November 1, 2019, marked the nine-year anniversary of the opening of Heyman Partners’ virtual doors. The path from start-up to a rich coaching, consulting and facilitation practice has been filled with innumerable lessons, extraordinary people, opportunities for growth and even some reckonings. In many ways, it mirrors other kinds of journeys – real-life trips and roads walked alone and with others.

Last month, I had the opportunity to spend almost three weeks in Asia on vacation with my husband. This was new territory for me – literally – and I learned vast amounts about people and places that were only images before. Some of the most striking things I found were open minds, curiosity, gracious hospitality (and delicious food!) and a desire to connect amongst almost everyone we met. In Hong Kong, Cambodia and Vietnam, we were treated to personal stories, sincere questions, generous hospitality and laughter at every turn. Finding common ground among people in countries where we had once been at war was humbling and heartening. Feeling the youthful energy – from protesters to entrepreneurs – was uplifting, as was the pride in age-old traditions. I returned home with a renewed sense of optimism in the power of individuals to heal wounds caused by historical forces, as well as with a belly full of pho and a suitcase holding beautiful handmade clothing, dishes, and art.

This trip, like any other, was not without bumps. The key, however, was not what went wrong (such as a flight canceled without notice) but the spirit of how any hurdle was addressed. I think the most moving memory is what we witnessed while spending the day walking through villages and rice paddies in the mountains of Vietnam. All of a sudden, a storm came through, pounding the ground with torrential rain. Immeasurable pounds of rice had been drying in the village square. In a nanosecond, people swarmed to the square (a small field among homes) – women, men, and children moved with lightening-speed to gather the rice in tarps and heap them on hand-pulled carts. It was a colorful blur of people moving with an almost choreographic grace to save the harvest. But, the most stunning thing was not the sight but the sound. They were all laughing! The joy, collaboration (an oft used, but oft-abused word in many workplaces) and coordination would be hard to diagram on a whiteboard, but man was this an incredible example of teamwork. And community. And focusing on what matters.

So, as I look back on nine years in my practice, I realize that it’s not only the incredible accomplishments of my clients – who, to a person, are making the world more safe, fair, healthy, informed, beautiful and meaningful – but also the storms they and I have faced that define who we are. I’m going to take a leaf (or a grain) from the rice farmers’ book and try to maintain a sense of humor when I find myself in challenging situations; look for help when I need it; move with speed and determination to solve the most important problems; and remind myself that the sun always returns sooner or later.