can be learnt, says Menkes. Vivia Hickman, CEO of Queen Victoria Women's Centre and former CEO of the Melbourne International Arts Festival, agrees about the importance of purpose. "Commitment to the cause is huge for me. It keeps me constantly in touch with something that's of worth. I can't do work I don't believe in." The ability to find order in chaos has two primary elements, according to Menkes: clarity of thought and the drive to solve the puzzle. "Creative problem solving is the thing I like best about the role," says Hickman. "With experience, you come to realise there isn't a problem that can't be solved. This instantly reduces stress." This echoes the words of Dave Dillon, CEO of Kroger, one of America's largest grocery retailers. "I've never found a problem that I thought was insurmountable." Master stress and make it work for you Make adrenaline your ally "In the untrained mind," says Menkes, "adrenaline acts as a noisemaker and distracter, causing us to diffuse our attention and lose focus. But when you become familiar with the effects of adrenaline, you can use it to intensify your focus." Practice, practice, practice Practice helps master our reaction to stress. So do experiences that support a person's sense of competence under pressure. In his book, Menkes gives the example of Joe Swedish, CEO of Trinity Health Systems in the US, who attributes his calm and focused attitude under pressure to his mentors. It wasn't something he was born with, it was