Program Summary: Joe Diehl, “Cultivating Resilience,” November 4, 2021

Our member, Joseph B. Diehl, CPA, JD, examined the research behind resilient people, including findings shared by Professors Nassim Nicholas Taleb and Martin E. P. Seligman, PhD. While becoming a resilient person–for some–is a long and arduous process, any of us can cultivate and build resilience over time. 

Interestingly, two key attributes shared by the majority of resilient people are strong core values, and a stated purpose for their lives.  Resilient people often flourish during and after Black Swan events–those random, devastating and tragic events described by Professor Taleb that have occurred over human history. Resilient people–knocked down by such occurrences, seem to come back stronger. 

Joseph B. Diehl, CPA, JD is a member of the University Sunrise Rotary Club–and appreciates this opportunity to share his ideas.  Joe manages Diehl & Co. LLC which has provided services to nonprofit organizations since 1996.  For the first half of his career, Joe held a variety of accounting/finance positions in the for profit sector.  He earned his BS degree in Accountancy from Northern Illinois University (go “Huskies”) and his JD from UIC-John Marshall Law School in Chicago, IL. He was known as Joey as a child.

Find Joe’s slides here and his Core Value Exercise here.

Notes by:  Teri St. Onge

Sue Diehl shared many attributes of our speaker today, her husband Joseph B. Diehl.  Joe first told us that, at Tom Ranken’s encouragement, he is embracing and using his childhood name, Joey.  From Joey to us…. today’s presentation.

“Cultivating Resilience” – a slide show presentation that he originally put together in 2015 or 2016 and has given a few times, says now appears to be more popular during the Pandemic.   With limited time, Joey will go through the slides and hit the bullet points for his full presentation.

A handout will be distributed after the slideshow for you to review, along with his Core Value Exercise.

What is resilience?  Can you learn to be resilient?  Joey found that yes, you can learn resilience. 

He personally has been through the School of Hard Knocks – a couple of life events, from childhood through adulthood. 

Joey has personally developed his own toolkit with highly regarded tools, most of them explored through his slideshow.  From this kit, he was able to develop his own Personal Mission Statement and encourages others to do the same, by thinking about your mission statement – could be family or career or survival related.

It’s quite a long and arduous process of figuring this out………Asking ‘what is your WHY?’

Joey’s Personal Mission Statement:  to inspire and empower those who share my beliefs.

Joey’s Key Core Values:  attitude, gratitude, competency, experiencing life, sense of humor.

Joey’s Purpose: (My Why):  to leave the world in a better place, because I was here.

Joey then quotes Mark Twain – “The two most important days in your life are the day you were born and the day you find out why…………’

Hope his presentation is inspiring and brings you newfound joy.

Questions and Answers and Comments:

Walter Impert – In this age of social media and screen time, what is the best way to apply this “Cultivating Resilience” to the next generation?  Walter and his wife think to

SHOW BY EXAMPLE

Tom Ranken – Believes there’s a lesson in owning your losses…own that loss. 

Own your behavior.  Set examples….

Paul Meehan – example of Boy Scouts training

Pam Mushen – grandchildren are learning of resilience by personal experiences that they are going through now. 

Hal Beals – Share with your children some of ‘your’ failures.  Some of your difficulties.  Dig deep.

Lincoln – Before little kids get distracted at a family dinner – structure the dinner by asking:

  “What made you laugh today?”

  “What did you learn today?”

Model it.

David Mushen – comment on participating through experiences with “each grandchild.”

Sharing experiences – not just sitting around.  Be involved!