Imagine standing atop a mountain, the waters receding below, and realizing you are one of the last humans alive.
What emotions would you feel? What actions would you take?
For Deucalion, the Greek mythic equivalent of Noah, this was no hypothetical question. It was his reality. He and his wife, Pyrrha, emerged from their ark to face a world drowned and desolate, and from that blank slate, they built humanity anew.
We Each Have Survived Great Floods. These Were Mine.
I've had multiple "Deucalion moments" throughout my career.
After 9/11, the wreckage of the neighborhood where I worked had me wondering if New York City and the emotional scars would ever heal enough for me or the world around me to rebuild.
When a long career as a government attorney and executive abruptly ended after conflicts with a challenging boss, my career felt more like flotsam in a receding tsunami than anything with a future.
And the whirlpool of personal and financial shifts that I faced after a business divorce in 2019 --immediately followed by the human, economic, and social shockwaves of the pandemic --- left me astounded that anyone could find a hill to stand on, anywhere.
The Power of Vision in the Face of Destruction
Deucalion’s myth, like my own stories above, begins with devastation.
Zeus, king of the Greek gods, enraged by human decadence, unleashed a catastrophic flood. Yet within this destruction, Deucalion and Pyrrha found purpose. Guided by a vision imparted through the oracle of Themis, they were instructed to “throw the bones of their mother over their shoulders.” After some thought, they interpreted this cryptic message: the bones of their mother referred to the stones of Mother Earth.
By casting stones behind them, they witnessed a miracle. The stones Deucalion threw became men; Pyrrha's became women. From this act, humanity was reborn—not in its previous form, but in a stronger, rock-boned version, fit to endure life’s challenges.
Those rock-solid humans are the ones, like you and me, who inhabit the world today.
Three Leadership Lessons from Deucalion & Pyrrha
Embrace the Challenge of Starting Over. Deucalion and Pyrrha’s journey reminds us that rebuilding is never easy. Leaders facing massive disruptions—a company restructuring, market collapse, or personal career setback—must summon the courage to look at desolation and see potential. Rebuilding requires grit, creativity, and a willingness to experiment, even when the odds seem impossible.
The Importance of Interpretation. The oracle’s instructions weren’t straightforward. Like leaders interpreting ambiguous market signals or navigating complex team dynamics, Deucalion and Pyrrha had to decode their next steps. Leaders must cultivate this ability to interpret unclear information and make bold decisions based on vision and intuition.
Innovation from the Basics. When Deucalion and Pyrrha used stones to create humanity, they worked with what was available. This speaks to the importance of resourcefulness. True leadership doesn’t require ideal circumstances—it thrives in scarcity. When faced with limited resources, ask: How can I use what’s at hand to create something extraordinary?
Building a Legacy of Resilience
Deucalion’s story teaches that humanity -- and leaders -- must adapt to endure. As mentioned above, his descendants were not the golden figures of Greek mythology’s past; they were us: humans, imperfect but resilient. Take heart from this. Perfection isn’t the goal; persistence and creativity is.
Risk-averse professionals like attorneys are particularly vulnerable to feeling overwhelmed and swept away when Great Floods sweep their old lives away. Lawyers and other high-performers don't get where they are because nothing has gone their way in the past. They are used to winning.
And so, as I found out, when the winning streak suddenly becomes an overwhelming loss, the entire world can seem like a mass of ruins and rocks.
As you face your own professional deluge, remember: even from the rubble, a brighter future can be born. Cast your stones wisely, and build a legacy that endures.
Have you ever had "Deucalion moments"? Share in the comments.
👉 To explore more lessons from myths like this one, check out my latest Myth, Leadership, & Life YouTube interview: watch here. Don’t forget to like, comment, share, and subscribe. Because...
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I'm Scott Mason, The Myth Slayer. I am an attorney and former C-Suite executive, coach, speaker, podcaster, and Master of the Mythic. I graduated from Columbia Law School and have spent years drawing on the full depth of a background spanning the private, public, and nonprofit sectors to provide lawyers feeling stuck or stagnant in their careers or as leaders with a unique (and fun!) system to help them live a life that's epic.
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