| r first day on earth until our last, we face different | | | | with the support of his mother, family, friends, and |
| levels of adversity. Adversity may be sickness, a | | | | coach. |
| property loss, or the loss of a family member. It may | | | | He returned to playing professional tennis, and there |
| be a lost career promotion or a business setback. | | | | were many more losses than wins. But he stayed |
| How we handle these adversities defines how we | | | | focused and determined and progressively improved. |
| achieve greatness in our lives. | | | | He began playing the top professional players |
| Let me share the story of James Blake, who | | | | competitively, and he began winning against the top |
| overcame multiple adversities -- more than most of us | | | | players. Then he once again started winning |
| would ever experience in a lifetime -- and yet | | | | tournaments. After this long journey, James became |
| achieved greatness. James Blake is a world class | | | | one of the top players in the world. |
| professional tennis player enjoying fame and making a | | | | What can we learn from James Blake’s |
| six-figure income. However, in his childhood, he | | | | journey through adversity to greatness? The following |
| developed a rare disease that required him to wear a | | | | are three keys to making adversity work for you: |
| body brace for years. Other kids teased him, calling | | | | 1. If it Doesn’t Kill You, It Makes you Stronger |
| him Iron Man from the Marvel Comic Books, and | | | | Many times we face adversities and say, If only I |
| he felt left out. During this time, he concentrated on his | | | | can make it through this. It may be a sickness, loss |
| academics, read a wide variety of books, and | | | | of a loved one, job loss, etc. By remaining focused, |
| developed himself as a well-rounded person. He also | | | | determined, and concentrating on the positive, many |
| developed a heightened awareness for others who | | | | times you can become stronger. |
| are going through difficult times. | | | | Parents are now sheltering their children against any |
| Once he had the brace removed, he learned to play | | | | little adversity for fear it might be painful. I say allow |
| tennis with an intense passion not exhibited by many | | | | your children to grow up and stop sheltering |
| other tennis players, because he appreciated the | | | | them from adversity. Teach them how to make |
| opportunity to finally play tennis. He didn’t take | | | | adversity work for them. These adversities and the |
| this opportunity for granted. He attended Harvard and | | | | way they handle the adversities will define who they |
| became the #1 player on their tennis team. | | | | are and prepare them for challenges in the future. |
| As a promising professional player, adversity struck | | | | Some of our greatest business leaders, scientists, |
| again. In 2004, while practicing for a major tournament, | | | | engineers, inventors, humanitarians, and sport heroes |
| he slipped and fell forward striking his neck against the | | | | became the people they are because they overcame |
| metal pole that holds the tennis net. James’s | | | | adversity. |
| doctor said that had James not slightly turned his head, | | | | 2. Adversity Often Develops Unknown Talents |
| James would have broken his vertebra and become | | | | Once the door of adversity closes one opportunity to |
| paralyzed from the neck down. Instead, he was | | | | you, the door of greatness often opens another. |
| hospitalized with a fractured vertebra, blurred vision, | | | | James Blake, first during his sicknesses and then after, |
| and dizziness. | | | | developed his awareness of helping other unfortunate |
| While in the hospital, James did much soul searching. | | | | people. Now he runs free tennis programs for |
| Many family members and friends came by to offer | | | | disadvantaged children. Before his sickness, James |
| encouragement, advice, and support. His coach was a | | | | was not known for his concentration and focus on the |
| constant bedside companion and finally asked James, | | | | tennis court. After his sickness, he developed and |
| Do you want to play tennis again? James said | | | | became known for his mental toughness. When |
| yes, and they developed a plan to start his | | | | experiencing adversity, ask yourself, What positive |
| comeback. | | | | thing can come out of this? |
| With the support of family, friends, and his coach, | | | | 3. Adversity Rallies Your Resources |
| James started his comeback step by painful step. At | | | | While James was sick, many resources arrived to help |
| first when he tried to play tennis, he still had to | | | | him. First, he had the time to step back to reflect on his |
| overcome his blurred vision and dizziness. He had | | | | life, goals, mission, and values. Second, he was able to |
| doubts whether he would ever handle the 125 mph | | | | obtain sound advice from family, friends, and others |
| plus serves of his opponents. | | | | that he might not have been able to receive while |
| Then he suffered another setback. During his | | | | traveling on the road. His setbacks allowed him to take |
| rehabilitation, his father, with whom he had a very close | | | | time to summon resources (advice, help, etc.) he would |
| relationship, developed cancer and passed away. | | | | not have realized if he had been traveling non-stop. He |
| During his father’s sickness, James was by his | | | | made his downtime work for him. |
| side. After his father passed away, James was | | | | When adversity comes, don’t avoid it; attack |
| devastated. However, he regrouped and carried on | | | | adversity with all your resources. |