In my last piece, I talked about the agility required to navigate the chaos of today’s U.S. trade environment. I ended with a nod to resilience—something we’re all building, whether we realize it or not. But as I’ve reflected more on that word, I’ve realized it deserves a deeper look. Because resilience isn’t just about enduring. It’s about staying engaged.

There’s a fine line between resilience and resignation-- or worse, apathy. And in our world—where changes are signaled weekly with a truth or a tweet, and we stand by waiting to see if the change is realized through an executive order and following that a regulation—it’s easy to cross that line without noticing.

We start by adapting. Then we adapt again. And again. The risk is that one day we stop reacting altogether. Not because we’ve mastered the chaos, but because we’ve grown numb to it. That’s not resilience. That’s fatigue.

In the FTZ community, we pride ourselves on being problem-solvers.  We rely on our colleagues, our trade associations, and our regulators to ponder, to discuss and to benchmark.  But when we stop questioning, stop pushing for clarity, stop advocating for better processes or more transparent communication, we risk becoming passive participants in a system that desperately needs our active engagement.

True resilience isn’t passive. It’s not about weathering the storm in silence. It’s about staying alert, staying curious, and staying connected. It’s about continuing to raise our hands, ask the hard questions, and push for smarter solutions—even when we’re tired.

It’s also about community. One of the most powerful moments at this year’s NAFTZ conference wasn’t a panel or a policy update—it was a hallway conversation where you felt so relieved to be talking to someone who completely understood your challenges. That moment of shared experience? That’s resilience in action.

What We Can Do

Lean on the association, if you aren’t already on a committee, working group or task force, join one, then

• Speak up: If a new policy or system rollout doesn’t make sense, say so. Chances are, others are thinking the same thing.
• Support each other: Share what’s working. Share what’s not. We’re stronger when we learn from each other.
• Stay informed: Even when it feels overwhelming, staying current is a form of resistance against apathy.
• Push for better: Whether it’s with vendors, agencies, or internal teams—keep advocating for smarter, more sustainable solutions.

Still on the Court

I’m still picturing that sand volleyball court—knees bent, ready for the next serve. But like agility resilience doesn’t mean standing still. It means staying in motion, staying engaged, and refusing to let the chaos wear us down.

We’re not just surviving this moment. We’re shaping what comes next.