Real-life resilience - Sehmus Erginoglu

Welcome to another weekend edition of The Resilience Brief, where we look closely at real-life resilience stories. Sometimes they are names we all know, and other times they are unlikely heroes who come from nowhere. A special shout out to my friend Chris at The Brighter Side of Everything who brought this one to my attention. It’s a story of a person you’ve likely never heard of, but who proves that opportunity exists in the most unlikely of places.

Thirty years ago, in the arid landscape of Southern Turkey, a man named Sehmus Erginoglu looked out at the barren, lifeless terrain of his region and imagined a new world. It was an opportunity for immense change. Others only saw a desert of dust and rock (and trash), but he envisioned a forest, lush with greenery and shade. And while most of us would have deemed the task impossible, Sehmus took it upon himself to build something beautiful that will endure far beyond his lifetime.

The man built a forest in the desert!

He started by clearing out the trash and preparing the land. He installed pipes to bring in water, tapping into natural springs nearby, and carefully planted saplings. He planted thousands of them! Year after year he tended to his growing forest, fighting against harsh conditions, limited resources, and the skeptics who couldn’t see what he could. He did this on his own and he didn’t get paid for it. He did it because he wanted to imagine a place that offered life instead of barren nothingness.

Decades later, he has a thriving forest of over 11,000 trees, teeming with life and providing shade, oxygen, and a place for visitors to set up picnics and enjoy the greenery. His efforts have inspired others in region and there are now over 30,000 trees in the wider area.

“These trees aren’t just for me; they’re for everyone who comes after me. That’s the legacy I want to leave behind.” - Sehmus Erginoglu

Sehmus’s journey is about much more than the trees. It’s an inspiring blueprint for resilience in the face of harsh odds. He didn’t have to do any of it, but he did it for others, and that’s what I love about his story the most. Here are three key ideas that can be applied to our professional lives:

1. A bigger picture brings energy. Often when we’re working towards something greater than ourselves, we don’t seem to mind the inevitable obstacles as much. This is because we’ve discovered a sense of contribution and drive to add value to others. When we can see things from this fresh (more positive) perspective, we acquire an extra level of energy that improves our mood and helps us tackle any challenge. In Sehmus’s case, water shortages, extreme weather, and doubt from others could have discouraged him at any stage. But, rather than getting bogged down in the challenges, his focus was on building something great for others. When we adjust our own mindset and perspective to focus on doing something for the greater good, obstacles simply don’t bother as much.

2. Start with a vision. Sehmus was able to escape the reality of a desert and picture a new place. He could see something that others couldn’t and he didn’t let a present reality define the future. With his imagination, he was able to get to work on finding a way to deliver that vision. Our visions don’t have to be as massive as an 11,000 tree forest, but if they are clear, we have the best chance of determining how we’ll get there. Once we know where we’re headed, we’ll adjust and adapt accordingly to get there. Seneca, the Stoic philosopher, said that “If a man does not know to what port he is steering, no wind is favourable to him.” We need to determine what the end goal is and trust in our resilience to get there.

3. Small actions add up to big impact. Transforming a desert into a forest didn’t happen overnight. In fact, the man started in his 40s, proving that it’s never too late to make a real impact. His forest required consistent effort, day after day, year after year. Resilience is often about showing up, even when it’s hard and also when the results aren’t always visible. We can do the same, by focusing on what is in our control. If we are struggling with big change or challenge in the office, what are the small steps that we can take today? I love the simplicity of the question: “what’s my next move?” It gets us back to focusing on what we can do. Others might be losing their cool, or unable to provide clear direction, but we can always focus on our own small steps towards the goal.

The principles that guided Sehmus can be just as powerful in our professional lives. He didn’t wait for permission, the perfect conditions, or external validation. He saw an opportunity to do something for others, got to work and adapted where necessary.

So, what’s the future forest that we can imagine today? Let’s start with a few seeds right now!

Until next time friends, stay resilient!

Carre @ Resilient Minds

PS - want to dive into the idea of adjusting our perspective? Check this one out.