Last weekend, on a picture-perfect, cloudless afternoon in Philadelphia, we attended a glorious wedding majestically set along the Schuylkill River. The scenery was breathtaking. The weather was spectacular. And the reception was every bit as beautiful as the backdrop.
The evening began with a “happy hour” overlooking the river that featured so much food, I honestly thought it was dinner. (Don’t worry—I somehow found room for the actual dinner later.) There was a fireworks show that rivaled anything I’ve seen on the Fourth of July in our Nation’s Capital. A phenomenal band kept the dance floor packed well into the night. And don’t even get me started on the dessert bar!
Toward the end of the evening, something magical happened. Parents and “kids” were all dancing together as one. The band somehow found that glorious musical sweet spot that bridged generations. Old favorites blended with newer hits. Everyone was singing. Everyone was smiling. Everyone was feeling young and alive.
As the revelry dissipated, the wedding planners had thoughtfully arranged trolleys to chauffeur guests back to their various destinations. One trolley was primarily for the parents and relatives heading back to the hotel. Another was reserved for the bridal party and younger friends who were determined to keep the celebration going at the after-party. (Until 4am! The horror!)
After some spirited discussion with my wife, “we” finally made the prudent choice and climbed aboard the trolley headed back to the hotel. As other parents boarded, we settled in comfortably and began reminiscing about the evening. We were content to call it a night.
Then suddenly, a group of younger friends of the bridal party climbed aboard.
One of them locked eyes with me and immediately rolled his eyes.
“Ughhh! We got on the old people’s trolley!”
Come again? Old? Moi?
And with that, the young folks scurried off the trolley to keep the party going.
I have to admit, it stung. And for what seemed an eternity, I thought about proving we were still cool and turning the trolley toward the bar for one more shot at glory!
But the next morning, after a good night’s sleep and a leisurely breakfast, something dawned on me. We were exactly where we were supposed to be in our stage of life.
The young adults wanted to continue celebrating into the early morning hours. Good for them! That’s exactly where they were supposed to be.
There is no shame in being who you are. In fact, there’s tremendous freedom in it. And shouldn’t that be true in our business and personal lives?
Stop Chasing Trends
In business, organizations rush to adopt the latest trend because everyone else seems to be doing it. (See: AI) Now, some innovations deserve our attention. Some genuinely improve the way we work. But resilient organizations know the difference between thoughtful innovation and simply chasing the crowd. They evaluate new ideas carefully and determine whether those ideas align with who they are and what has made them successful.
The same is true for individuals within the organization. Some thrive in highly structured environments. Others perform best with greater autonomy. Resilient workers understand their strengths and remain grounded in them. They don’t feel compelled to become someone they’re not simply because it’s fashionable at the moment.
Find What Works For You
And the same challenges exist in our personal lives.
We live in a world overflowing with advice about how we should spend our time, what our priorities should be, and what success is supposed to look like. Social media only amplifies the pressure, creating the illusion that everyone else has figured something out that we haven’t.
The reality is much simpler: what works for one person may not work for another.
Resilient people stop measuring themselves against everyone else. They stop making decisions based solely on outside expectations. Instead, they develop the confidence to choose what aligns with their own values, priorities, and season of life.
Resilience Means Staying Grounded
When challenges arise—and they always do—our first instinct is often to look outward for answers. What is everyone else doing? What is the newest solution? What is the latest trend?
Growth and adaptation are essential. However, resilience requires a strong internal foundation. When the winds of uncertainty begin to blow, resilient people don’t chase every passing trend. They anchor themselves in proven principles, trusted relationships, and approaches that align with who they are.
In short, they stick with what works for them, not somebody else.
Back to the Trolley
As I reflected on that wedding the next morning, I realized that my young friend wasn’t wrong. We had, in fact, boarded the “old people’s trolley.”
And that was perfectly okay. No regrets. No FOMO. Just gratitude for a wonderful evening and the wisdom to know what we needed most.
Sometimes resilience isn’t about pushing harder, staying later, or keeping up with everyone around us. Sometimes resilience is simply having the confidence and courage to board the trolley that is right for us.