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Resilience: Navigating Life, Loss and the Road to Success
An inspiring book for readers of Sheryl Sandberg and Arlene Dickinson
Lisa Lisson’s life seemed perfect: she had married her high school sweetheart, applied her marketing degree to a position at FedEx Express Canada, and risen to become a vice president (and would ultimately become president) of the company. One night, after putting their four children to bed, her husband, Patrick, marvelled that their lives seemed perfectly happy.
Just a few hours later, everything changed.
One moment Lisa was sleeping beside Patrick, and the next, she was kneeling on the floor beside his unconscious body frantically administering CPR. Patrick had had a massive heart attack and was in a coma, and the doctors were blunt: there was no hope. But for the next two years, Lisa stood by his side and awaited a miracle, while continuing to balance life as a high-powered executive and mother of four.
Part leadership guide, part memoir of loss, and part personal empowerment primer on how to achieve your goals no matter what the universe throws at you, Resilience is an inspirational story about how to rise to the top in a man’s world, triumph over adversity, lead a fulfilling life, and live each day with purpose and gratitude.
Lisa Lisson’s life seemed perfect: she had married her high school sweetheart, applied her marketing degree to a position at FedEx Express Canada, and risen to become a vice president (and would ultimately become president) of the company. One night, after putting their four children to bed, her husband, Patrick, marvelled that their lives seemed perfectly happy.
Just a few hours later, everything changed.
One moment Lisa was sleeping beside Patrick, and the next, she was kneeling on the floor beside his unconscious body frantically administering CPR. Patrick had had a massive heart attack and was in a coma, and the doctors were blunt: there was no hope. But for the next two years, Lisa stood by his side and awaited a miracle, while continuing to balance life as a high-powered executive and mother of four.
Part leadership guide, part memoir of loss, and part personal empowerment primer on how to achieve your goals no matter what the universe throws at you, Resilience is an inspirational story about how to rise to the top in a man’s world, triumph over adversity, lead a fulfilling life, and live each day with purpose and gratitude.
240 pages, Hardcover
Published October 17, 2017
8 people are currently reading
466 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
October 23, 2017
(Disclosure: I was the editor who helped shape this book with Lisa.) Today, Lisa Lisson is the president of FedEx Canada. Ten years ago, she was vice-president (having climbed through the ranks that are primarily reserved for men), married, with four beautiful children. And then tragedy struck, which changed everything. Told in alternating chapters that go from telling her rise as one of the most influential businesswomen in Canada today, alternating with the blow-by-blow account of what happened in the days and weeks following her husband's heart attack and coma, she shows how her two lives intertwined. How the shrewd businessperson learned to advocate for her husband and family, how she continued to move up the ranks professionally while dealing with an emotional battleground personally. This book gives no-nonsense tips to show how women can thrive in the workplace, while talking about the hurdles she had to face both before and after that fateful night. But it's also a beautifully written memoir of the worst moment of her life and the heartbreaking days, weeks, and years that followed, and show a woman who is incredible and strong and who learns to find the joys in small things to get her through. I loved this book.
June 29, 2017
Lisa and Pat met in high school and eventually got married. They had four children, both had successful careers and they had a nice life. Twelve years ago Lisa woke up to find Pat unconscious on their bedroom floor. He'd had a massive heart attack (in his late thirties) and ended up in a coma. Lisa hoped for a miracle that he would wake up but eventually had to give up (and respect his wishes) when the doctors said there was no hope. She was finally ready to let him go and he passed away two years after he'd had his heart attack. In the meantime, Lisa had their four children to take care of plus her career was on the rise at FedEx Canada (she is currently president).
This book is the story of her life with and after Pat. Plus it's full of lessons she has learned and taught others about getting and maintaining the job and/or career you want and being an effective leader. Lisa sounds extremely organized and detailed-oriented ... for example, she keeps a list of the goals she wants to accomplish, in addition to master lists of things she has to take care of (one for work and another for her kids and house).
I found Lisa's story tragic but inspiring and it was an interesting book to read. With all that was going on with dealing with her husband being in a coma and having to make the decision to let him go, she still had a family to take care of and a job to do. Along the way, she learned some important life lessons. Before I came across this book, I hadn't heard of her but now I wish her well.
Blog review post: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2017/06...
June 15, 2018
Lisa Lisson- Resilience
67th book read in 2018
I purchased this book new although I never heard of Lisa, but this book was on my Goodreads timeline and sounded very good so I went to read about the book This is one book I am so happy I brought although bittersweet, from one second when you have everything in life you dreamed of marrying your high school sweetheart both you and your spouse have your dream jobs have two children. Then you wake up in the middle of the night and find your husband unresponsive on the flour next to your bed.
Lisa takes us on her journey with this and has included photos as well of her and her family. I can feel for her youngest son as when his father passed he was just three so I am sure he won’t have any recollection of him except for whats in this book.
For those who don’t know Lisa is president of Fex EX Canada
Personally, I know very well I couldn’t have written a book like this way to emotional for me.
This is one of the few books I am keeping.
I give this book a solid 5*
67th book read in 2018
I purchased this book new although I never heard of Lisa, but this book was on my Goodreads timeline and sounded very good so I went to read about the book This is one book I am so happy I brought although bittersweet, from one second when you have everything in life you dreamed of marrying your high school sweetheart both you and your spouse have your dream jobs have two children. Then you wake up in the middle of the night and find your husband unresponsive on the flour next to your bed.
Lisa takes us on her journey with this and has included photos as well of her and her family. I can feel for her youngest son as when his father passed he was just three so I am sure he won’t have any recollection of him except for whats in this book.
For those who don’t know Lisa is president of Fex EX Canada
Personally, I know very well I couldn’t have written a book like this way to emotional for me.
This is one of the few books I am keeping.
I give this book a solid 5*
November 5, 2017
I knew Lisa when I worked for FedEx in the late 2000's. Her memoir is one of hope, gratitude and resilience (of course!). Her leadership style was very much "open door" and approachable.
Her book provided a lot of excellent advice on how to be a successful leader (make lists of goals- got it!!). It also showed that while you can be President of a major organization- life and love prevail.
Really enjoyed this book and recommend highly - not because I knew Lisa back in the day - but because the insights are applicable to all of us.
Her book provided a lot of excellent advice on how to be a successful leader (make lists of goals- got it!!). It also showed that while you can be President of a major organization- life and love prevail.
Really enjoyed this book and recommend highly - not because I knew Lisa back in the day - but because the insights are applicable to all of us.
September 24, 2019
There were some pieces of tangible advice I appreciated but her focus on not showing emotion at work bothered me tremendously. I completely appreciate that the c-suite is still dominated by men, but this focus on being able to roll with the boys bothers me. I want to be able to unabashedly female, in however that's true for me, and excel in the corporate world....(that's what I am looking to reshape). Lisa Lisson focuses quite a bit on learning to stay stiff lipped and while I am generally reserved, there are many moments where I show my true colours. I want that to be okay and am looking for practical advice on how to integrate that into my career. This book fell short and while I certainly admire her strength and resilience in a time of tremendous stress I don't think it's practical advice for many.
February 3, 2018
I hate rating memoirs, but here goes: 2.5 stars. Like Lisa Lisson, I married my high school sweetheart, so the story of her ill husband rattled me, but having that in common is not reason enough for me to give her and the publishing team a pass on this book.
Pros:
1. Accessible level of writing (although with perhaps more than it's fair share of cliches like "hitting it out of the park").
2. A little bit of interesting content about the world of working women, including wage inequity and the relative absenteeism of women from the upper tiers of corporate Canada. Did you know that only 3% of CEOs in Canada are women? She also touches briefly on some of the things that are now being highlighted by the #metoo movement.
3. Moving personal story.
Cons:
1. This is a book with an identity complex. It never really could decide what it wanted to be. So Lisson and her ghostwriter and editor/s seem to have settled on a mishmash of family tragedy/life carries on tale and career success story. The result is that neither angle is fully realized. It might have worked better as two separate publications: a long article on her husband's sudden illness and eventual death and a short, better organized book on career building and success. As it stands, Resilience is short book with a long article weaving awkwardly through it.
2. The book opens with 30-something Mr. Lisson's heart attack, which renders him unconscious at the family home. From there, the question of "What will happen to Pat?" is left unaswered until very near the end, sort of dangled like a carrot through the story of Lisa Lisson's career path - her job search, cover letter writing, worth ethic lessons and such groundbreaking advice as "believe in youself." Shall I say it is perhaps in bad taste to use one's dying husband as a strategy for keeping readers turning pages while you discuss shooting television commercials, board meetings and career goals? This made me very icky-uncomfortable as a reader.
3. The title implies that this book will take a bit of a deep dive into the concept of resilience. It doesn't really. With all the extant literature and studies about the topic of resilience, surely just a whisper of some of it should have made it into a book called "Resilience." Not a whiff, not a stat appears.
Things to take away from this book despite the awful structure:
1. Dr. Jane, who provided care for Pat Lisson, said, “When you suffer a loss you can't let it define you."
2. Lisson believes that "diversity is the future" and the double standard will become a thing of the past (business-wise) (p. 126). Well, that's good news!
Disclosure: I won a free copy of this book in a giveaway.
Pros:
1. Accessible level of writing (although with perhaps more than it's fair share of cliches like "hitting it out of the park").
2. A little bit of interesting content about the world of working women, including wage inequity and the relative absenteeism of women from the upper tiers of corporate Canada. Did you know that only 3% of CEOs in Canada are women? She also touches briefly on some of the things that are now being highlighted by the #metoo movement.
3. Moving personal story.
Cons:
1. This is a book with an identity complex. It never really could decide what it wanted to be. So Lisson and her ghostwriter and editor/s seem to have settled on a mishmash of family tragedy/life carries on tale and career success story. The result is that neither angle is fully realized. It might have worked better as two separate publications: a long article on her husband's sudden illness and eventual death and a short, better organized book on career building and success. As it stands, Resilience is short book with a long article weaving awkwardly through it.
2. The book opens with 30-something Mr. Lisson's heart attack, which renders him unconscious at the family home. From there, the question of "What will happen to Pat?" is left unaswered until very near the end, sort of dangled like a carrot through the story of Lisa Lisson's career path - her job search, cover letter writing, worth ethic lessons and such groundbreaking advice as "believe in youself." Shall I say it is perhaps in bad taste to use one's dying husband as a strategy for keeping readers turning pages while you discuss shooting television commercials, board meetings and career goals? This made me very icky-uncomfortable as a reader.
3. The title implies that this book will take a bit of a deep dive into the concept of resilience. It doesn't really. With all the extant literature and studies about the topic of resilience, surely just a whisper of some of it should have made it into a book called "Resilience." Not a whiff, not a stat appears.
Things to take away from this book despite the awful structure:
1. Dr. Jane, who provided care for Pat Lisson, said, “When you suffer a loss you can't let it define you."
2. Lisson believes that "diversity is the future" and the double standard will become a thing of the past (business-wise) (p. 126). Well, that's good news!
Disclosure: I won a free copy of this book in a giveaway.
January 23, 2018
I received this book in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Pinky swear!
First off, Lisa Lisson, I applaud you. You are a strong, fierce, independent woman and I am sorry you’ve had to go through the things you have, although I have a feeling you’re the type to tell me it’s alright because you learned from it. I’m applauding you anyway.
Lisa really knows how to pull heart strings. The book starts off with a punch to the gut and it just continues from there. I found myself immediately drawn into the story and the issues Lisa was facing. You could almost feel the panic and sheer distraught coming off the page. Although I felt bad because I knew these were actual events that had happened to someone, I was hooked and wanted to keep reading.
Alternating with these heartbreaking chapters were chapters about Lisa’s rise to the top of FedEx. They begin with her telling us why she chose to work at FedEx and then detailed her climb up the corporate ladder. These chapters were less exciting for me but they were short enough that it didn’t bother me too much. The most insightful part of these chapters were learning that even if you’re a bigwig, you still get anxious when you’re in the process of getting promoted to bigger wig. These chapters just lacked a little bit for me. Maybe I wish there’d been more solid advice here, but I don’t think that’s what this book was trying to achieve.
The biggest downside to Resilience was the repetitiveness. I found that, especially near the end, a lot of thoughts and explanations of her career were repeated. It didn’t take away from the story too much, but it happened enough that I started looking forward to the book being over. Besides that little hitch, I was a little sad when the book finished.
I won’t lie, it was also pretty cool to read a book that takes place in Ontario, since that doesn’t happen very much with what I read!
The one piece of advice that I will be taking away from this is creating a list of goals as a leader for your department, with input from your employees. It seems like such a simple concept but I’d never thought of it before!
First off, Lisa Lisson, I applaud you. You are a strong, fierce, independent woman and I am sorry you’ve had to go through the things you have, although I have a feeling you’re the type to tell me it’s alright because you learned from it. I’m applauding you anyway.
Lisa really knows how to pull heart strings. The book starts off with a punch to the gut and it just continues from there. I found myself immediately drawn into the story and the issues Lisa was facing. You could almost feel the panic and sheer distraught coming off the page. Although I felt bad because I knew these were actual events that had happened to someone, I was hooked and wanted to keep reading.
Alternating with these heartbreaking chapters were chapters about Lisa’s rise to the top of FedEx. They begin with her telling us why she chose to work at FedEx and then detailed her climb up the corporate ladder. These chapters were less exciting for me but they were short enough that it didn’t bother me too much. The most insightful part of these chapters were learning that even if you’re a bigwig, you still get anxious when you’re in the process of getting promoted to bigger wig. These chapters just lacked a little bit for me. Maybe I wish there’d been more solid advice here, but I don’t think that’s what this book was trying to achieve.
The biggest downside to Resilience was the repetitiveness. I found that, especially near the end, a lot of thoughts and explanations of her career were repeated. It didn’t take away from the story too much, but it happened enough that I started looking forward to the book being over. Besides that little hitch, I was a little sad when the book finished.
I won’t lie, it was also pretty cool to read a book that takes place in Ontario, since that doesn’t happen very much with what I read!
The one piece of advice that I will be taking away from this is creating a list of goals as a leader for your department, with input from your employees. It seems like such a simple concept but I’d never thought of it before!
March 22, 2018
I heard Lisa speak at a conference a couple of years ago about her story of love, loss and success. What I found most compelling about her message was that, even though she faced much adversity, she was full of gratitude for her many blessings. Having followed her on social media, I was excited to find out that she had written a book. In it, she describes the many trials she faced in both her personal and professional life and how she overcame them. She is a strong, passionate, and successful woman that leaders should emulate.
This was an excellent March Break read with plenty of reminders of what is truly important in leadership and in life.
This was an excellent March Break read with plenty of reminders of what is truly important in leadership and in life.
March 10, 2022
Although there were many powerful messages that I received while reading this book, I was disappointed because I expected there to be more about the situation with her husband and less about her business acumen. Sometimes her narrative about her business strengths and achievements seemed self-indulgent. I found myself plowing through the business sections, desiring more about her husband's prognosis, etc. and after a small section about him it would go back to her business stories. But she is a trooper and there were lessons to be learned and savored.
December 27, 2017
Fantastic book. Another* great one from ECW Press! I even made some notes. Recommended for those interested in navigating/excelling at life, business, leadership, and family/relationship ebbs and flow.
Reminded me of Option B from Sandberg & Grant.
Send proof of purchase to ebook@ecwpress.com of this book and get a free pdf/epub! cool
(send book title, name of store purchase, receipt number, file type preference)
*Careergasm by Vermunt too
Reminded me of Option B from Sandberg & Grant.
Send proof of purchase to ebook@ecwpress.com of this book and get a free pdf/epub! cool
(send book title, name of store purchase, receipt number, file type preference)
*Careergasm by Vermunt too
July 20, 2020
This book does have some really good advice about advocating for yourself and making goal lists.
However the disjointed story telling made parts hard to follow. And I didn't really like the some of the advice and I felt like there were parts that really ignored a lot of the privalage that she had, and that you need to keep stiff upper lipped.
I feel like I might have liked this book if I came across it at a different point in my life, but where I am now it just really didn't click.
However the disjointed story telling made parts hard to follow. And I didn't really like the some of the advice and I felt like there were parts that really ignored a lot of the privalage that she had, and that you need to keep stiff upper lipped.
I feel like I might have liked this book if I came across it at a different point in my life, but where I am now it just really didn't click.
March 7, 2018
This is a great read. Lisa Lisson is such an inspiring person, sharing stories about how she set and achieved her career goals, sharing intimate details of the heart-breaking loss of her husband and how she got through it, and giving advice to readers looking to advance their careers. Her positive attitude is infectious!
January 27, 2025
An unbelievably inspiring lady! A heart breaking, happy, sad, inspirational read. It resonated hugely with me, and made me look at where I am in my career - and to have more confidence and belief, and to s degree drop the ‘perfection’ in myself when it comes to the next step . Thank you Lisa - you are a rare gem and FedEx are hugely fortunate that you chose them 💜
April 3, 2018
I loved this book, read it in a week and bought a copy.
Not only did Lisa share, very open and honestly her deepest pain, she sprinkled it with her own advice for success and valuable life lessons. Local Burlington author, successful business woman and insightful human being.
Thanks Lisa!
Not only did Lisa share, very open and honestly her deepest pain, she sprinkled it with her own advice for success and valuable life lessons. Local Burlington author, successful business woman and insightful human being.
Thanks Lisa!
May 27, 2019
What a woman. Saw her speak, read her book. Imo a must read for young women starting off, regardless of career choice.
January 17, 2020
I found this book very informative it made me think of things in way different ways. I highly recommend this book to readers that have lost someone in there life.
January 24, 2021
Interesting, moving and motivating story, easy read. I would recommend reading this.
March 8, 2021
Very moving and motivational read. I loved every page.
January 12, 2022
Brilliant. A story of personal and professional resilience, full of life lessons. It awoke all sort of emotions in me: from grief and pain to hope and inspiration.
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October 4, 2024Not raed
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 12, 2025
Inspirational story from a BOSS. Lisa Lisson's story is powerful, heartbreaking, and inspiring. She is an incredible author and leader.
December 28, 2020
I decided to read this because Lisa is proudly Canadian and a fierce leader.
I found her stories about her life (family, childhood, her husband) to be very insightful and was very invested but then she decided to add "life lessons and quotes" to each chapter. It felt forced and preachy and I skipped most of it.
If you only read the chapters on her life, it's a great read but that's only about 40% of the book.
I found her stories about her life (family, childhood, her husband) to be very insightful and was very invested but then she decided to add "life lessons and quotes" to each chapter. It felt forced and preachy and I skipped most of it.
If you only read the chapters on her life, it's a great read but that's only about 40% of the book.
April 13, 2025
This book was not what I expected, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. I am drawn to stories of people recovering from tragedies, but a mom with kids dealing with the 'loss' of her husband isn't one that I relate to. I suppose it was the parallel story of Lisa's role as a senior executive in Canada that intrigued me. The third aspect of the book ~ Lisa's descriptions of her leadership style and business philosophy ~ was unexpected and, at times, seemed out of place. Yet it makes sense, if she is writing a book about her journey, that they would be included. Looking back at the title, it does seem to fit. I suppose the chosen audio clip for the preview was so laser focused on the tragedy of her husband's heart attack, that I wasn't expecting the rest. But... still a good read. I wasn't thrilled with the narration; at times the narrator spoke so fast I actually checked to make sure I hadn't inadvertently selected 2x speed.
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February 24, 2018Part memoir, part business guide, Resilience describes the skills Lisa Lisson learned to find success in a male-dominated industry, and how she tried to use those same skills to save her husband after he suffered a heart attack and fell into a coma.
Lisa’s rise from entry-level marketing specialist to first female president of FedEx Express Canada is inspiring, and she offers some great business advice. The personal side of the story is intimate and emotional, but there were times when it felt a little sentimental. Even though there was a distinct difference in tone between these two storylines, they were thematically linked enough to convey a compelling personal narrative. Overall, Lisa offers genuinely good advice on leadership, coping with loss, and personal empowerment.
(Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
Lisa’s rise from entry-level marketing specialist to first female president of FedEx Express Canada is inspiring, and she offers some great business advice. The personal side of the story is intimate and emotional, but there were times when it felt a little sentimental. Even though there was a distinct difference in tone between these two storylines, they were thematically linked enough to convey a compelling personal narrative. Overall, Lisa offers genuinely good advice on leadership, coping with loss, and personal empowerment.
(Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews