home | site map | links | about | contact | privacy policy


Embracing Adversity for Achievement

The Quantum Organization


"Show me someone who has done something worthwhile, and I'll show you someone who has overcome adversity." -- Lou Holtz

Success in life depends upon being strong people with clear goals and indomitable spirits. Unfortunately most of us aren't born that way. We grow that way. And that growth can either come from us entering willfully into situations that will cause us to grow, like subscribing to Made for Success, or from the way we react when circumstances come upon us without our consent. The latter is what we call adversity.

Most of us spend our lives trying to avoid adversity, and I guess that is just as well. We shouldn't pursue adversity, but when she arrives, we should welcome her as a foe who, though our interaction with her, will make us into better people. Every contact we have with adversity gives us again the opportunity to grow personally and professionally and to forge our character into one that will achieve much later on.

With that in mind, here are some thoughts on adversity, and how it can help you to succeed in every area of your life and achieve your dreams.

Adversity brings out our resources. Horace said "Adversity reveals genius, prosperity conceals it." When everything is going well, we coast. There isn't a lot of stress, and we don't have to draw too much on the resources that reside within us. But when adversity comes we begin to draw upon each and every resource that we have in order to conquer the circumstances at hand. Adversity then, keeps us sharp. It keeps us using our personal muscle, if you will. That is a good thing because we grow through the use of our resources.

Adversity brings us together with others. Sure a team can have their problems with each other, but when they step on the court, when they experience the adversity of facing another obstacle, they pull together. One for all and all for one, as they say. The next time you experience adversity of some kind, keep your eyes open for how it can bring you together with your family, your co-workers or your team. Then when you are through it, you will find a bond that was created that wasn't there before.

Adversity makes us better people with stronger characters. Never underestimate the power of adversity to shape us inwardly. How will courage, discipline and perseverance ever flourish if we are never tested? After adversity, we come out stronger people and able then to use our character and influence in an even greater way to lead those around us and to improve their lives as well as our own.

Adversity makes life interesting. John Amatt said, "Without adversity, without change, life is boring." How true. Have you noticed that while we are in the middle of adversity we only long to get out of it, but we then spend a lifetime recounting it to anyone who will listen? This is because it spices life up a little. Imagine how boring life would be if everything always went well, when there was never a mountain to be climbed.

Question - If you are in the middle of some adversity right now, what resources are you drawing on? Who are you drawing closer to and working with? What part of your character is being tested, and built up? What can you do to view this adversity as one who will be better for it on the other side?

Remember the words of Napoleon Hill - "Every adversity, every failure, every heartache carries with it the seed of an equal or greater benefit." Believe it, it is true!

About The Author:

Chris Widener is a popular speaker and writer as well as the President of Made for Success, a company helping individuals and organizations turn their potential into performance, succeed in every area of their lives and achieve their dreams.

To see Chris "live" at the upcoming Jim Rohn Weekend Event as he speaks on the subject of Secrets of Influence go to http://Chris-Widener.InspiresYOU.com/ or call 800-929-0434.

Leadership is best defined by the quality of your thoughts, decisions and actions. It is also underpinned by the quality of the tools you use in your role. Be seen to bring true leadership to your organization and act with the authority that it brings to you.

Site Build It! Tools


MORE RESOURCES:

Cabrera brings vocal leadership to Reds
MLB.com
His winning track record and leadership skills were also very coveted traits the club wanted for its very youthful roster to learn from. ...

and more »


Charges and Countercharges of Financial Misdeeds Rile Union's Leadership
New York Times
At first, it seemed like a straightforward matter. Jim McLaughlin, who had led the operating engineers' union local in Southern ...

and more »


2010 Ethical Leadership Conference to Address Ethical Leadership in Today's ...
MarketWatch (press release)
WHAT: The Institute for Ethical Leadership at Rutgers Business School, The International Journal of Disclosure and Governance and Prudential Financial are ...

and more »


Bleacher Report

Ernie Els: CORPORATE LEADERSHIP Inspired by Golf (Exclusive Series)
Bleacher Report
Reistetter has written two books- one on inspirational leadership called "The Approach" and the other on inspiration living called "Love, The Rest of My ...

and more »


The Star-Ledger - NJ.com

Your comments on Mets' toughness and leadership
The Star-Ledger - NJ.com
That sparked a fair amount of spirited debate among NJ.com Mets faithful about both of these players, their toughness, leadership and place in Mets history. ...

and more »


Garfield High principal wins outstanding leadership award
Seattle Times
... is this year's winner of the Thomas B. Foster Award for Excellence, given to a Seattle secondary school principal for outstanding leadership. ...

and more »


CBC.ca

Democratic Leadership Claims They Are Done Changing Reconciliation Bill
Firedoglake (blog)
I can only assume deciding to basically finalize the bill is a sign that the House leadership feels they now have the votes they need. ...
House Leadership Bending the Reconciliation RulesHuman Events (blog)
The Health Care LetdownNew York Times
Dems Prep For All Night Session on Jobs BillFOXNews (blog)
BusinessWeek -U.S. News & World Report (blog) -Politico
all 3,823 news articles »


FCC Broadband Plan May Call for Expanded Higher-Ed Leadership Role
Chronicle of Higher Education (subscription) (blog)
"If we're right, the FCC report will call for a new role of leadership for higher education in this whole area of broadband," said Gary Bachula, ...

and more »


Washington Post

House Leadership Prepares to Vote This Week on Health Care Reform ...
Healthcare Association of New York State
US House of Representatives Democratic leaders have set the process in motion for the House to vote on final passage of comprehensive health care reform ...
What House Passage of the Senate Health Bill Means for AmericaHeritage.org
Bill would cap lawmakers' extra payKansas.com
BLANKLEY: Our sturdy system of governanceWashington Times

all 166 news articles »


The Guardian

GOP leadership slams Obama stance on Israel
The Hill (blog)
House Minority Leader John Boehner issued a statement Monday criticizing the Obama Administration's "escalated ...
Is the PA capitulating to Israel? By Khalid AmayrehAl-Jazeerah.info
British Jews set up body to work with Israeli ArabsJerusalem Post
Israel and the US: Tiff or tipping point?Asia Times Online

all 1,217 news articles »

Google News

home | site map | links | about | contact | privacy policy

© 2010 Defintion Of Leadership & Career Consulting Limited
Powered By CCL WebServices