From the Training Floor to the Career Ladder: Cultivating Resilience and Embracing Failure in All Areas of Life

In 2009, I found myself reflecting on a few turbulent years, having left academia in 2006. It was a journey of cultivating resilience and embracing failure. I decided to leave academia after my final research position as an associate professor at the Chemical Institution at Lund University. I felt there was a considerable risk of gradually moving into administrative roles, which was not something I was particularly interested in for a future position. So, instead of staying in a role I wouldn’t be happy with, I took action and pushed myself into unemployment. At the time, I was convinced that someone with my background would be very attractive in the labor market.

After a lot of “back-and-forth” in my career transition, mostly due to the fact that I was unable to clearly communicate the value I could offer to employers and my lack of knowledge of what skills and abilities companies appreciated, I finally signed a contract with Proffice Life Science as a Life Science specialist at their recruitment and consultancy branch. Proffice wanted me to build up their Life Science division in Malmö/Lund, south of Sweden. Initially, I saw this as a great opportunity to expand my horizons beyond the academic context, add skills in sales and management, and grow my network. But, most importantly, I realized that there were not many Life Science specialists in the recruitment business with a PhD, so I would be unique on the market. With my combined background as PhD, and understanding on a deeper level of the value of a PhD, I would better help both companies and candidates in the matching process.

Driven, perhaps more by the fear of not performing and succeeding in my new role, I threw myself into the work, albeit somewhat unstrategically. My hard work paid off, both in terms of results and my paycheck, which was tied to the revenue I generated. During those months, life felt fantastic. I was living my dream, I felt appreciated, and the learning curve was steep. I enjoyed my work and had the opportunity to create and develop a new business. 

But no happiness lasts forever. Only a few months later, the rug was pulled out from under me, and the rules changed. Just as happy and fulfilled as I had been at the beginning of my first non-academic job, I now felt equally desperate and alone when an unrealistic budget was placed on me as a recruiter. 

Then came a pivotal moment—a new opportunity knocked on the door. The European manager from Kelly Services in Malmö called. I was headhunted to become their Branch Manager in Life Science in their local office in Malmö with the opportunity to bridge with the Life Science Branch in Copenhagen. At the time, I saw this as an exciting challenge, with the Copenhagen region and Malmö likely to merge into what is now known as the Medicon Valley Region, thanks to the connecting bridge. It was another opportunity I simply couldn’t pass up.

But just 12 months later, the 2009 financial crisis struck, and I found myself out of a job once more. By that point, I had pushed myself beyond my limits for too long, leaving both my body and mind completely drained. I was exhausted, both physically and mentally. Looking back, I realize I was on the edge of burnout.

It was then, one morning, when I tried to get out of bed, that I felt the snap in my back. I had developed a herniated disc so severe that I could barely stand or walk. The pain was unbearable. My life before the accident, apart from my professional work, circulated around sports and training since I was seven years old, and now that foundation was also being ripped away from me, at least for a while. But it was during a walk in Pildammarna, Malmö, that I made a decision: I would come back stronger both physically and mentally than ever before.

I set a long-term plan that went like this: in six years, I will be stronger, more flexible, and better trained than ever before, with my upper body matching the strength of my legs. I knew that change takes time, especially in sports and fitness training, and that small results over a long period will lead me to my goals. I realized my old strategy hadn’t worked, so I needed a new approach. For that, I would need external help and guidance. 

I hired a personal trainer, explored entirely new training methods, started Pilates, focused on strengthening my core, worked on my 'lazy' feet and glutes, and, after some years, eventually took up Olympic lifting. The transformational journey took me about seven years.

Today, I train in a CrossFit gym at Limhamn Fitness Center, Malmö, and I have reached my goal. I am stronger, more flexible, and physically more well-balanced than ever.

Now, as I sit and reflect on my career, one question lingers. Where would I be today if I had applied the same strategy to my career as I did to my sports training? Why did I show more resilience in my sports career than in my professional career? The answer is quite simple: Early on, I learned to work with and take advice from a sports coach. In addition, from a young age, I knew that results come with time, just like setbacks, and that it’s about working through those setbacks, learning from them, and letting time work for you. 

But why didn’t I apply the same strategy in my professional life? There, I had let performance, and later even fear, dictate my choices. Where would I be in my career today if I had approached it like my sports training? I leave the question open because I don’t have an answer.

But, this is what I wish I had known and learned  when I started my career as a postdoc in Germany at the Max-Planck Institute.

My Lessons: 

Building my Resilience, increased my Adaptability, and the Power of having Advisors

Resilience isn’t just a trait; it’s a lifestyle. Whether in our careers or our training, it’s about building a mental and physical foundation that is strong enough to withstand storms and flexible enough to adapt when the winds change. The key here is adaptability. Like in training, careers require us to adjust when things don’t go as planned. If I had been more adaptable in my professional life, I might have managed my fears and setbacks with more acceptance, seeing them as opportunities rather than obstacles.

Another critical factor is having the right support. In my training, I had a personal trainer who guided, pushed, and helped me develop a long-term plan I could trust. 

In hindsight, I should have sought out mentors and advisors in my career as well. Asking for help isn’t a weakness—it’s a way to ensure growth. Just as in training, where you can’t always see your own form or know when to push harder, you need someone who can give you feedback and guidance in your career.

Develop a Growth Mindset

What I also realize now is how important a growth mindset is. In training, I knew that success would come from persistence and learning, not just talent. When I hit a plateau or experienced setbacks, I didn’t see them as failures. I saw them as part of the process. 

Yet, I often let setbacks discourage me in my career instead of pushing me forward. A growth mindset would have allowed me to see my career as a learning journey, where each step—successful or not—was an opportunity for growth.

Embracing Success More Than Failure – No Failure, no Growth

In sports, you have to embrace success and build on it. It’s easy to dwell on failure, but success propels you forward. The same should apply to our careers. Instead of celebrating the victories along the way, I spent too much time focusing on what didn’t go right. Success, no matter how small, is a powerful motivator—one we should embrace more often.

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