Life lessons Singaporeans can learn from tightrope walker Nik Wallenda

Nik Wallenda, a tightrope walker, recently completed his latest feat by walking across a gorge near Grand Canyon. He performed this stunt without any safety harness walking on a 2 inch wire at 1500 feet above ground (Marina Bay Sands only stands at 636 feet). Any wrong move will mean the end of Nik.

With cross wind whipping at him and dust hitting his face mercilessly, it took him 22 minutes to complete his death defying stunt. It must have taken him tremendous focus to champion his mission with about 600 spectacles cheering him on.

At work, we need to focus too but at most we will only lose our jobs and not our lives if we take it for granted by going out of focus. There will always be a start and an end with any company that you are in. Just like Nik starting his walk, when we join a new company, we get all excited and wonder what is it going to be like when we take the next step of faith.

The sky may be clear and there is neither gusty wind nor dust. It would be like a walk in the park and the foundation of the rope seems promising and trustworthy to land your feet on. With the long and stable balancing pole hung around your neck, you start your journey with the new company.

Your confidence grew as you step out onto the 2 inch rope with literally nothing below you. You were not concern because the beautiful scenery took your breath away. You knew you made an excellent decision in joining this company, at least for now.

As time ticks on, the weather condition starts to change. Wind may start to pick up, dust will begin to blow at your face and your footing may not be as stable anymore. Many at times, after 6 months to 2 years in a company, you will feel that things were not as rosy as it was when you started out.

The analogy of the wind and dust can be anything from office politics, resignations, changes made by management, murmuring or even a shift in office venue. Events or processes that will make your feet wobble when you are already halfway through the Grand Canyon.

It is when your feet become uncertain of your next step and you start to look downwards taking your vision off your destination where your price money, loved ones and friends are cheering you on. By focusing down, you will only realize what a huge risk that you have taken because it’s a long way down. The long balancing pole suddenly felt heavier.

Sometimes management, support staff and peers can be like the balancing pole, you can’t live with them and you can’t live without them. You need them to keep you balanced on the rope but on the other hand, they can be a real pain on your neck (No pun intended). This is a crucial time you make a decision to focus and push on.

The definition of focus is on concentrate one’s attention or energy on. Take your eyes off destructive sight that will worsen your current situation. Sometimes you need to go with the flow. Focusing on your corporate growth has to be dynamic.

Just like any DSLR camera, every different subject that you shoot needs different focal point to capture them beautifully. I am not asking you to pretend that disruptions are non-existent. My point is to work through these disruptions, barriers and road blocks. Use them to your advantage if possible.

Always jog back your memories and asked yourself on what were you actually aiming for when you joined your current organisation? Was it the potential to earn more, possible regional exposure or to manage a successful team? With this thought, you will be like the camera retracting your zoom lens bringing you back to focus. 

Michael Jordan, the NBA basketball superstar , once said “The game has its ups and downs, but you can never lose focus of your individual goals and you can't let yourself be beat because of lack of effort.”