Samantha Hammock’s Post

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EVP, Chief Human Resources Officer at Verizon

Whether or not you have seen (or, in my case, binged) Ted Lasso, you can appreciate this quote – “Don’t fight back. Fight forward.” Learning to fight forward is one of the toughest lessons to master. It’s the ultimate sign of strength in which nothing will divert or distract you from getting to where you want to go. Listen, it’s easy to get mad when things don’t go our way. It’s easy to let unfair outcomes weigh us down. And it’s easy to wallow and stay stuck in a loss rather than turn it into a lesson. I cannot tell you how many times in my career that I wanted to fight back – to get even or settle the score. But would it be worth it? Nope. Not even a little. Maybe I would feel better in that moment, but those feelings would be fleeting, and I would have wasted precious time and energy. As you work to break down barriers, shatter ceilings and climb those steep hills, you will meet people who would rather pull you down than see you succeed. Instead of fighting back, focus on these five things: ✨ Forgive. Even if it seems impossible for you to forgive someone, just try. Remember, you’re not doing it for them, you’re doing it for yourself. ✨ Reflect. Self-reflection is a critical part of your growth and taking a moment to assess whether you could have handled the situation differently will help you move forward. ✨ Move on. Grudges are just negative energy holding you back from real happiness. Take what you need from the pain of the past and turn it into positive energy for the future.   ✨ Live in the present. You can’t change what happened. There’s no going back. So, live for the moment. There’s so much more possibility in what can be, than in what was. ✨ Choose how to react. The only thing we can control is ourselves, and we have the freedom to choose our reactions – so when they go low, you go high. None of this is easy, and when you’re in the moment – when it’s just not fair or right – it can feel absolutely impossible. But the journey is far more beautiful when you focus your energy on what’s ahead rather than what’s behind. P.S. Anyone else asked themselves on a near daily basis, “What would Ted Lasso do?” That show was full of gems and life lessons <3 #PostItForPositivity #tedlasso #resilience #motivation #positivemindset

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Lara Anderson, PCC, SPHR

Leadership & Executive Coach | Human Potential Enthusiast | Talent Accelerator | Certified Dare to Lead™ Facilitator | Nike Alum

4mo

Truth! I'm in such a better place when I follow this path. I've found that when I allow and identify the distressing emotions (e.g., disappointment, hurt, anger, etc.) that come with these situations, I'm able to move through and out of them. Thank you for sharing!

Alexandra Foster

Managing Director | IT leaders 100 | Fractional CRO CIO | Digital Transformation | Technology | FinancialServices | Manufacturing | 5G | Cyber | DEI| TedX Speaker @ALF05TER | UN Women UK CSW67CSW68 | Own Opinions |

4mo

I couldn't agree more with your thoughts on "fighting forward". Samantha Hammock As a relentless optimist myself, I deeply resonate with #TedLasso's character. His unwavering optimism and kindness teach us to lead with empathy and positivity, even when faced with adversity. One of my favorite lessons from the show is "Be curious, not judgmental." It's a reminder to approach difficult situations or people with an open mind and heart, instead of letting our biases dictate our actions As for dealing with obstacles and setbacks, I believe it's crucial to remember that every experience, good or bad, shapes us. It's about learning, growing, and moving forward. Holding onto grudges or dwelling on the past, or past mistakes only hinders our progress. In the end, it's not about winning or losing, but about how we choose to react and what we learn from those experiences. So, in true Ted Lasso spirit, let's keep "biscuit-ing" our way through life, one challenge at a time! Take care Samantha #believe P.S. As a resident of Richmond myself, I'm always up for a little 'Ted Tour'. If anyone's around and fancies a drink at The Prince's Head or 🚶 stroll through the charming streets, don't hesitate to give me a shout ! Alex

Nedra Miller

Project Management | Agile | SAFe | Program Management | Cybersecurity

4mo

Pause is not a step back but a moment that helps as you continue forward...

Elaine Rocha, Esq.

Senior Vice President and Global Chief Investment Officer, AIG

4mo

Such great life lessons from Ted Lasso! Be a goldfish, nobody is bigger than the team, etc. Should be required viewing for ALL corporate America. 😊❤

Gregory Whittet, MBA

🌴Verizon's Southwest Wellbeing Champion, Brand Ambassador 🏖🌊🌴🏄♂️

4mo

Spot on Samantha! Fighting Forward reminds me of the concept of "Falling Forward"...when faced with challenges, it's more productive to lean into the momentum of the fall, using it as a force to propel yourself ahead, rather than resisting and falling backward. It's a powerful reminder that embracing the journey and channeling setbacks into lessons can lead to meaningful progress. As long as we are going forward thats what matters.

Steve Nguyen, Ph.D.

Organizational Development Leader

4mo

Thanks, Samantha Hammock! I really like what you said: “Grudges are just negative energy holding you back from real happiness. Take what you need from the pain of the past and turn it into positive energy for the future.” YES!! I tell my wife and daughter all the time that we have to let it go or else it eats us up on the inside. The BEST way, in my opinion, to “get back” at someone is to just LIVE your BEST life, do your BEST work, and be HAPPY. There’s no time for anything else and the more we focus on our past pain the more we lose out on living our PRESENT life and APPRECIATING and LOVING those who are important to us.

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Dave Ulrich

Speaker, Author, Professor, Thought Partner on Human Capability (talent, leadership, organization, HR)

4mo

Samantha Hammock Great quote ... we have encouraged leaders and organizations to think big test small fail fast learn always Like your quote, this focuses more on the future than the past! Thanks for sharing.

Timothy M.

Owner at Preferred IT Solutions

4mo

Seems like you and Ted lasso are completely out of touch with reality. Verizon Wireless employees, this is exactly why you Unionize... Read what she wrote and let it sink in... They want to trick you into feeling empowered when you're laid off... This is straight out of George Orwell ... Dont take advice from companies HR.. they're there to protect the company, not you!

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I am a BIG Ted Lasso fan and found so many things he said during the show’s run inspiring. Your words are also inspiring and I appreciate you interpretation of this quote.

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Luv this positive note to live by ...going to try to follow it. 🙂

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