
Have you ever seen your hairy best friend dwell on punishment, a cold, or being trapped at home for three days because it was too rainy to go outside? No. They simply look forward to what’s out there, and to be the first to conquer all those areas that have been renewed by the rain.
If you have ever had a pet, you’ve probably already guessed what I am getting at: resilience. This term can be defined as the ability to recover quickly from a setback or a difficulty; or the ability to bounce back into shape, which requires a great amount of flexibility and adaptability. This flexibility or adaptability can become as effortlessly natural or strenuously artificial as your ability to not complain or dwell about what it “should be” and “is not”.
It’s the result that matters
As Les Roches students, you have experienced the need to adapt quickly to a situation, whether it is on campus or during an internship. Whether you have been able to do so or not, you have acknowledged the importance of being resolute, or following an order whether you agreed with it or not.
Why? Because it is the end result that matters. The end result could have been a congratulatory remark from your practical teacher on your approaching the table and apologizing for the mistake in the order – even if this was not your mistake. Or it may have been a heartfelt “thank you” from a guest during your internship; perhaps for switching her to a room closer to an elevator so that she would not have to walk too much with that crutch.
Students, you live and breathe an industry that seeks immediate and quality results. But try to think back on how you achieved this satisfactory response from teachers or guests; it was through your ability to observe, to understand human nature, and to leave pride behind for a greater cause.
Don’t lose focus
Whether you are making those guttural sounds or staring at the rain, you are losing focus on the difficulty and the shape you will want to bounce back into. The difficulty is not overcoming discontent or bad weather; it is visualizing that treat to the point of salivation, or that spot that you will conquer as soon as the rain stops.
Just as our furry friends are not at fault for the illness or rain, neither are we. However, this does not stop them from dreaming of and seeking, a solution and, in turn, possessing an accepting attitude of every day and circumstance that will lead us to that day.
However, unlike our pets, we have the ability to rationalize and thus fully understand why we need the vet or must stay inside.
Moreover, you have a team of professionals and caretakers that are making sure that, regardless of the consequences of the illness or weather, you are kept in good intellectual and emotional shape, so that you can bounce back and practice your vocation. Sorry, I mean, get that treat!
About the author
A Senior Lecturer to our BBA in Global Hospitality Management, Elena del Olmo holds a Bachelor’s in English and a Master’s degree in Advanced English Studies and Multilingual and Multicultural Communication. She recently graduated from the Digital Marketing Institute with a Postgraduate in Digital Marketing 3.0.
