Time was of essence at this point not only because I was now rapidly progressing toward horse pasture below me, but also because centrifugal force I was starting to experience would soon make it impossible to get my hands to those two handles.

With my hands now securely on handles, I was confronted with a bothersome question, "Now, which one goes first." The wrong order could cause my reserve parachute to deploy into my spinning main parachute which would result in an incurable entanglement.

Fortunately, ingrained training once again took over and I pulled them in right order. First handle on right side which released me from my spinning main parachute followed by handle on left side to deploy my reserve parachute.

This brought on a wonderful experience. My malfunctioning black, teal and magenta canopy was replaced with a bright, yellow never before used reserve parachute. What a lovely sight! And all this by 1,700 feet - plenty of time to spare.

Many years ago, I read a book about challenges and responsibilities of Secret Service agents. One of sad aspects of that profession is that agents who never have chance to validate their years of training by responding to a threat sometimes struggle severely in retirement. They are faced with not knowing - with certainty - how they would respond when faced with paramount challenge their career can deliver. For this reason, agents who have faced such a challenge successfully are admired within culture of Service.

That Saturday morning, I had privilege of facing a similar, life-threatening and I now realize life-defining challenge. I faced what Secret Service agents call "the dragon."

For all of us greater dragon is not external threat, whether it be an assassin's bullet, unforgiving and fast approaching earth or another challenge. The real dragon is self-doubt we carry within us.

For those few splendid moments after landing safely, I was able to put my foot firmly on neck of dragon ... and it felt great.

Keep this in mind next time you are confronted with adversity. On far side of experiences adversity presents, there could be a valuble gift - a renewed confidence and certainty.

(c) 2004, Jim McCormick. All rights in all media reserved.

Jim McCormick draws on his engineering degree, MBA and experience as a Chief Operating Officer of an international design firm to help organizations improve performance. He is co-author of Motivational Selling, editor of 365 Daily Doses of Courage and author of forthcoming book Seize Opportunity - A Practical Guide to Taking Advantage of Opportunities. Jim is also a three time skydiving World Record holder and was a member of an international expedition that skydived to North Pole. More information is available at http://www.TakeRisks.com and 970.577.8700.

Right to publish or post this article at no cost is granted provided copyright is attributed to Jim McCormick and above information about author is included in its entirety.

3. Practice Extreme Self-Care

When you travel on an airplane instructions are when traveling with a child or infirm person, PUT YOUR OWN OXYGEN MASK ON FIRST!

Scientists and physicists believe that thoughts are not just words in your head; they actually become units of energy that radiate out from you and affect your environment. Your thoughts largely influence your physiology, attitudes, actions, and entire experience of life. Thoughts also attract circumstances that resonate with their own energies. In times of stress we often forget our inherent playfulness.

Remember your natural state – your connection to stream of wellbeing. Appreciate more – criticize less often Relax and become curious and playful Fix less – Savor more

4. Embracing vulnerability

I do not claim to have answers to workplace conflict. In my work in leadership in Canada, Siberia, U.S., and Jamaica, we invite leaders to put aside stress of having all answers or pretending to have all answers. Transformational leaders do not give us answers; they help gather us together so that together we can discover answers.

By changing way we see world, by noticing what we are thinking about world, by becoming aware of when we are judging, of when we are criticizing, of any time we are coming from anything other than love, and learning to shift that immediately, we are bringing world one step closer to peace.

Early societies were built upon wisdom that emerged from shared leadership of councils. Our future may depend on our ability to draw that collective wisdom into modern age.