By Peter Jeff
The Leadership Mints Guy

Are you having a bad day? Here are few historical examples to provide some relief .

In the Civil War, Confederate General John Hood lost a leg and part of an arm. But he could still perform. After the war, General Hood went on to father 11 children in 10 years—including three sets of twins.

With adversity comes Power.

For example in the early 1900s, golfers noticed that their golf balls flew farther when they were nicked or cut. In 1908, the Spaulding company started manufacturing golf balls with dimples.

With adversity
Comes Durability.

Forest rangers tells us that the sturdiest trees are found at the timberline where the storms strike with the most fury. See previous Leadership Mint on adversity enhancing durability.

With adversity comes Opportunity.

John F. Kennedy was asked how he became a war hero. “It was easy. They sunk my boat.”

With adversity comes Resiliency.

Jack Nicklaus had his worst professional round of golf – a 13 over par 83 at the British Open. The next day he shot a 4-under par 66. Read more on sports comebacks in this previous Leadership Mint.

With adversity comes Achievement.

Alain Robert , frustrated as a boy when he was locked out of his apartment, scaled an 8-story building to climb into a window. He went on to scale the Eiffel Tower and the Sears Tower with his bare hands.

With adversity comes Exemplar Performance.

After all a tea kettle sings best, as the wit said, when it’s up to its neck in hot water. Airplanes take off against the wind. It’s the resistant that let’s the airplane fly. The Japanese word for optimism (rakkanteki) means having enough challenge to give life meaning.

With adversity, comes a Quality of Life.

Arnold Schwarzenegger, born in Austria, lived a house that had no toilet or refrigerator until he was 14. He went on to become an accomplished body builder –4-time Mr. Universe— a Hollywood movie star and Governor of California. And how have you leveraged adversity in your organization? I look forward to reading your comments. Use the Comments section below.

Today’s ImproveMINT
Think of adversity as a partner in performance improvement
to keep your leadership thinking in mint condition.

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