Extra Points – Overcoming Adversity

If you follow the National Football League, you’re team has probably been the victim or recipient of bad calls. As I rooted on my Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, we were beneficiaries of one that was instrumental in the outcome of the game. Looking back over the year, it’s probably evened out. One of the things I learned from coaching high school basketball for 8 years is that officials, regardless of sport, are human and make bad calls. Heck, as a coach I made a lot of bad calls! In the end, it’s not that it happened to you that matters. It’s how you respond.

“Bad calls” happen in life, too. Bad calls can be instrumental in your career and life as well. These bad calls can include – Illnesses and severe health issues for you, family members, or key business leaders; a business partner goes out of business or sells the company; a product you created causes damage or injury; or you might just have one of those “bad days” that leaves you disappointing, discouraged, and distraught.

We’ve all been preached to at some point that “when the going gets tough, the tough get going.” That’s easy to say when you’re not experiencing “tough” at the moment. In the end, you will best adjust and overcome adversity when you have 3 important characteristics – confidence, trust, and perspective. Confidence in your ability; trust on your ability to “win;” and perspective that allows you to be fearless and bold in the face of adversity. We all will face adversity and sometimes need to win against all odds. The championship teams and the championship people will always find a way.

© 2014 Dan Weedin. All Rights Reserved