How2-Change Words of Wisdom with Robin Horsfall

In our first episode of the How2-Change Words of Wisdom series, we featured Robin Horsfall, a former SAS soldier and veteran’s rights advocate. Our podcast, designed to distill life-changing advice from intriguing individuals, focused on Robin’s single best piece of advice: “When in company, never discuss the faults of others; and when alone, contemplate your own faults.” But this principle also allows us to draw parallels with one of the most extraordinary stories of survival: the 438-day ordeal of Salvador Alvarenga, who drifted across the Pacific Ocean.

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Alvarenga’s experience underscores the power of personal resilience in the face of uncontrollable forces. He survived for over a year on the open sea, braving harsh conditions with no human contact and limited resources. When confronted with this immense adversity, there was no point in blaming the sun for its heat or the sea for its vastness. The only productive course was to accept his situation and focus on what he could control—his actions and attitude. This mirrors Robin’s advice to reflect on our own shortcomings rather than focus on others’.

The metaphor is clear: in life, much like in Alvarenga’s harrowing journey, it’s easy to blame external forces—the weather, the tides, or the circumstances of our lives. But real progress comes when we stop pointing fingers and start looking inward, focusing on what we can do to adapt, change, and survive. This mindset is vital in personal transformation and change management within organisations.

At How2-Change, we often see this dynamic at play during business transformations and M&A integrations. Blaming market conditions, competitors, or even internal politics may be tempting, but this blame game only hampers progress. The companies that succeed are those that embrace self-reflection, take ownership of their challenges, and navigate change like Alvarenga navigated the open sea—with focus and personal accountability.

Just as Salvador Alvarenga survived by leveraging his inner strength, How2-Change helps businesses thrive by empowering teams to take control of their transformation journeys. We bridge the gap between strategy and execution, ensuring that our clients not only survive but also thrive through times of change with our How2-Change Reality Check®.

If you’ve been inspired by Robin’s or Alvarenga’s story or have your own words of wisdom to share, we’d love to hear from you. We are always looking for guests for future podcast episodes. Get in touch to share your story or recommend someone who has inspired you to persevere and grow.

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