By now I’m sure you’ve heard about the technical glitch that occurred during the opening ceremonies of the Olympics here in Vancouver. After eight years of meticulous preparation and countless rehearsals, the show proceeded flawlessly for two hours—until the climactic moment when, with the world watching, one of the four hydraulic pillars that would form the centerpiece for the Olympic flame failed to emerge from the floor.
Of course nobody ever wants to encounter critical failures at critical times, but the truth is, it’s how you respond to sudden challenges like this that define you. The producers, directors, technical crew, and performers during that moment must have felt extreme pressure, but because they had been preparing and practicing for so long, they were calm enough and confident enough to quickly review the facts and improvise a solution. Call it street smarts, call it court sense—everyone involved was attuned to the situation and intensely in the moment. Everyone was wearing earpieces, so they were advised of the problem and the revised plan, and they responded so professionally that many people in attendance were unaware that a problem had occurred.
We all face moments like this (though usually not on a world stage). A patient you thought for sure was going to accept your treatment advice surprises you with objections and questions. Unexpected complications arise in a routine procedure. These are your defining moments, and you should treasure them for the opportunity they give you to challenge yourself and to grow. Most great breakthroughs—and most reputations—are built on obstacles overcome. If everything went smoothly and easily all the time, there would be no notable achievements. And the more advanced your clinical mastery becomes, the deeper you go with your case preparation, and the more confident you can be when a defining moment rises up to test you.
