I cannot count the number of stories that I’ve heard from people about their experience of learning to swim. One of the more popular stories involves having their father pick them up and throw them into a pool or lake with the purpose of the kid’s survival skills to kick in. In other words, either sink or swim.
Over the past 4 weeks (and for another 2), I was thrown into a sink or swim situation at work. I was quickly hired in order to fill in for a lady taking maternity leave. I received no formal training; only what I could pick from the brain of the lady I would be filling in for. This lasted for 3 days. Then the baby came. From here on, I am on my own. Commence freaking out. Or maybe not.
Sink or swim situations are extremely uncomfortable. There’s no denying that. One reason is because it involves risking yourself, and risking anything brings an unknown of the future. Will I sink or swim? Will I fail or succeed?
It also involves hard work in order to succeed. Nothing easy about a sink or swim situation. If you want to succeed, then it’s time to get the ball rolling, and get to work.
As long as the person works hard to succeed, then it doesn’t matter the outcome. Personal growth is in the work, not the outcome.
What sink or swim situation have you ever been in?
