What makes you to Excel in Adversity!

Comments

18 responses to “What makes you to Excel in Adversity!”

1. 

   Pankaj Gaonkar

   May 24, 2012

   Dear Mr. Lohia,
   Thank you for this inspiring post. As you rightly pointed out Adversity is an inseparable part of life & everybody at some or other point of their lives has to face it. History has proved that those with courage & sheer determination have risen victorious form these situations & those with negativity and fear sank & never rose above it.

   What I feel is that the Inertia & procrastination to implement that we all know is good ultimately invites adversity. Timely action taken can save us from facing such a situation and courage, perseverance & determination can help us in this.

   Thanks again for refreshing this concept in our minds! Cheers!!

   Reply
   1. 

      murli

      May 24, 2012

      Thanks for your very well orchestrated comments and feedback! I indeed appreciate the same.

      It is true that adversity is inseparable part of our life. Also, it is not one time event; it shows up time and again in a variety of situations. It presents a great opportunity to Change!!

      Reply
   2. 

      Sunil Khanna

      May 24, 2012

      Murali Sahab

      During 7 years that we worked together, I never realised the hidden talent and potenital that you have as a Inspirational Guru. All of us face adverseries in Life at various stages of our life, at home, with family, at work. Only those who are determined to face challanges, are courageous and learn from experience come out successfully and ready to face further challanges in life similingly.

      Thanks for sharing the concept. Examples as highlighted by you encourages us to face adverseries as part of life and come out as a better human being.

      Reply
      1. 

         murli

         May 24, 2012

         I am overwhelmed by what you have mentioned and your views! These give me the inspiration; many thanks!!

         You are absolutely right on how to face adversities and convert the same into blessings.

         Reply
2. 

   Sunil Khanna

   May 24, 2012

   Murli Sahab

   I came accross the below article today. Thogught of sharing with you.

   How to Turn an Obstacle into an Asset
   11:01 AM Thursday February 23, 2012
   by Leonard A. Schlesinger, Charles F. Kiefer, and Paul B. Brown | Comments (23)

   Share on emailEmailShare PrintA popular post on this site,

   Nine Things Successful People Do Differently, provides a fabulous summary of what makes the difference between those who succeed and those who don’t. But, in our experience, it misses one really important “thing’: Successful people habitually turn obstacles into assets.

   People who succeed at work and in life believe and act as if “everything is a gift.” Well, maybe not every single thing imaginable. But assuming that everything is a gift is a good way of looking at the problems and surprises you’ll encounter in any endeavor, such as, for example, in getting a new venture off the ground, obtaining buy-in with your boss, or launching a new product line in an ultra-competitive market.

   Why should you react to a problem with gratitude, whether you are trying to start a business or create anything else? There are a number of reasons.

   First, you were going to find out eventually what people did and did not like about your idea. Better to learn it as soon as possible, before you sink more resources into the idea, venture or product line, etc.

   Second, the feedback could take you in another direction, or serve as a barrier to your competitors. You thought you wanted to open a restaurant, but a quick survey told you potential customers thought the area was saturated. But more than a few of them said they would love a place that simply had ready-to-go take out to heat up at home.

   Third, you got evidence. True, it was not what you were expecting or even wanted, but that still puts you ahead of the person who is just thinking about doing something (like opening a restaurant in your neighborhood.) You know something they don’t, and that is an asset. You are ahead of the game.

   But what if it’s really bad news. It’s a disappointment. You were absolutely certain that your boss would approve your idea for a new software program, and she said no in a way that is still echoing down the corridor. No reasonable person can define what you’ve encountered as anything but a problem, and most people will try to solve the problem. (“Maybe she will like the idea if I go at it this way instead.”) That’s fine if you can. The problem has gone away and, again, you’ve learned something that others might not know. (The boss hates Y, but she loves Z.)

   But what if you can’t solve it? (She hated “Z,” too.) Accept the situation to the point of embracing it. Take as a given that it won’t ever change, and turn it into an asset. What can you do with the “fact” that it won’t ever change? Maybe it presents a heretofore unseen opportunity. Maybe you build it into your product or service in a way that no competitor (having not acted) could imagine. Could you do it on your own? Could you take the idea to a competitor and use it as your calling card to look for the next job? Instead of resisting and lamenting it, treat it as a gift and turn it to your advantage.

   For a quick exercise showing that this is easier than you think, take a sheet of paper and divide it into three columns. In the left-hand column, list the obstacles and problems that are keeping you from your goal. Then spend five minutes figuring out as many ways as possible to solve these problems, and list those in the middle column. Show your list of problems and solutions to a friend, and ask them to build on your solutions. When you can’t think of anymore solutions, go back to the list of problems in the left-hand column and assume that they can’t ever be solved. Now take five minutes with your friend and figure out how those problems could be an asset or an unrecognized opportunity. Put these assets in the right-hand column. Chances are good that, having completed this exercise, you’ll turn at least one of your obstacles into an asset.

   The thing to remember is this: Successful people work with what they have at hand — whatever comes along — and try to use everything at their disposal in achieving their goals. And that is why they are grateful for surprises, obstacles, and even disappointments. It gives them more information and resources to draw upon.

   Reply
   1. 

      murli

      May 24, 2012

      I cannot thank you enough for sharing very relevant and enlightening article! Good people always do good things!!

      Authors have brought out secrets behind success and successful people very well. Yes, there is nothing like considering “everything is a gift in the life” and to convert “Obstacles into Assets!”. Excellent indeed.

      Reply
3. 

   murli

   May 24, 2012

   To: Uday Chandgadkar Transferred from LinkedIn
   Date: May 24, 2012
   Dear Uday,

   I am very pleased with your feedback and resolve to excel.

   I indeed wish you to get there as early as possible! I would try to post your message on CYI site, so that guests could also benefit from same.

   Regards,

   Murli Lohia

   On 05/24/12 12:49 AM, Uday Chandgadkar wrote:
   ——————–
   Dear Mr. Lohia,

   Excellent. This article will help many to re-group / re-focus in personal as well as professional life to achieve excellence.

   Thank you.

   Uday Chandgadkar

   Reply
4. 

   murli

   May 24, 2012

   On 05/24/12 1:28 AM, Lyndon Berchy wrote: Transferred from LinkedIn
   ——————–
   Dear Murli

   I am more and more impressed with this sharing of ideas, I worked for one of the Largest Oil Companies in the World Exxonmobil , this assignment was in one of the worse most corrupted countries in the World Nigeria, Adversity to change the place and make it better is a task not for the faint hearted.
   I have seen the huge struggle the company faces in this location, I also realized that my leadership to make my department of 25 mechanics excel in their task and in themsleves will cause an impact to the whole operations.
   I did excatly this in the 3 1/2 years I was there, but in the sense of facing the adversity I also realize that it is a bigger task to change the cultural nature of people towards corruption in Countries like Nigeria, Its only when companies actively fight against this corruption and not turn a blind eye to it will they also come with the many adversity you face with a corrupted country, government and people in positions in the company.

   I really enjoy the reading and want to thank you for sharing, deeply appreciated.

   Lyndon Berchy

   Reply
5. 

   Rudra

   May 26, 2012

   A person can excel in adversity, he can astonish excellence in the face of adversities… if only “he has nothing to lose” or people who find themselves back on the ground zero. I don’t think any person who’s in the middle of his journey would want to take that risk of excelling himself by taking a HUGE risk. Probably Japan, Steve Jobs and Ford would not have got this much success if that huge “adversity” had not hit them.

   I think it’s the other way round – it’s the “adversity” that forces a person to “excel”… it’s the hard times that help in getting the best out of him, but again, as your post suggests at the beginning, not everyone is fortunate enough to come out good.

   If I can add one more aspect to your “A-I” elements, that is Luck, wouldn’t that make a bit more logic? Well, many people would argue saying Luck only happens when Preparation meets Opportunity, but I’ve really seen people excelling and coming out of their tough times with help of a little bit of luck as well – you need that, don’t you!!

   I know your post later talks about adversity not being the only and necessary thing for one to excel, but it certainly charges a person to achieve something, isn’t it!!

   Agree with your thoughts that in our normal lives, we like to be busy with routine ruts and rituals and do nothing until we are hit with adversity. Then only, some of us would wake up and win by excelling and others would sleep or suffer. But you got to agree that in today’s competitive and realistic world, people are not that proactive to deal with their adversities until it hits them and hits them hard… and probably that’s where your this very post plays its role… 🙂

   Cheers!!

   Reply
   1. 

      murli

      May 27, 2012

      Many thanks! I respect your thoughts; but I suspect some of these need review. I appreciate that you have given me an opportunity to share my thoughts to help your review and change.

      Adversity does not necessarily force a person to excel. That is why majority of people have not excelled! As mentioned in the post, adversity provides a binary option – those who would choose to go on the right side have the distinct possibility to excel; but who would go back and forth will not and those who go on the wrong side, go down. History is a clear proof, whether it is a common person or community or company or country.

      Luck is the term, people like to use for situations they can’t comprehend or explain. Hence, how luck can stand to any logic?

      Everyone thinks, does and lives, whether one agrees or not, by her/his choice whether time is competitive, challenging or else. If opportunities come by, it again her/his choice to avail the same and be benefited. However, it also known that people have ready made excuses not to do that even!

      Reply
      1. 

         Rudra

         May 27, 2012

         Yes of-course, my, probably a bit ‘immature’, thoughts at times do need some polishing and who better than you to guide me through 🙂

         That’s why I make sure I go through each of your posts, give my views, and then expect a much refined response from you!! That’s how you learn, don’t you??

         Thanks for your well elaborated and kind response!! 🙂

         Reply
         1. 

            murli

            May 27, 2012

            Very true about how we learn! Your response is very illustrious and reflects positive attitude!! Stick to this and that would be the key for you to accomplish what you want.

            Reply
6. 

   Mandar Thosar

   May 30, 2012

   I think I have decoded the secret of this post – People who move on (From A to B to C and so on) are successful and those who just get stuck up at one place (D-D-D-D) are doomed.

   Reply
   1. 

      murli

      May 31, 2012

      Your decoding is right on the dot. Thanks a lot for orchestrating that well!!

      Reply
7. 

   shreya

   May 31, 2012

   Thank you Sir for Interesting post, especially the 9 A–>I elements . I am sure if we apply these points in work field it would definitely give excellet ouput.

   Reply
   1. 

      murli

      May 31, 2012

      You are absolutely correct! I highly appreciate your comments and thanks!!

      Reply
8. 

   Ravi Athalye

   June 18, 2012

   Hello Murli,
   There is information amidst chaos. In product design when a product meets a spec and is tested for spec criteria a lot of potential information remains hidden. The only way to know more weaknesses is to test the product not to spec but to failure point and apply statistics at failure point.

   In a way life in some instances will present impossible situations that present binary outcomes as you point out. Swim or sink. I imagine these are stress points that will reveal robustness of values. What is one willing to let go (or failure in that attribute) for the sake of survival. (Swim vs sink). There are records in which humans desperate to survive did so by doing what was the only way…(even cannibalism)

   Dont know if fairness in treating employees , competition and yes conflicting thinking can yield the results that comes of extreme conflicts.

   Let me know your thoughts.

   Regards,

   Ravi

   Reply
   1. 

      murli

      June 18, 2012

      You have drawn an interesting parallel between “failure point i.e. equivalent of adversity presenting binary options to detect strengths and weaknesses of a product” and “adversity, which a man faces..”. Thanks a lot for your comments.

      To your question in the last, extreme conflicts do present a man opportunity to change. Some do change and start doing what they did not earlier like fairness in treating employees, learning to face competition or conflicting (you probably mean contrarion) thinking. It is important to know that all these qualities and skills can come by one’s own efforts and consciousness, which is far better and enduring!

      Reply