Well, if you’re a New England Patriots fan or if Tom Brady is on your Fantasy Football team, no doubt you are devastated at the news that the star quarterback will miss the entire season after suffering an injury in the first quarter of the first game of the year. As the Boston Herald puts it, a “primal scream” has erupted ’round the world.
All I know is that Sunday afternoons and Monday nights will be a lot less comfortable and enjoyable in my part of the country.

But think about what comes next – an almost-as-interesting drama that totally relates to corporate scenarios when the “superstar performer” goes down for the count or leaves the team.
Ask yourself, what would YOU do if you were facing this scenario?

• Will the backup stand up? If you’ve been the steady #2, here’s your chance to shine. Or, you can stay a second-tier player the rest of your career.
• Will the team coalesce? It’s tough to lose your leader, but perhaps you can play an instrumental role in rallying the team and keeping everyone focused on the goal.
• Will a new leader emerge? Is this your chance to rise, fill the void, and provide new leadership?
• Will the playbook change? You have to adapt to a different team, different capabilities, different leadership. Figure out what needs to change and do it quickly rather than relying on strategies that might not be relevant.
• Will the competition seize the opportunity? Maybe one of your competitors has lost a big gun. You can swoop in and capture the victory – if you are prepared, poised, and agile enough to take advantage.

When handed lemons, make lemonade. What seems the sourest note could end up being the sweetest thing that ever happened to you – if you look on it as opportunity rather than tragedy.

Job hunting stinks. There’s almost nothing fun about it. Yet to be most successful it must be endured – in fact, embraced with fervor! How do you rev yourself up for a task you don’t enjoy? Maybe some or even all of these strategies will work for you:

• Visualize the end result. Every day, before you start your job search activities, imagine yourself in your new dream job – what you’ll be doing, how you’ll be feeling, how it will differ from your last job or your current unemployment. With your “eyes on the prize,” you’ll feel much more enthusiastic about what you need to go through to get there.
• Make a to-do-list. For some people, there’s nothing more satisfying than checking off items accomplished. Start each day with an ambitious yet realistic list of activities, and check them off as you complete them. At the end of the day, you can bask in a feeling of accomplishment even if you didn’t (yet) land your new job.
• Do the tough stuff first. What do you hate to do most? Call network contacts, write cover letters, research companies, refresh your resume, refine your elevator pitch? Whatever it is, get the elephant out of the way by doing that first. Everything else will seem much easier.
• Vary your activities. Moving from one task to another rather than remaining rooted all day will give you fresh perspectives and change your energy level.
• Reward yourself. Don’t be too easy on yourself, but when you’ve accomplished a certain number of tasks or persevered through a difficult assignment, give yourself a tangible reward. You’ve earned it! Try not to make it food too often, though, or you’ll have to double up your efforts on the next item.
• Get some exercise. Regular exercise makes you feel healthier, stronger, happier, and more optimistic. Build gym time or outdoor activities into your life a least four to five times a week. It can be one of the most energizing and important parts of your day.
• Build a support network. We all need to vent from time to time, and a sympathetic ear and supportive shoulder can make the world of difference. Your network ideally should include people who are savvy about your professional aspirations and the business world in which you operate. Not only can they give you genuine help and support, they can serve as a sounding board and sometimes a devil’s advocate. You should have complete trust in your inner circle.

Finally, recognize when/if you get stuck and have resources to help pull you out. While you can expect some emotional ups and downs, if you find you are seriously depressed or unable to make any progress, don’t wallow too long. A counselor or coach might be the perfect addition to your inner circle.