"Your talent is God's gift to you. What you do with it is your gift back to God." - Leo Buscaglia

Over Easter lunch, my dear friend Bruny shared a powerful belief: she always constructs, never destroys. Intrigued, I probed her on the more profound sense of these words, and she recounted a portion of her personal journey. She grew up in a privileged family in her homeland, but her world was shattered by a financial crisis that caused her family to lose everything. Yet, she demonstrated remarkable resilience and determination rather than succumbing to despair or lashing out in frustration. Bruny refused to give up and instead chose to rebuild her life from scratch. Within a mere two years, she had not only risen from the ashes but also established a thriving business of her own. Her story of losing everything and rebuilding a successful business from scratch is a testament to the power of perseverance and determination.

Today, our world is filled with destruction, negativity, and hate. It is easy to get lost in the chaos and constant noise and forget about the power of creation. However, instead of resorting to destruction, we should focus on constructing, building, and creating.

"The only way to deal with fear is to face it head-on." – Albert Camus

From my own experiences, I know that overcoming loss and building something from scratch is hard. It takes time, effort, and a lot of patience. It requires a vision, a plan, and the willpower to keep going even when the going gets tough. But the result of building something is always rewarding, not just for the creator but for those around them as well. Whether it's a business, a piece of art, or even a relationship, building something requires an investment in oneself, and it is this investment that makes it all the more worthwhile.

On the other hand, destruction is often easy, thoughtless, and regretful. It's easy to let our emotions take over and act out in anger or frustration, destroying what we have worked hard to build. We see this happening all around us, from vandalism to wars, from destroying a friendship with a few harsh words to sabotaging a business deal out of greed. The effects of destruction are always negative, and the aftermath can be catastrophic.

"I am a builder, not a destroyer." - Franklin D. Roosevelt

In a world where destruction is often seen as easier than creation, Bruny's story deeply resonates with me. It's a reminder that we always have a choice in how we react to adversity. We can choose to give up, or we can choose to rebuild and create something better. Focusing on construction instead of destruction can positively impact the world around us.
As coaches, we must encourage our clients to strive to be creators and builders, not destroyers. We must help them invest their time, energy, and resources into creating something that will positively impact their lives and those around them.

"I have never met a man so ignorant that I couldn't learn something from him." - Galileo Galilei

Take away

The world needs more builders, more creators, and more people who, like Bruny, always construct and never destroy. We should all take a moment to reflect on our actions and ask ourselves, "Am I building or destroying?" Winston Churchill once said, "To build may have to be the slow and laborious tasks of years. To destroy can be the thoughtless act of a single day." May we all choose to be builders and creators, for that is where true happiness and fulfillment lie. Let us all decide to build something that will make the world a better place and leave a positive legacy for future generations.