Dealing with the Lows
I had an interesting conversation with a friend over lunch today. He's been working his ass off in a field director level role for the past five years. He mentioned that after five years he's leaving his role and headed back to the US. After talking about why he was leaving, it was clear that he was done with the crazy highs and lows of working abroad and in a developing country.
As we drank our coffee my friend told me that his lows were really hard, and that getting through them was getting tougher and tougher. It got me thinking about how I've learned to handle these ups and downs on the field. While running my own agency I experienced the lowest of lows I've ever felt. Battling depression and trying to provide for your family and making sure your employees are paid took its toll.
The one thing I've learned about what to do when I am down: talk about it. Find someone you trust, who doesn't work at your organization, that is willing to just listen and walk that journey with you. If you spend any long period of the time on the field, invest in a person you can share these moments with. It will help you keep your sanity and make these moments more manageable.