One of my team members, Nel, went swimming with friends last week when he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his foot. At first, he thought he had stepped on a sea urchin, but when he looked down, he saw the black ink-like venom seeping from his wound—the mark of a lethal sea snake.
Within seconds, Nel’s body began to go numb. Frantically, he scrambled to the beach and called a friend. Fortunately, his buddy answered immediately. Within minutes, his friend was riding through the city on his motorbike to save him, zigzagging between cars and mopeds through the crowded Batangas traffic, a city near Manila.
He reached Nel in just ten minutes. By that time, my colleague was in excruciating pain, and half of his body was paralyzed from head to toe. He couldn’t even twitch his face, let alone move his right-hand fingers.
Despite the agony, Nel remembered reading somewhere that pain was an illusion of the mind—a challenge he could endure with sheer focus. But he also knew that he was at death’s door unless a miracle happened. Batangas’ roads were clogged, and he needed to reach a hospital emergency room fast. And even if he made it, the hospital would need the right antivenom on hand. The odds were stacked against him.
Why Nel Survived — and What Business Owners Can Learn
Nel is one of the most generous people I know. He’s the kind of person who would sell his bitcoins to fund his brother’s education or donate thousands in gaming winnings to help his father start a business. All this while working as an offshore contractor and bootstrapping a fish feed startup.
So it wasn’t surprising that he had a friend willing to risk everything to help him. His friend picked him up from the beach, and they sped down the promenade, Nel clinging on for dear life with his non-paralyzed left hand. They reached the hospital just minutes before the venom could reach his heart. Luckily, the hospital had the antidote, and they managed to save his life.
He was discharged the next day and back at work just a few days later.
Strangely, I was one of the few people who even knew about his ordeal. He hid it from his mother and gave his wife a watered-down version of his near-death adventure.
So Why Share This Wild Story With You?
Because Nel’s survival reveals five essential leadership lessons—the kind that show up not just in life-or-death situations, but also in every business crisis. Nel is a budding entrepreneur and an avid reader of business books. But when it counted, it was his instincts and social capital that saved him.
1. Face the Stark Reality
Nel didn’t delude himself, seek comfort, or shut down under pain. He immediately acknowledged the danger and took action.
In business, facing brutal facts is a survival skill. Whether it’s a failing product, a broken partnership, or a dwindling bank account, denial kills momentum. Truth and urgency save it.
2. Ask for Help
Nel didn’t hesitate to call someone. His friend came because Nel had always shown up for others—and built a strong support network.
Too many business leaders delay asking for help because they fear it shows weakness. In reality, knowing when to call in backup is a strength—and often the difference between recovery and ruin. Having structured check-ins, like those created using the Mentor Meeting Model™, helps strengthen those relationships before a crisis hits, making it easier to ask for help when it matters most.
3. Tune Out Pain
Even with his friend at the wheel, Nel had to do his part. He had to hold on with his one functioning hand while weaving through rush-hour traffic on a motorbike. That meant tuning out the pain and focusing fully on survival.
This is what entrepreneurial leadership often looks like—compartmentalizing stress, staying present, and making decisions even when it hurts.
4. Hold On for Dear Life
Nel had the presence of mind to meditate amidst the chaos. Imagine doing that with half your body paralyzed, racing through Manila streets at full speed.
Every founder knows this feeling—when your business feels like it’s collapsing, and all you can do is hold on and hope the pieces stay together.
Of course, it’s easier to stay grounded when you’ve created clarity within your team. Mapping out responsibilities with a Function Ownership Chart™ ensures that even when part of your operation is paralyzed, the rest knows exactly what to do.
5. Protect Others from Hurt
Nel didn’t tell his mother the truth. He softened the story for his wife. Even in pain, he chose to protect the people he loved from unnecessary stress.
Business owners do this too. They carry the pressure and uncertainty quietly so their teams can focus. Great leaders absorb fear, not spread it.
What Will You Do When Your Business Gets Bitten?
Sooner or later, you’ll have your own snakebite moment in business—a crisis that paralyzes part of your operation, tests your instincts, and reveals your resilience.
If you’re in the middle of something now—don’t go through it alone. Pick up the phone and call me. I can be your emergency contact.
