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.
L.a. Busteed
Resilience is a word that sometimes feels almost inaccessible. To me, it indicates a fervor to continue in the face of great adversity; a commitment to strength; the belief that there’s nothing that can stop you. My resilience developed early on in life, through a lesson that hit hard but now brings me strength: no one else will continue this n for you. No one will fight for you the way that you fight for yourself. That may sound harsh, but it makes me feel incredibly empowered: you’re telling me that all I need in this life is me? All I need is to believe in myself? All I need is that one flame, that one spark to keep going? The answer to all of these questions is a resounding yes. And more than that, you never know who is watching you. Someone out there needs to see someone exactly like you experiencing all that you experience, and to see you decide to keep going anyways. Read more>>
Poorna Prakash
My resilience comes from a blend of personal experiences and the people around me. As I grew up, I slowly watched family members encounter some medical challenges and watched as they dealt with them with quiet determination. This taught me that strength lies in resilience rather than a quick fix. In my own journey—learning to find my way through somewhat complex research projects and then balancing leadership roles with personal commitments—I have had to learn to adapt and find solutions even when things feel like they are piling up. The mindset reinforces itself from the reminders of family and mentors who encourage me to see setbacks as moments of learning and growth. Resilience is about growing and believing. Read more>>
Audrey Davis-dunning
Resilience is in my DNA! My mother, my grandmother, my father and the unbelievably strong and intelligent men in my family laid a solid foundation for me. They regularly shared family stories of our fortitude and resilience. Those stories shaped the way I approach life and any challenge before me. Read more>>
Amanda Moffett
I draw my resilience from three main sources: 1) my faith in God, 2) mental strength that my parents instilled in me, and 3) my drive to provide a beautiful life for my family and take great care of my children. Those three things motivate me in life so much and help me keep pushing on the hard days. My faith in God has always been important to me, and He has been faithful and so merciful with me through my life. I owe Him everything. And my parents have always pushed me in the most healthy, kind, and loving way – always encouraging me and teaching me to dream big, think outside the box, do things differently, and to always remember “where there is a will, there is a way.” I’ll always carry that with me. Finally, my husband and children are my heart of hearts. They inspire me and help me keep going when I’m discouraged. My resilience in life is in large part for their benefit because I love them so much. Read more>>
Shelli Rottschafer
Currently, I am in my second act as I have returned to graduate school to study poetry and nature writing. Previously, I was / am a Professor of Spanish who taught at a small liberal arts college in western Michigan. Writing has always a been a passion of mine, and after teaching for 17 years at that particular college, and for 27 years overall I made a life change. I have always been an advocate, whether for environmental or social justice. I am staunch believer that Women’s Rights are Human Rights, and our humanity is intrinsically connected to place, and how we interact with other beings. Read more>>
Yihuan Zhang
I get most of my resilience from my family. They have supported most of my decisions since high school. When I first told them I wanted to be a filmmaker, even though they didn’t like the idea at first, they still showed their support. They helped me with my first short film by finding locations in my hometown, finding actors, and even offering some financial support. Although we argued quite a bit during the first year after I made this decision, they still encouraged me to attend film school to learn more. They are the reason I was able to study at USC and come to LA. Read more>>
Joy Wagner
My journey has been shaped by a series of profound personal and professional experiences, including bankruptcy, divorce, tragic loss, and the need to continuously reinvent myself. Through it all, I’ve learned that everything is temporary, and the only way forward is through perseverance. My strong faith keeps me grounded, enabling me to maintain a positive attitude and push through life’s challenges. Read more>>
Derek Griffin
I can attribute my resilience from overcoming my parents divorcing when I was at the young age of 10 and an only child. I was thrust into adulthood when my mother explained that I had to become the man of the house in the absence of my father. I assumed the role as best I could, considering. I took the challenge to heart and made it a mission to be a better man and father when the opportunity would present itself. It became my purpose no matter the obstacles that I knew I would have to face on my life’s journey. I knew my mother needed me to step up! Therefore I did just that! Read more>>
Shena Ramnarine
I get my resilience from growing up an a home of 6. Because I moved a lot growing up, we learned life skills at a young age and was held responsible for our actions very early. As kids we tend to figure out what we’re good at and that confidence in self helps build the foundation of resiliency. In my later years, early 20s, I joined the military and really leaned on that foundational resiliency seeing as how there was a lot of overcoming obstacles, moving, deployments and different work environments, being adaptable helped with the many transitions. Read more>>
Ginny Underwood
My resilience and ability to persevere is in my blood. I’m a descendent from the Comanche and Kiowa peoples. Like all Tribal people, my ancestors endured unimaginable hardships throughout history, yet they were able to find a way through it and to maintain their identities through culture and traditions. I’m blessed with parents and role models who demonstrated how to be diligent in my beliefs, who valued innovation and creativity, and taught me how to forge my own path to make a difference in the world. Read more>>
Amy Barlowe
My resilience and work ethic have been intertwined ever since I chose to play a musical instrument at 9 years old, a fact that haunted me throughout my entire early musical life since most violinists who achieved the kind of success that I sought had begun their studies with excellent training between the ages of 2 and 4. With numerous obstacles and potential deterrents to overcome, due in large part to my having begun to study the violin seriously at the ridiculously old age of 16 ½, and after many years of “catching up”, the outcome has been a happy one because of the realization that turning obstacles into assets works! Read more>>
Lauren Webster
I come from a family of self-made entrepreneurs, so I’d say that a lot of my resilience came from watching them. Growing up with a single mom, she never let failure be an option. I watched her create a million dollar business from the ground up, my mom never let anything keep her down and anything she touches turns to gold because of that. My dad was always self employed in the commercial fishing industry and dominated whichever avenue he pursued, at one point even starring in a reality show for the Discovery Channel called Cold River Cash. Learning from their experiences showed me that anything is possible as long as you work hard and never give up on yourself. Read more>>
Rodney Smith
I get my resilience from a number of resources and mainly stemming from a strong Family Tree of survivors . The adversity that those before me, what they faced, and triumphed through, is a testament of the resiliency within generations of family members before I entered this stage of life. For someone like me who needs no convincing that reincarnation and occult aspects of living ( cut off from view by interposing something ) truly exist , perhaps some of those ancestors could have been me, myself and I interacting with life in a multitude of ways. This in itself could be how I have been able to have the resiliency to succeed in this current life experience, with a higher percentage of chance to manifest a life for myself and my children, that best serves my goals, with the sustenance to make it through and out the other side, all the while creating my own set of reality, and rules, within this limited systematically run world experience. Read more>>
Samantha Johnson
I would have to say I got my resilience from my Mother. She has always shown me what a strong woman looks like. As I have gotten older, my resilience comes from within me, my inner peace. Read more>>
Nina Copeland
I get my resilience from facing difficult situations, starting with the trauma I experienced in childhood. I had to overcome physical and mental abuse, manipulation by people around me, and many personal struggles that carried into my young adulthood. Over the years, I’ve come to understand the importance of shaping my mindset and having the right people in my circle—people who could guide me and push me forward when I didn’t believe in myself. As I’ve faced challenges in life, I’ve found my strength and resilience by recognizing my worth, even in the darkest situations. My own battles with mental health have helped me press through, discover who I truly am, and unlock the strength to keep pushing forward. Read more>>
Lisa Marie Robinson
I think we are all born with resilience. However, most of us don’t know how to turn inward and really dig deep inside and find it and use it. Most of the time, we listen to all the nay sayers or what society or even our family and friends are telling us. To me, resilience goes along with Grit. And I learned at a young age, that if I wanted to make anything of myself, if I wanted to succeed, I had to dig deep inside and have that Grit and find that resilience to keep moving forward even when it seems like everything is stacked against me. Resilience is all about not giving up, even when others say you should. Resilience is all about turning inward, deep within yourself and putting one foot in front of each other, even if it is at a snail pace. It’s about realizing your worth and ignoring the nay sayers. And it’s something that comes from within. Read more>>
Frank New
My resilience comes from learning how to take of myself and support myself from a very young age. I grew up fast because I had parents who did not support me so therefore I had to create the life I wanted (dreamed). I have worked since I was 15 years old so when it comes to resilience, I understand what it means to survive because you have no choice and making a ton of mistakes in the process has led me to where I am today. I regret nothing. Because of that foundation I know how to pivot and make it happen when something is not working, I do not dwell. To me to be resilient is understanding how to reinvent yourself and work through difficult situations where the only option is to come out on top. Read more>>
Sarah Goldberg
My ability to withstand and recover quickly from difficulties has been truly found in my relationship with Jesus Christ. He has been my foundation and apart from Christ I genuinely know that I would not be able to persist through difficult times.
Association!!! – Along side of this would be mentors that I have had over the years.
God placed Vinny & Dayna into my life over 13 years ago and I can honestly say, the lessons that I have learned from their experience and advising has been a big part of who I am today. They have help reshape how I think about relationships, finances, my spirituality, etc. Read more>>
Narendra Saraf
Life is a the most precious gift anyone can ever receive. Although it is a most precious gift, core of this gift is made out of IF!!!!!!!
There’s always a big if , no matter at what point you are in your life. This can either take you to the pinnacles of success or you may hit the rock bottom. This IF is the unknown. However, instead of focusing on unknown and I always chose to focus on known and that is my ability to do my share. Instead of focusing on “What if…..” we need to invest our energy on what I am supposed to do. Read more>>
Eric Rau
Growing up, my model of resilience was my maternal grandmother, June, whose adverse life experiences and severe health problems would have devastated someone with less ability to grow and adapt and keep moving forward, which she always seemed to do with grace and loving-kindness.
As an adult, my recovery from alcoholism and addiction gave me a program that saved my life, a community to support me, and a fellowship that shared its experience, strength, and hope with whatever I might be facing. Resilience was a natural outcome that emerged over the years of this support system, allowing me to grow and strengthen and be flexible enough to “live life on life’s terms” without needing to pick up a drink or a drug to numb or embolden myself. Read more>>
Khalil Barksdale
From the moment I was born into the world I’ve had to stare in the face of some of the worst aspects of human nature and the world alike. For over two decades I’ve had to bear the weight of; abuse, abandonment, alienation, depression, discrimination, separation, exploitation, and even extortion. All of which, not only exposed me to the raw reality of life at a young age but it helped me peer into the depths of who God made me to be. On the days I’ve had nothing and no one, it was because of my faith in God that morphed me into a man that could, with every adversity, overcome the darkest parts of this world and even myself. The mirror that the Lord has shown me allowed me to understand he made me be a; lover, leader, empathizer, motivator, innovator, mediator, philosopher….etc. All starting with a prayer to the lord, coming from a young child with a soul full of agony to one day become a beacon of peace, love, and joy for everyone. Read more>>
Jocelyn Dejesus Hilario
My resilience comes from knowing no one is coming to do my part. Knowing what I want and working towards the goal is 75% of success. The most rewarding accomplishment are always the ones that take the most work. Read more>>
Ravia
My resilience comes from an inner knowing. An unshakeable feeling that there’s something greater for me and I was born to be something other than ‘normal’. When I was a child, I was in a very traumatic car accident.
A drunk driver, who’d been circling the neighborhood at very high speeds, collided with me, my mom and baby brother. My mom died instantly. My baby brother died a few days later. I survived.
I was involuntarily thrust into survival mode as a child. Without therapy, I had to figure it out. My relationship with God played, and continues to play a major role in that. Read more>>
Maria Jenkins
My resilience came from life experiences. As a child I grew up in the home of my grandparents. We did not have much as far as material things but they gave us lots of love and made sure we knew the Bible. Many times I wore hand-me-downs from my sister, they often had patches on them. We grew up with farm animals and large garden. We was taught to be happy with what you have and we made the best out of everything. Although it was my sister and I mostly there was times she went with her father ( which I just learned a few months ago was my father also), I often played alone climbing trees, making corn dolls, or helping my grandparents in the garden. I had an aunt that played a pivotable part in my life also. We would get up early on Saturday morning grab a biscuit from Hardees and head to the laundry mat. Read more>>
Samantha Nicole Jurina
I definitely got my resilience from my parents. I remember a specific time when I was very young, my parents took me ice skating. My dad was helping me learn and I was getting so frustrated when I kept falling. Everyone else flying past us. He told me “when you fall just get back up and try again”. I’ve kept that with me for my whole life, it’s something I won’t ever forget. Read more>>
Renee Dumouchel
I think about this question a lot – where does resilience come from? I tend to be a ruminator… I turn things over in my mind many times over, sometimes to positive effect, though often to detriment. My ability to analyze and see things from myriad perspectives is one of my greatest strengths… in observing people and experiences I gather data that helps me see the world through a nuanced lens. Ironically, it is this data gathering that feeds my empathy. And yet, rumination can be crippling. ‘What could I have done to engender a different, more favorable outcome.?’ ‘Was that the best way forward?’ ‘Why didn’t I do more of / less of / a better job of…?’ Read more>>
Tere Pensel
Personally, I find my resilience in the experiences life has offered me. The loss of my mother when I was very young, and the diagnosis of autism for my youngest son, are two moments that have left an indelible mark on my existence. Both situations forced me to make a crucial decision: to move forward or give up. I chose to go through these difficult times with determination, firmly believing that, as painful as it was, I had to keep going. Read more>>
Soham Patil
I draw my resilience from a combination of personal experiences, the lessons I’ve learned from mentors, and the inspirations I’ve found in art and design. Growing up, I was captivated by architecture, photography, and the way creative processes often mirror life in terms of trial, error, and perseverance. Figures like Louis Kahn, Hilma af Klint, and László Moholy-Nagy taught me that great work is born from embracing uncertainty and pushing boundaries. Read more>>
Joshua Adair, Lcsw, Cctp
Growing up homeschooled in rural East Texas, I entered college with a 7th or 8th grade education. I felt out of place, unsure if I could catch up, let alone thrive. But the thing about resilience is that it blossoms from struggle. Every step of my journey taught me something invaluable about courage and my own resilience. It wasn’t just about learning math or science; it was about learning who I am and how to keep moving forward when the cards that I was dealt were clearly stacked against me. Read more>>
Sonya Revell
My resilience is deeply rooted in my childhood experiences. Growing up in a sometimes chaotic household with an alcoholic parent, and facing my father’s suicide attempt—which brought him dangerously close to death when I was 13—was profoundly challenging. As a latchkey kid, I spent a lot of time alone, which forced me to develop a sense of independence and perseverance at a young age. I learned early on that life would knock me down, but I had to find the strength to get back up, again and again. Read more>>
Qaysean Williams
My resilience stems from being born with Erb’s Palsy, a birth injury that affected the use of my arm. Growing up, I had to navigate life using just one hand, adapting to a world that wasn’t designed for someone like me. There were no instruction manuals, no role models, and no representation of anyone sharing my experience. Yet despite my physical disability, I was determined to live life fully, just like any other kid. Read more>>
Danesha Ward
I often ask myself where my will to fight truly comes from. The response to where my resilience comes from continues to shift based on the battle I am facing. To be honest, there have been moments when I felt like giving up—on myself, my business, and even on others. However, it felt as though God simply wouldn’t let me, so my only option was to be resilient in the experiences he kept me in. The thoughts of giving up, the weight of defeat, and the danger in depression that stole my motivation and mental clarity have all been real challenges. Resilience for me hasn’t come from being so strong-minded all the time, but from recognizing the risks of feeling so weak in certain seasons of my life and the will to never return back to those feelings of brokenness again. Read more>>
Kaylin Roman
When I think about where I get my resilience from, it takes me back to my childhood. I’ve always been a go-getter, determined to find a way forward no matter the challenge. Whether it was learning to ride my first bike or pursuing bigger goals, giving up was never an option.
As I’ve grown, life has taught me that things don’t always go as planned, but resilience is about continuing to fight and adapt. My entrepreneurial journey has been one of my greatest teachers. When I started my first business with vending machines, I learned the value of hard work and dedication. Later, I ventured into the event space business, which truly tested my resilience. I poured everything into finding the perfect venue, and just when I thought I had it all figured out, things fell apart. The financial strain and setbacks were overwhelming, but I refused to give up. Instead, I pivoted and started offering event rentals to generate revenue while I worked toward my bigger dream. Read more>>
Jared Adams
Resilience, for me, is rooted in a blend of life experiences, the influence of inspiring people, and the mindset I’ve worked to cultivate over time.
The greatest example of resilience in my life is my mom. Right out of college, she courageously took on the challenges of building a new career, raising a newborn, and starting a new life—all on her own.
Her selflessness and determination ensured that I had opportunities she never had, and her example continues to inspire me every day. I strive to carry that same strength and dedication into my own family’s life. Read more>>
Judith Levisy
I was born in Buffalo, New York, and grew up in the foster care system. The mental and physical abuse I suffered and watched my other bi-racial foster siblings suffer made me determined to find my family and a better loving life. I went away to college but had to quit because I got pregnant and was under scrutiny by the father and my foster parents. I joined the army a few months later. But while processing for the military I was given my birth certificate which had my birth mother’s name. I was 22 years old when I learned that I was named after her. When we met later that day she told me that it would be hard for her to explain a 22 year old black daughter to her Polish husband’s family. My heart sanked when she said that we would not be able to see or talk to each other again. She was unable to tell me anything regarding my father. Years passed by before we spoke again, but I was determined to find my biological father. Read more>>
Faith Iukes
I get my resilience from my mother and the way she raised me. She’s the strongest person I know, someone who taught me—through her actions, not just her words—that no matter how hard life gets, you can stand tall and keep moving forward. She grew up in circumstances that could have broken anyone, yet she found a way to rise above it with grace, determination, and an unshakable sense of self.
Watching her, I learned that resilience isn’t just about enduring; it’s about finding purpose in the pain, growing from it, and using it to fuel your journey. Every time I face a challenge, I hear her voice in my mind reminding me that I come from a lineage of fighters, of survivors. It’s her strength that’s rooted in me, and it’s her love that makes me believe I can handle whatever life throws my way. Read more>>
Ebenezer Gilbert
As my life has developed, I’ve become more resilient, and have gained so much to fight for, but in the beginning, I had nothing to fight for, and everything to gain. I was born in a litter of seven kids, and I was fifth in line, and lived mostly off of hand me downs and poor advice. I quickly realized I was in a scenario that I didn’t belong in. I’ve always enjoyed singing, and started playing instruments around the time I was ten years old, which I’m very fortunate for, because the therapy that comes with music saved my life. Although music was my therapy, there were a lot of bad influences and bad habits that came along with that lifestyle, and by my mid twenties, I had developed an alcoholism problem. I became a father in May of 2017, and became influenced to better my life. Shortly after she was born, her mother and I separated, and I started to drink more, and started developing health problems, and came to a place where I decided to permanently quit drinking, in early 2021. Read more>>
Erick Durano
Being able to be resilient, regardless of the situation or hardships, was necessary for me growing up. I’m a first-generation Filipino-American, born in Cebu, Philippines, and moved to the United States when I was 7. Being in a totally new country with 5 children, my parents worked hard to afford us a place to stay and a future to look forward to. I credit my work ethic and resilience from the examples they set for us at an early age. I always knew that if things looked bleak, or if my confidence was tested, that I was capable of getting myself back on track and headed in the right direction. Read more>>
Malique Grear
My radical resilience comes from understanding the power of joy and its sustaining nature. Joy enables me to envision the growth that comes from navigating life’s challenges, ensuring I have the knowledge and the strength to help others reach their full potential. I am an example of what it looks like to start a nonprofit with little to no financial support. Developing evidence-based mentoring and tutoring programs in reading and math has closed achievement gaps for more than 250 Black and Brown students. My perseverance and the quality of Positive Impact for Life’s programming have opened many avenues to receive grants and resources to continue our transformative work. Read more>>
Vince Wilcox
The year was 1983. My wife and I had recently moved back to Virginia Beach from Nashville, where I had been pursuing a career in the music business. Growing up in Virginia, I wrote and performed music throughout high school and college. When Sharon and I moved to Nashville in 1979 for her to finish up her undergraduate degree, I couldn’t help but wonder if I could make a career of it. Eventually, I landed a job in the sales department at a record label, all the while writing new material and playing dates with friends, hoping I’d get “discovered.” Read more>>
Zhipeng Wang
I get my resilience from reading and life practice. By reading many books, such as The Old Man and The Sea, I will summarize what I think is valuable and useful for my work and life. When I face challenge in work, such as I have too many tasks to accomplish at one time, I will use methods and mentalities I learned from books to overcome them. Read more>>
Ching Wen Lee
I believe my resilience stems from the rich diversity of my cultural background, my ability to find positivity in my surroundings, and my deep sense of empathy and respect for both others and myself. Born in Taiwan and moving to Canada at the age of 12, later obtained my higher education in USA. I was shaped by the interplay between these two distinct cultures. The harmony between Taiwan’s traditions and Western values taught me the importance of embracing differences, fostering mutual respect, and honoring my own individuality. Read more>>
Marshall Macfarlane
Wow – interesting question! Funny thing is – I know I’m resilient, but a lot of days, I don’t feel very resilient. I think it started with my upbringing. I was raised in a small town in rural New Brunswick, Canada. My parents were quite conservative and strict in that my brother and I weren’t given a lot of latitude for complaining. My whole family at one point or another had served in the military and “Soldier on” was our mantra. Read more>>
Love Wotai
I draw my resilience from the purpose God placed in my heart—to uplift and inspire others. My mission is to speak life into those facing challenges, offering encouragement and hope. Beyond that, I’m passionate about showing how beauty exists in a wide range of shades, styles, and unique expressions, celebrating the diverse ways it shines in every individual. Read more>>
Leon Hordijk
Frequent change has created a lot of resilience in my life. From an early age I have had to often adapt and change due to a variety of factors like moving to a new city or country, bullying, work opportunities etc. This has in turn allowed me to become very resilient and be able to roll with the punches. In fact, this has been so foundational to my life, that now I often seek out change to offer a new perspective or opportunity. I have found, the opposite is also true, that stagnation can be a killer for development and creativity. Read more>>
Kathy Butler
I got my resilience from watching my parents as a child. As a child growing up, I watched my parents continue to get up every day and go to work even when they didn’t feel like it. I watched my dad get off from one job and go directly to another one. I watched them continue to try when they were told “no” over and over again. My parents worked but they were also entrepreneurs who owned businesses throughout my life and when no one believed in them, they kept going. My dad told me “if you don’t believe in yourself, who else is going to believe in you?” I watched my mom when the world tried to tear her down, she stood tall and kept going. My parents had an unimaginable amount of strength, My dad is no longer here unfortunately, but my mom continues to be a symbol of resilience in spite of. Read more>>
