The Instant Survivor by Jim Moorhead Reviewed

We all face crises in life and most of the time we are required to continue to do our jobs during these times whether they be divorce, death of a loved one or other personal turmoil. Jim Moorhead posits that there is a better way than just white knuckling your way through these times and his book "The Instant Survivor" is a handbook for getting through just about anything. His four steps: Stay Frosty, Secure Support, Stand Tall and Save Your Future are designed to create a rational roadmap at a time when emotions may be running high. Moorhead cuts through the initial panic with an emergency-room-style triage. Each chapter breaks down the essential lessons into bullet points for ease of use. There's nothing truly groundbreaking here but having the steps laid out so clearly is good reminder to act rationally and deliberately in times of crisis.

Much of the early part of the book is devoted to breaking through the immobility that sets in when disaster strikes. By planning for potential crises ahead of time you will be better prepared for instant action. So often things tend to spiral out of control, we tend to exacerbate already bad situations. Learning to stand tall mid crisis is harder then it sounds. One poor decision tends to follow another. By stopping, writing things down, and considering next steps we can often summon the strength to make the difficult choice. If we are flexible we can sometimes grasp victory from the jaws of defeat.

People fear change and tend to tend to magnify risks and downplay how quickly they will adapt. This book isn't just a survival plan, it is also about looking at your life and fine tuning it. By figuring out what your skills are and what you want out of life, you are better prepared to take action when opportunity presents itself. Part of surviving is knowing your strengths. The later section of the book includes a relentless self-audit which, if you are brave enough to take it, helps point out the weak spots in your life that could lead to trouble later on.

Much of the motivating energy in Moorhead's book comes from the stories of survivors who have endured challenges that seemed insurmountable but have instead survived and thrived. From athletes who lost it all to people grappling with divorce, illness or unemployment, the case studies of those who persevered are inspiring. They got through it, you can too.