In our building blocks of success series, we tackle the various foundational blocks we believe are essential for success. Resilience is near the top of the list, because pursuing greatness almost always means you will face losses, mistakes and tough times along your journey. The ability to bounce back is so critical and we hope the stories below will inspire you to dig deep and discover more of your own resiliency.
Edith Snow
When I was born, the muscles in my abdomen were separated. Diastasis recti—not uncommon—can go away on its own, though sometimes may need to be helped along. I was still dealing with it at age four, so the doctor suggested my parents involve me in some sort of strengthening activity. I remember my tummy then, probably because it stuck out so much and people talked about it. My aunt once recalled my toddler-body, describing it as looking like a pregnant four-year-old who was on the brink of labor. My sister would sing at me: “fat brat sat on a cat!” A bully in my dad’s apartment community couldn’t resist my big tummy, calling me a “fat bitch” and punching it so hard the wind was knocked out of me. It was a problem. Read more>>
Sweta Vikram
My father, I believe. He didn’t sit me down and have a conversation about resilience. But in more ways than one … he showed me what resilience looks like in our personal and professional lives. Life will always be filled with ups and downs … how we handle it is up to us. Resilience plays a big role. My focus on habits over motivation or devotion to daily discipline or honoring routines helps me build resilience … something I saw Dad follow diligently. Read more>>
Luana Sandoval
In high school, I faced relentless bullying and cyberbullying for being different. My peers targeted me for never having a boyfriend, cruelly assuming I was gay which I was hiding until I turned 30 years old. They found my interests in opera singing and belly dance peculiar. While they were engrossed in discussing their love lives, I was steadfastly focused on my emerging career as a musician and dancer. This emotional and verbal abuse drove me to work even harder, never giving up on myself despite the immense challenges. Read more>>
Joanne DiCamillo and Nikki Puzzo
We have developed a lot of resilience in our entrepreneurial journey because we wholeheartedly believe in our products and our mission to make lives better with adaptive clothing. Though we have faced many obstacles and numerous rejections, our determination has continued to grow as we have seen the difference we are making in people’s lives. We have a solution to help millions of people who struggle to get dressed every day and we are committed to helping as many people as possible. Read more>>
Alex Mudry-Till
Well my kindergarten teacher did say I was pretty tough back in the day…(funny and also true).
All jokes aside…I think lots of my resiliency has come from my former career as a chef.
As anyone in the food service industry knows, it is a challenging path faced with constant conflict/stress and challenges. When the ice cream freezer goes down in the middle of brunch and you have to plate another 10 ice cream tastings… you can’t just drop your tools and walk away. (I mean you can, people do.) But more often than not you need to figure out a way to push through the challenge. Read more>>
Darian Harris
I got my resilience from my Mom. My mom has always been driven and determined. She’s recently battled a stroke and to see her fight to get back to where she is is motivating. She’s always been my battery and even now I still here her voice when I need some encouragement Read more>>
Stacey Zamani
My children are the fighting force behind everything I have done so far. Every goal and every accomplishment, I always keep them in mind. My life has changed so much in the last few years for the better good and I’ve been able to adapt thanks to an amazing support system like my godfathers James and Delfin and of course my aunts Maritza and Ada. I truly value their wisdom in life since they’ve been through so much. I’m truly a believer of honoring your elders and learning from them even in the smallest of life lessons we can find answers since no one person knows everything, Remaining teachable in all situations of life is where we find success. Read more>>
Adrianne Ortega
I believe I have learned to be resilient from being a first generation Mexican American. My late father taught me there was nothing I could not manage to get through and conquer. He showed me that I could focus and do my best to meet my goals both professionally and personally. Read more>>
Erick Wessel
I get my resilience from my sense of purpose. I’ve endured so many canon events externally with everything happening in the world and internally in my life bubble. I know at the end of the day, I am doing the things I’m meant to be doing. My art and my passion have always been my motivation and I’ve been really fortunate to have something to work towards and make it all worth it. Read more>>
Daniela Falade
Growing up watching my parents work so hard to provide for us while trying to accomplish their own personal goals and go through all sorts of life situations really taught me a few things. Especially now that I have a child of my own, I realize that you truly can’t give up no matter what circumstances may arise. You owe it to yourself to reach whatever goals you have set, and you owe it to your children or anyone looking up to you, to show them what hard work, dedication, teamwork and patience looks like. Read more>>
Young Invent
I would say my mother (Casandra) she worked hard while I was growing up and taught my brother (Adonus) and I never give up and work hard to achieve our dream. I’ve been working on this music thing for years a lot of highlights and a lot more coming just happy I’ve been able to focus on my dream Read more>>
Chanel Oji
My first lessons in resilience were taught to me by my mom. Throughout my childhood, whenever I had trouble overcoming something, she would always tell me, “Do your best and forget the rest.” This was her way of reassuring me that as long as I applied my best efforts to whatever I set my mind to and didn’t give up, I could achieve or overcome anything. I still carry that mantra with me today, along with the application of my Christian faith. One of my favorite scriptures is Philippians 4:12-13, which reads: Read more>>
Elizabeth Walton
My resilience comes from many places including my community, support systems, and studio practice. These relationships and connections are vital. More recently on a personal level I am building resilience by honoring the difference between capability and capacity. I may be capable of achieving the development I want for my jewelry business, while at the same time not have capacity to keep all the plates I wish in the air. Resilience is taking one step at a time, choosing to prioritize over trying to balance the never ending list, and honoring my capacity so that I enjoy the process and grow sustainably. I see this as a practice and not a formula. I will have different capacities at different times based on many factors of life. Being honest with myself about my current capacity in order to enjoy the process allows me the space to feel gratitude for the present and hope for the future. Read more>>
Samantha Aubrey Alejandro
My resilience comes from my mother and father. Growing up, I watched them face challenges with unwavering determination and a positive attitude. My mother always reminded me to stay hopeful and never give up, while my father showed me the value of hard work and perseverance. Their strength and support have deeply influenced me, teaching me to stay strong and keep pushing forward no matter what obstacles I encounter. Read more>>
Greg Alper
I am driven by a need to create. As soon as I could play a few notes and chords on the piano, I began making up my own songs. I was fascinated by the combination of notes into chords and melody with harmony and rhythm to create a musical story. I taught myself music theory. I branched out onto other instruments and (later) studied orchestral music and music from many different cultures. I measured my days by how many hours I could devote to the pursuit of music. Playing, composing and listening to music continues to be my greatest joy. Read more>>
Sedrick Cole Jr.
Have you ever hit rock bottom ? Has life ever beat you down to your knees while at the same time taking your ability to breathe ? Have you ever experienced heartbreak, betrayal, and or mistreatment from those you love ? I most definitely can relate ! The struggles I’ve experienced in life built my tolerance to endure every hardship that presents itself. I found that a high pain tolerance isn’t enough to overcome intense trials and tribulations. Ultimately my unwavering faith in Jesus Christ has produced true resilience in my life. God has helped me through every storm, test, and battle. Jesus is literally the answer! One of my favorite scriptures is “the present sufferings of this current time are not worthy to be compared to the Glory that will be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18). All can agree suffering isn’t pleasant. Read more>>
Mirage
My resilience stems from a wealth of life experiences and a compassionate heart. I recognize that not everyone shares my journey or perspective, particularly in maintaining faith that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Like many, I have faced challenges and hardships, both personally and professionally. However, my steadfast beliefs in GOD, the universe, and the power of manifestation, coupled with the understanding that I am not meant to resonate with everyone, empower me to persevere and move forward. Read more>>
Tyler Fisher
Through all of my trauma and turmoil, rising above one’s circumstances seems ever-present in my work. Yet, it may surprise people to know that I didn’t initially intend for my work to delve so deeply into this concept. Initially, I rejected the notion that I was resilient or that I had done anything remarkable in escaping a life of abuse. Growing up in a whirlwind of chaos and manipulation, one must either learn to adapt or otherwise risk being swallowed whole. My father’s authoritarian grip forced me to find ways to escape mentally and emotionally, even when I couldn’t do so physically. Art became my sanctuary, free from the burdens of reality. Because of this, I was hesitant to allow my personal trauma to infiltrate my creative process. Read more>>
Milli yon
I got my resilience from believing in God and knowing that if i keep my best foot fourth I pretty much achieve anything. I also get my resilience from being a older sister and wanting to set that bar for my younger siblings as well as younger kids. Read more>>
Miri (MJ) Hunter
My resilience comes from those who came before me. How else could I be here? It is the same with my work ethnic. There have been setbacks, disappointments, and just blatant discrimination. I remember being a cheerleader when I was about twelve and our team lost the Championship game and I and the other chereleaders and probably some of the players cried. My mother told me it was a game and I didn’t have the luxury of crying, I needed to get on to the next “game” with a clear head. It was kinda harsh, but kinda realistic. One must keep going. A few tears, some depression, time off, are all necessary, but dawdling was not an acceptable reaction in her opinion. It was a privilege that I did not have time for. She was one of eight daughters that grew up in the segregated South. Those women (my aunts) were tough, and I know they got that resilience from their mother. So my strength/resilience is generational: part of a legacy. In her own way, my mother was telling me that there is so much to do, to accomplish in what really is not a very long time. Read more>>
Yuliya Charamnykh
Always driven by ambition and a career-focused mindset, I never envisioned myself as a full-time mom. Initially, putting aside my professional aspirations to raise my three children was a tough decision. While I was mostly content with my choice, there was always a part of me that missed the identity I had outside of motherhood. The pandemic brought a new perspective. Isolation forced us to spend countless hours with our families and ourselves. It was during one of these moments that I had an epiphany: in a few years, when my kids go off to college, where would that leave me? What would my days look like? This thought terrified me and sparked a shift in my thinking about my future. I started taking better care of my body, but each morning, I struggled to find an outfit that seamlessly transitioned from my workout to other daily activities. I craved an elegant yet practical wardrobe. This realization led me to create something I had been searching for but couldn’t find on the market. Read more>>
LEEAN BROWN
I would definitely say my resilience comes from my faith in God. In my forty plus years of life, I’ve faced various challenges, from failed relationships to health issues. Through it all I found that God remained the only constant when everything else was changing. I grew up in a Christian family and most of us are still Christians today. I believe my godfather, George McGhie, now deceased, helped to deepen my faith in God. He was a lay-preacher in our local Anglican church, always reading faith-based books, and encouraged me in the discipline of fasting from a very early age. In my early twenties, I discovered a lump in my right breast. My prayer life was deepened as I sought the LORD for healing. Luckily for me, after several doctor’s visits and one biopsy, it was fibroadenoma. There were times when my faith in God wavered as I walked the path of worldly pleasures, but I am grateful that God never forsook me. Read more>>
Angelica Eke
I grew up in a family that comes straight from the islands of Samoa. Because the way of life is so much more different here than it is in Samoa, my parents, me, and my siblings each navigated the waters of the Western World together. It’s easy to see that my resilience comes from my parents. Read more>>
Jansen O. Young
I think from childhood, really. I grew up the youngest of 7 children, That comes with a lot of teasing from siblings but it also has a lot of perks in that your parents are a lot more relaxed about the youngest kids. I was always running around the neighborhood and actually felt like I had many different parental influences teaching me many different things. I also had many nannies growing up that helped to create a lot of different perspectives for me. I think that is probably where it started. I will say that though it probably takes a bit more heat before I start to feel the burn, that is not to say I’ve never been burned. If there is anything I have learned about resilience, its as simple as not giving up. I am resilient because I had to be. Read more>>
LAWRENCE MURPHY
When I think about resilience, I think about inner strength and pure determination, By definition, resilience is the capacity to withstand or to recover quickly from difficulties.. In order to succeed, one must be resilient. I started playing sports at an early age- baseball, basketball, lacrosse, swimming and then golf , gold and more golf. Playing sports and losing makes you tough, makes you reflect on what you need to do better the next time you are up to bat or need to make a long drive. Resilience is a state of mind that when coupled with tenacity and the drive for skills improvement becomes a winning combination . Read more>>
Faithlyn Harmony
Well, I think I’ve always had an overcoming nature especially because of the obstacles and struggles I endured as a kid. Growing up being raised by a single mother who battled with mental health set backs and later down the line heavy drug addiction,
I quickly realized that this life is a game, and I have to play it right, and I have to continue to try and win this game no matter what, because I am the only one who can be me and determine my outcome. When I got introduced to my musical family at the performing arts school in Ontario, California;
“Inland Conservatory For The Performing Arts”, Marcus Coleman who became my God Father ignited in me even more a deeper understanding of resilience, and showed me what it will take to be One Of The Greats. Read more>>
Anthony Sampson
My resilience comes from my life experiences and my parents. I’ve always had the mind set of “keep going” no matter what. I watched my mother go to work everyday as a single parent. She never complained and always made a way out of none. There were times my siblings and I went without. My mother simply figured it out and kept her head up. She was bullet proof nothing fazed her. We barely saw her weak. she exemplified strength in any tough situation. My father is who I get my creativity from. He never gave up on his dream as a rapper. As a kid i use to think he’ll keep going hard at it until he was famous or noticed at a high level but as I got older I realized he did it because it made him happy. He faced time in prison frequently and aways came out being him best self. Read more>>
Maria Doka
Resilience. I think a lot of it has to do with our outlook on life. Do you dwell on the positive? Find the good in every day, despite what you’re going through? or do you dwell on the negative? Who are you putting your faith in? This truly makes all the difference. As a Christian, the Lord is my rock and firm foundation. In every area of life and in every season of life. The truth is, all of us will face some kind of hardship in life. This past year has been extremely life changing for my children and I but also a redefining yet beautiful season of life. By God’s strength, support from family and friends, and our church… I am able to withstand anything that comes my way. Read more>>
Marie Pizano
I believe my resilience is derived from a higher energy source, tied to my soul and driven by passion. Read more>>
Justus Logan
January 2020 – As I woke up that morning and looked around, I had fallen asleep in my little red Ford Focus after work, I had been too exhausted to make it inside the house. I checked the clock, it was 04:12 AM and I had to be back at work in about 2 hours. With my uniform still on and my foot on the brake, I was shocked, “that was a first” I told myself. I had fallen asleep in my car many times, which was happening more frequently now, but I had always managed to put the car in the park before my exhaustion took over. I could have easily let off the brake while sleeping and hit the house or crashed into the neighbor’s yard. Read more>>
Katie Shorey
My resilience has been steady build, stemming from my disciplined childhood and learning habits. As my own boss and CEO of 2 self-employed companies, resilience is crucial. Read more>>
Maura Knowles
Resilience has been a recurring theme my entire adult life and that has built my confidence. I’m a Near Death Survivor and working my way back to a healthy vibrant life was the most challenging and gratifying experience. Not only did it build my confidence, it also increased my level of gratitude, especially to my family and friends who gave me tremendous support. Nothing builds or rebuilds confidence like coming back from a tragic health experience. I’ve had to relearn to walk three times in my adult life and each time it seems impossible but I’ve never given up. I’ve been called a “Cockeyed Optimist” which ironically is one of my first audition songs from college. Humor has always been a vital ingredient in my life. As a proud Irish American, I value my Irish wit. Read more>>
Toiah Gordon
My resilience comes from a combination of personal and professional experiences. Overcoming personal challenges has taught me to stay adaptable and persistent. In my previous roles, managing high-stakes projects under pressure strengthened my problem-solving skills and ability to remain calm. My support system, including my family, friends, and mentors, have been instrumental in providing encouragement and guidance. Ultimately, my commitment to continuous learning and my passion for entrepreneurship drive me to push through obstacles and keep striving for success. Read more>>
Boroka Nagy
Growing up in Hungary until the age of 7, I experienced a significant change when my family moved to New York City due to a political changeover in Hungary. My parents wanted to provide us with a better future, and that decision fundamentally shaped my resilience. As a 7-year-old, I went from having my own room, a dog, a big yard, and a tight-knit community to not knowing anyone, not speaking the language, and sharing a single bed with my family in a one-bedroom apartment. This drastic shift was challenging, but it taught me invaluable lessons about life. My parents emphasized the importance of priorities such as family, faith, gratitude, perseverance, and hard work. They instilled in me and my brother the idea that life is not just about the end-result but about using the skills and talents we have been given and staying loyal to the things we have been called to do. Read more>>
Zarina Mendoza Orduno
Resilience stems from having no other choice and having the right people to support you. No one becomes resilient without a community to uplift them. I don’t know if I’m resilient enough, but I’ve bounced back from many adversities from a very young age. I was born in Mexicali, Mexico, a small border town near California. From a young age, my parents wanted me to learn English and study or travel abroad to have more opportunities in life. I attended the first grade of elementary school, learned to read and write in a public school in Mexicali, and in second grade, my parents signed me up in a Catholic school in Calexico, California, to learn English. Every morning, I crossed the border on foot with my father beside me. I hated carrying my backpack everyday before and after school. In second grade everyone knew how to read, write and speak English except me. The kids constantly made fun of me and bullied me. Read more>>
Alana Burgess
I get my resilience from all of my loved ones that came before me, that helped raise me. Growing up I would often hear my dad and grandmother mention “sisu”, usually describing someone they know or the answer to how someone they know overcame a tough time. I always chalked it up to some word that has phased away before my generation, like poppycock (which I also learned from my grandmother waking up from a surgery). I never really thought twice about it until 2020 when the pandemic had me spending lots of time with my roommate in our VERY college apartment. She was reading a book about it and mentions that she think I would like to hear about this Finnish concept of “sisu”. One book, many googles, and lots of questions to my family later, I realized where I get my resilience, and stubbornness. Read more>>
Lisa Frahm
Picture this with me: On the outskirts of Denver, a beautiful countryside exists where the morning mist blankets the rolling hills and drops of dew kiss the dancing grass. As the sun peaks through the clouds, the mist disappears and reveals a hidden gem of perfectly organized flower rows, brimming with color from front to back within the rural landscape. Each morning, here at our flower farm located just east of Parker, Colorado, a different kind of artistry unfolds amidst the rows of delicate blooms and the bees happily napping within the petals of our flowers. At Prairie Hill Flower Co., the secret world of flower farming begins in the early morning starting an intricate string of daily tasks essential to coaxing each plant to bud, creating a bloom that develops into a glorious display of floral perfection. Read more>>
Rapheal Akinyemi
I get my resilience for my mother. I grew up in a single mother household. My mom was an immigrant from Nigeria. She raise me and my sister all by herself she did this all well working two jobs and going to Clayton State College. Read more>>
Stephanie De la cruz
I would say, My Resilience comes from a place of Self control, Self awareness and my Emotional reaction. In life daily ,we are often faced with hardship, trauma, and stressors. Weather it be in family life, social networks or business. There will always be obstacles and setbacks. Resilience is the ability to “Analyze’ your situation and stay hopeful, then take action and most importantly “Adapt”.
I believe Optimism is a built in Characteristic all Resilient people have in common. Through my own personal Experience. I have Overcame many obstacles, such as Childhood traumas, substance abuse, Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault to name a few. I’ve met different people from all walks of life and experienced their resilience. As A life Coach and motivational Speaker, one of the first questions I like to ask is “what’s your story”? Everyone has one where they can find a moment of resilience. The ability to know I went through those trials & tribulations just to tell my amazing story today, gives me such strength and empowerment. Resilience is the biggest part of my story. Read more>>
Chichi Iwuorie
Resilience used to be a foreign concept to me. I wanted to understand what it truly meant, and how to harness its power. But resilience wasn’t a book I could read or a class I could take – it was an experience birthed from the fires of life. My parents were the first to show me its essence. Witnessing their relentless pursuit of success was a masterclass in perseverance. They juggled work, raising a family, handling finances, and going to school – the weight of their dreams under constant pressure. There must have been moments when they felt like giving up like their goals would forever remain just out of reach.But they never did. Their strength in through countless challenges created a definition of resilience in me. It wasn’t until I embarked on my own ambitious journey that I grasped the meaning my parents had shown me. Six years on that path, and with each obstacle overcome, I’ve grown stronger and wiser with my faith in God. Read more>>
Maggie Rockin Guadarrama
I’m the eldest of my family, growing up with an Army veteran father, coming back from Vietnam War and suffering from PTSD, trauma and alcoholism, I learned at a very young age to become strong at heart. I had to grow up fast and become buoyant in a fast changing environment. Many other events happened in my young life that pushed me to become a survivor, stay up float and not drown in toxic family surroundings. Even though, I grew up fast, it wasn’t because I wanted to be that way. I yearned to have a normal childhood and enjoy an innocent life, but my life was far from that want. Over time, I learned to survive and defend myself with everything I could, but life has yet given me more on my shoulders and I keep my head on strong. If you ask me again, where do I get my resilience from, I would answer, “Thanks to my father, he made me strong and taught me there is always an answer to a question and a solution to a problem.” Read more>>
Grandpa Moses
It is natural to keep going, no matter what. I received a permanent heat related injury at work over 1 year ago, after 4 months of physical therapy I have THANKFULLY been able to begin drawing once more, complete the lettering for the WIG POWDER cover, the endpapers & centerfold as well. I am still unable to be out in the sun or function in the day. Due to this I have adjusted to a nocturnal lifestyle. Like many Americans I am also in the process of downsizing, all my belongings have been in storage for over a year. I have put on hold the art I was working on & have gone ahead working on series 2 (see pictures). Without my supplies I have used a wash of morning coffee grounds for dirt, childrens’ model paints & back-to-school colored pencils for the cornstalks & a recycled sky painted long ago. In this way I am have been able to keep moving the story forward.
With a few final touches the final panel of series 1 will be complete. Strange having it packed away for all these years & inaccessible has allowed me to narrow my focus & set my sights on series 2. Read more>>
