Staying Positive Through Hurricanes and Cancer

I have faced a number of challenges in life, but the largest and most defining moment came during and after 2004’s Hurricane Charley. My son, Erik, and I stayed on Captiva Island in our home and did not evacuate. My nine businesses are here, and we were confident that the hurricane would head up the coast as was predicted. But when it sharply turned east and headed in our direction, it was too late to leave. After just a few short hours, everything I owned in life was damaged in one way or another. All businesses were shut down, and at the time I had about 120 people who needed their jobs. We assessed the damage and came up with a plan for restoration. Our priority was getting the most profitable business open first.

Before we did anything, we needed to clear away all of the trees, brush and debris. We chain-sawed and hauled for four weeks. I offered jobs to staff people who would be willing to do things that were not in their normal job descriptions. We had chefs and cooks on top of roofs with tarps. Servers were searching around the premises gathering up and painting all of the fences that were scattered but not broken. We found some of our signs several blocks away.

I brought in an out-of-state construction company and had to put up the workers in my five-bedroom, five-and-a half-bath home. I moved into one of the cottages. During that time I also discovered the most valuable members of my staff. They were dedicated and just amazing in doing whatever it took to get everything up and operating. I also was dismayed by those who left saying that things would never be the same. They seemed too fearful to stick around and see things through. The top news stations reported that Captiva Island was cut in half by Hurricane Charley. That was North Captiva, not our island. The miscommunication kept people away as they thought that they could no longer drive here.

We prioritized, cross-trained, cut out nonessential things and formed a team. We brainstormed and set goals. We celebrated when each business reopened. Of course, they were not profitable, but all we needed was customers! Months and months went by and there were still no checks from my insurance companies. Things that I thought were covered were not. I became an expert on what wasn’t covered.

There were even more tough times ahead as South Seas Island Resort, the largest resort on the island, was closed. They suffered great damage and did not want to open until the large main amenities were also open for the public. The promised opening dates continued to pass without any action, and my loss of sales mounted into multimillions of dollars. On Sanibel Island, more than 20 businesses closed from the loss of business. It wasn’t until two years after the storm that my overall organization turned a profit. Now, three years later, the businesses are fully recovered and doing better than ever. South Seas Island Resort is open and beautifully remodeled. Their community spirit is to be commended. I will never forget the lessons learned. I never lost hope, and I never showed my fear. As leaders, we need to set the example and be upbeat. Never lose your sense of humor or the ability to laugh at yourself. If you admit when you make a mistake, it’s easier for your employees to own up when they do, too. We set the tone for the entire organization.

Adversity has the effect of eliciting talents, which in prosperous circumstances would have lain dormant. —Horace

With the economic downturn of residential real estate in the area, many businesses are now faced with having to make difficult choices. My advice would be to do the same: Prioritize, cross-train, cut out nonessential things and form a team. Come up with a plan, brainstorm and set measurable goals. Graph, plan, timeline, and don’t let your pride get in the way of doing what you know you need to do. It might be a temporary switch in career. It might be selling something that you know is a financial drain.

What I’ve learned is that you are the only one who can do it, so just do it. Don’t look back and second-guess yourself. Trust that you made the best decision and keep focused on the future. I firmly believe that the market will come around, and great times are just ahead.

Most of the shadows of this life are caused by standing in one’s own sunshine.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson

Adversity comes in many forms, and I have a courageous friend who has become quite an inspiration for me. In her youth, Samira Beckwith was an aspiring social worker. Trying to earn a master’s degree was all the challenge she thought she could handle at the time. She learned otherwise when she was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease, followed by three years of treatment.

During those three years, she reflected on all her mother had taught her about how, as immigrants to this country, they could achieve a higher quality of life here. And as she befriended other cancer patients and their families, she became passionate about hospice, a program that offers special care to people who are dying and their families. She is now president and CEO of Hope Hospice and Community Services, which covers Southwest Florida.

In Samira’s case, she grew through her adversity. Just a few years ago, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Through it all, she continued her job and once again conquered cancer. I never saw her without a smile or a word of praise for others. Her leadership, grace and dignity are her very special gifts. Her compassion for those in need and the programs she has developed to help them represent what she does every day. In my eyes, she’s a hero and role model for us all.