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From Hardship to Purpose: A Story of Resilience
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Recovery is so much more interesting than perfection.
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Mistakes Don't Define Your Worth
Mistakes are just a part of doing business, and they can actually help you grow. It’s not about trying to avoid failure altogether, because that’s unrealistic. What counts is how you deal with it. Recovery is key—learn from what went wrong, adapt, and use those lessons to get better. How you bounce back and use those experiences is what really shapes your success.
Stories of failures, setbacks, disappointments and
RECOVERY!
I remember seeing the pre-Broadway engagement of Spider-Man: The Musical, which had a lot of problems. It was early in the preview stage, and right in the middle of the play, the flying apparatus didn’t work. A voice came on and stopped the show. There was clearly something they needed to fix. It took a while, and then they said, “OK, we’re resuming.” When the actor actually flew, the applause in the room was incredible. Any time I’ve ever been in or seen a play where something has clearly gone wrong—and the actors, the crew, and the team solve it right before our eyes—whether it’s a small thing like a line flub or a big thing like a flying apparatus not working, the audience applauds. They love it. They love it even more than if everything had gone perfectly.
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In one of my recent CEO workshops, there was a young vice president who attended as a guest, and I threw her right into the exercise. I asked her to do everything the same way as all the CEOs who were attending. We did an exercise where you had to listen to your partner and then re-create what your partner said. As she started, she was fine, and then all of a sudden, she couldn’t remember anything her partner had said. There was a long pause. I wasn’t sure—was she going to giggle, leave the room, or turn to me and say, “Why on earth did you make me do this?” She paused, and then, almost like magic, as if someone had gifted her speech, she began speaking and finished the exercise. The room went nuts. The support from the other CEOs was far greater than it would have been had she delivered a tidy, perfect response.
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I met a superhero in Nevada earlier this month. He started his own excavation company, and so many things went wrong. He was convinced he would have to declare bankruptcy and that everything he had built as an entrepreneur was going to fail. And then he turned himself around. He continued to work, make connections, and overcome challenges. He now has a very successful business. That’s a superhero to me: when you’re so down that you think you’ve lost everything, and then through perseverance and courage, you recover.
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In one of my recent CEO workshops, there was a young vice president who attended as a guest, and I threw her right into the exercise. I asked her to do everything the same way as all the CEOs who were attending. We did an exercise where you had to listen to your partner and then re-create what your partner said. As she started, she was fine, and then all of a sudden, she couldn’t remember anything her partner had said. There was a long pause. I wasn’t sure—was she going to giggle, leave the room, or turn to me and say, “Why on earth did you make me do this?” She paused, and then, almost like magic, as if someone had gifted her speech, she began speaking and finished the exercise. The room went nuts. The support from the other CEOs was far greater than it would have been had she delivered a tidy, perfect response.
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I met a superhero in Nevada earlier this month. He started his own excavation company, and so many things went wrong. He was convinced he would have to declare bankruptcy and that everything he had built as an entrepreneur was going to fail. And then he turned himself around. He continued to work, make connections, and overcome challenges. He now has a very successful business. That’s a superhero to me: when you’re so down that you think you’ve lost everything, and then through perseverance and courage, you recover.
No Shutting Down!
After a setback, it’s natural to want to shut down, but it's definitely possible to bounce back. Start by acknowledging the issue, then seek advice, coaching, or support. Use proactive strategies to address the problem, rebuild your confidence, and get back to a sense of normalcy. With this approach, you’ll be better prepared to tackle future challenges with renewed confidence and determination.
YOU ARE IN GOOD COMPANY!
Perfect is boring. Recovery is thrilling.
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Striving for perfection is not helpful.
Striving for excellence is the way to go! |
Nelson Mandela Quote
"Do not judge me by my successes." |
Resiliency and recovery are authentic human experiences.
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MANY SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE HAVE OVERCOME FAILURES
You are in good company.
Steve Jobs: Co-founder of Apple, Jobs was famously ousted from the company he helped create. He went on to found NeXT and acquire Pixar, which became highly successful. Eventually, Jobs returned to Apple and led it to become one of the most valuable companies in the world.
LeBron James: Growing up in a rough neighborhood, LeBron faced numerous hardships. Through sheer talent and determination, he became one of the greatest basketball players of all time and an influential figure in social justice.
Walt Disney: Before founding Disney, he faced numerous setbacks, including the bankruptcy of his first animation studio. He persisted, ultimately creating a global entertainment empire.
Oprah Winfrey: Oprah faced significant personal and professional challenges, including being fired from her first television job. She used these experiences to fuel her drive, eventually becoming a media mogul and influential philanthropist.
J.K. Rowling: Before the success of the Harry Potter series, Rowling faced multiple rejections from publishers and personal struggles, including financial difficulties and depression. Her persistence led to her becoming one of the best-selling authors in history.
Thomas Edison: Edison experienced many failed experiments before successfully inventing the lightbulb. His famous quote, "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work," exemplifies his resilient mindset.
Howard Schultz: The former CEO of Starbucks was turned down by over 200 investors when he initially sought funding. His perseverance helped transform Starbucks into a global coffeehouse chain.
Arianna Huffington: Before founding The Huffington Post, she faced numerous rejections and a failed political campaign. She persisted and built one of the most influential news platforms.
LeBron James: Growing up in a rough neighborhood, LeBron faced numerous hardships. Through sheer talent and determination, he became one of the greatest basketball players of all time and an influential figure in social justice.
Walt Disney: Before founding Disney, he faced numerous setbacks, including the bankruptcy of his first animation studio. He persisted, ultimately creating a global entertainment empire.
Oprah Winfrey: Oprah faced significant personal and professional challenges, including being fired from her first television job. She used these experiences to fuel her drive, eventually becoming a media mogul and influential philanthropist.
J.K. Rowling: Before the success of the Harry Potter series, Rowling faced multiple rejections from publishers and personal struggles, including financial difficulties and depression. Her persistence led to her becoming one of the best-selling authors in history.
Thomas Edison: Edison experienced many failed experiments before successfully inventing the lightbulb. His famous quote, "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work," exemplifies his resilient mindset.
Howard Schultz: The former CEO of Starbucks was turned down by over 200 investors when he initially sought funding. His perseverance helped transform Starbucks into a global coffeehouse chain.
Arianna Huffington: Before founding The Huffington Post, she faced numerous rejections and a failed political campaign. She persisted and built one of the most influential news platforms.
