Sometimes just seeing resilience can change out mindset and unlock our own resilience. That’s our hope with the Portraits of Resilience series – we hope the stories below will inspire you to tap into your own resilience.
Dr. Erin Ellis
At the age of 31, my world came crashing down with those dreaded words, “You have cancer.” Hearing these words instilled a fear inside me I had never known before. The fragility of life became all too real, but instead of giving up, this diagnosis ignited a spark of determination within me and I refused to let cancer win. Read More>>
Shayla Faustin
Certainly! I believe my resilience stems from a combination of personal experiences and the support system I have cultivated throughout my life. Firstly, I have actively sought out personal development opportunities and invested time in self-reflection and introspection. Through these practices, I have cultivated a resilient mindset that enables me to view challenges as opportunities for growth rather than insurmountable roadblocks. I have learned to embrace failure as a stepping stone toward success and to remain optimistic even in the face of setbacks. Read More>>
Charlie Rae Young
For me, resilience comes from a solid foundation for my capital letter S Self. Before I can be resilient in my professional life I have had to learn to foster resiliency in my personal life. On a daily basis that means fueling myself with adequate hydration and food, moving my body, leaning on my supportive relationships, and making space to care for myself and family. When that primary foundation is solid I am of much greater service to my colleagues and clients. I can show up in big ways for people the way I would want them to show up for me. Read More>>
Shante Oils
It came from facing rejection after rejection and being let down so much that I actually developed a bond with disappointment and discouragement and seen it as a fun excuse to do whatever I chose to at no cost because I’ve already been rejected so I have nothing to lose Read More>>
Dr. Pam Perry
Oh, honey, let me tell you about resilience. You see, growing up in the streets of Detroit, I learned a thing or two about tough times. Life didn’t always hand me a silver spoon or a smooth ride, but I found strength in the face of adversity. And where did I get that resilience? Well, it’s a beautiful blend of experiences, influences, and sheer determination. Read More>>
DeAndrae Douglas
When I first started this company, my wife at the time had given me a book called “What’s The Big Idea” and it was a collection of short stories that detailed how major companies had to overcome certain obstacles on their journey to success and eventually becoming major well known companies. This book prepared me for what I knew I would have to endure in order to make it. I knew there would be obstacles and set backs from the very start and no matter how I would try to avoid these, something was going to happen out of my control that I would have to mitigate in order to be successful. I started viewing setbacks as a “rights of passage” as opposed to a “woe is me”. Read More>>
Latasha Ingram
My resilience comes from my surroundings and people around me. For 20 plus years I worked in the healthcare field. You see people at their most vulnerable moments in life. I quickly learned to appreciate the small things and the small victories of life. As a young child I watch my Mom work very hard, and even in her tireless moments she still would be pushing through whatever obstacles that was faced in front of her. Through the years my mom and grandmother became sick and both were on dialysis, while having heart failure. Read More>>
April Monterrosa
I have to credit my resiliency to my parents and upbringing. My parents were both resilient people. As children, they both went through many life obstacles and struggles that they overcame at young ages. When they got married, they were also very young. They managed to build a life together without the monetary support of either of their families. When I was growing up, I witnessed my father become an entrepreneur without any support as well. The only support he had came from my mother. My mother always ensured the homefront was clean, we did well in school, and we had all we had while my father was building the business and being the main breadwinner of our home. Read More>>
Michael Mariner
I gained resilience through my ability to overcome the obstacles and adversity I’ve faced in my life. Learning how to bounce back from difficult situations became something of second nature to me after enduring so much at such a young age. From losing jobs, income, relationships, etc. I had no choice but to learn how to sink or swim. My tribe is part of the reason I was able to build resiliency. Having the right people in your corner plays a very vital role in both your successes and failures. Read More>>
Johnell Moody
Resilience is one of my non-negotiable core values in my personal and professional life. I grew up in the inner city of Denver’s 5 Points community, cultivated through the resilience of Black excellence and economic enterprise. However, like many Black communities, Denver’s 5 Points experienced its fair share of racial oppression, poverty, drugs, and violence. My formative years as an adolescent were during the crack cocaine epidemic and street gangs era when resilience was necessary to survive and overcome such challenges in my community. Read More>>
Angela Brown
I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism at the young age of 22. I struggled for over 15 years with this disease and was unable to find the help that I needed for this. I took it in my own hands and started researching functional medicine and got certified in this so I could heal myself. I was turned away from doctors that said they couldn’t help me. I was told that I was crazy, that my symptoms were in my head, that I was overreacting, and that I would have to live the rest of my life these debilitating symptoms. Read More>>
Nikki Winchester
This is a great question, and I often wonder about it myself! In some ways, I think my resilience is genetic; both of my parents are very resilient individuals. My dad especially has a strong story of resilience and perseverance. So I think some of my resilience is genetic and some of it was learned and shaped by my parents. Knowing that my dad had overcome really hard obstacles in his life likely helped me to see that I could overcome obstacles in my own life. Read More>>
Chandler Johnson
I get my resilience from a deep desire to fulfill my dreams and an inherent trust that God is guiding my path. I also get my resilience from my dad – he was a molecular biologist and professional chef. Being a Black man in spaces where he was almost always the only one of his pantone in the room, he had to build a level of resilience to continue pursuing his passions and pioneering towards his goals. Society told him all his life that the life he envisioned wasn’t meant for him. My dad was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2015 and passed away in 2018. Read More>>
Mark Fairchild
I grew up with 5 older brothers and sisters and that alone will create some resilience! Beyond that, I’ve always just known that a corporate job or working for someone else wasn’t what I wanted. So I have pushed myself to do things that aren’t on the “typical” path. For example, I wanted to learn Spanish so I moved to Guatemala and lived with a Spanish-speaking family. I had no Spanish language skills at all at this point and it wasn’t easy but I left speaking fluent Spanish. I worked hard to learn the language and dedicated myself to it, there were times I was frustrated but I chose perseverance and resistance over giving up. Read More>>
Dre Baldwin
My resilience comes from having mental toughness. I define mental toughness as a person’s willingness and ability to remain disciplined and confident regardless of the circumstances. This is especially needed when the circumstances are not what we wanted or expected them to be. I think a part of this is just a person’s wiring; I have always been a competitor and competing, whether against other people or against circumstances, has always been a thing that excites me. Read More>>
Tei Pearson-Hall
As a woman who has endured severe trauma and grief, I often reflect on the question of where my resilience stems from. It’s not a simple answer, as resilience is a complex and deeply personal attribute that can be cultivated through a combination of factors. Allow me to share some insights into what has contributed to my resilience amidst the hardships I’ve faced. Read More>>
Kadijah Oliver
I got my resilience from life experience. My life has not been the easy walk and the park that it is perceived to be. I have faced many challenges and obstacles. I have had many experiences that were meant to destroy me, but with the help of friends and family, those darkest moments received light. I’m thankful for the light on the dark days. Read More>>
Gina Sachs
I think the best business advice that has kept me resilient was actually breastfeeding advice I found in the comment section of a Leaky B@@B post 12 years ago. The comment simply read “give up next week”. Basically whatever problem you’re currently facing will likely resolve itself within a week or at least not feel like quite the catastrophe it felt like the week before. That’s not to say you won’t be faced with a new challenge next week, it just buys you more time to work things out before throwing in the towel. Read More>>
Claudia Vilches
Both of us, Carolina and Claudia, attribute our resilience to a combination of our family histories and our personal journeys. Our families are a big part of that story. Their journey, their grit, their never-give-up spirit; it’s something that we’ve grown up with, and it’s become a part of us. Read More>>
Manami Takagi
At first, I’m very flustered when I take trouble. I depressed it and look back what is wrong with it. Thinking about it for a couple of days and then, I try to forget about it. To do something my favorite.
Like to go to museums, book stores, watching movies, go to the cafe, buy something expencive. Read More>>
Kevin Bouknight II
I feel being resilient comes with experience and the lack of not having what you need all the time. I’ve always had to take on a massive responsibility from an early age. Whether it was walking my sister to school as a young adolescent, or figuring out what you’re going to eat for dinner – I’ve watched my parents, specifically my mom, persevere through hard times and that has shown me resilience. There’s a phrase I’m often reminded of when things seem rough, which is “It doesn’t get easier, you only get better.” One has to understand that the life experiences we go through, good and/or bad, are bridges for us to get over when life presents us with muddy waters. Read More>>
Dominique Pierre-Toussaint
I was born in Brooklyn, New York, and spent my early days in Far Rockaway, Queens during the beginning of the crack era. I fought the elements of the street, utilizing my passion for the arts. I’m proud of my Haitian American heritage, and my family’s journey to the United States is a testament to their resilience and strength. Read More>>
Angela Perry
My resilience comes from being born and raise in chicago. Bouncing back from being a single mother in the military having been sexually assaulted. To become a successful mother wife business partner and more. Always taking it one day at a time as I’ve been told that’s all I got. So I will say it loud and proud my determination and resilience comes from God who has keep me and assumed me through my life. Read More>>
Quantessia “Tess” Tolbert
I get my resilience from my mom, dad, and my brother, Randy. They’ve all endured so much that was out of their hands but they handled it with grace. My dad was diagnosed with sickle cell anemia at a very young age with a short life expectancy and he’s beat every odd imaginable. My brother was diagnosed with End Stage Renal disease as a teenager and has had 2 kidney procedures after the first attempt failed. During the second attempt his heart stopped beating several times and he ended up in a coma. The doctors eventually urged my mom to say her goodbyes and she refused. My brother is now 35 years old living a happy and healthy life. My mom has been the backbone in this all. Her resilience is probably why we all are alive. I’ve witnessed these obstacles they’ve faced and if they don’t quit, I can’t either. Read More>>
Dan Pelé
I get my resilience from knowing my purpose. When you have a purpose & you know your purpose its almost like knowing your end but continuously learning how to navigate the journey. I get asked all the time….”How do you keep a smile on your face when xyz just happened or this person just torpedoed you!”. I usually say “people gone people” or “life be life-ing”. But all quick comebacks aside, Its not about the opposition I have faced or have yet to face, Its about my purpose. My purpose & mission Is sooooo much bigger than any person or obstacle. Read More>>
Roschanda Fletcher
My resilience is made stronger from the youth in foster care that I work with and have personally fostered. The kids’s ability to push through the struggles of their circumstance is commendable. The kids deal with being uprooted, placed in the homes of strangers, and sometimes with little to no personal belongings and yet they persist through. These kids are my role models and remind me daily what it looks like to truly be resilient. Read More>>
Truus De Groot
That is simple. A realization that life is short and you really have to make the best of it. When something does not quite work out or if you encounter an obstacle, you have to do your best to persevere of overcome it. Read More>>
Jim Ristuccia
Resilience is your elasticity and toughness to bounce back from adversity. For me it comes from experience. The phrase, “that which does not kill you makes you stronger” is so spot on. As I’ve aged and gained more experience, I realize that certain situations have not been as bad as I first imagined. They were not that dire and everything worked out. For me personally, I was in the Navy for the first decade of my working career and that turbocharged my experience level because I was put in so many different situations. Read More>>
Jeh $inatra
I channel an inner resilience that gives me the confidence and ability to accomplish whatever I set my mind to. Resilience is needed in this line of business, being an artist/creative we have to dig deep to find inspiration, motivation, confidence and creativity to create at our highest capacity. Everything starts within and in this case resilience is no exception. Resilience is key in this business and I like to think I have a lot of it rapping for 12 + years. Read More>>
Noam Drori
I attribute my inner resilience to a combination of inherent strength and the invaluable support received from my spouse, as well as the multitude of life experiences I have encountered. Many refer to it as stubbornness, but from my perspective, it is an unwavering determination. With the accumulation of life experiences and career growth, my determination has only strengthened, making me more seasoned and discerning. I prefer to term it as confidence. Read More>>
Rachel Barcellona
I get it from my mom! She’s always working hard while being a nurse, and I really look up to that! She helps me achieve my dreams, and she stays resilient through the hardest times. Read More>>
Ashley Byrd
This might be cliche but my parents are behind giving me resilience .My mother being an immigrant and my father coming from not much has shown me nothing but examples on never giving up . Life is tough but i always tell myself to keep pushing through it will always pay off . Making myself and my parents proud is the end goal . Read More>>
Pam Scamardo
My resilience is driven by the support of my team. They say it takes a village, and it sure does. I believe every entrepreneur needs to surround themselves with a tribe of people who are equally as committed to excellence. Being perfect is an illusion. Being excellent is something each of us can strive for each and every day. My team inspires me and that inspiration drives my resilience. I also believe in “off time.” Being on 24/7 used to be a badge of honor but our world has evolved to a place that recognizes how impactful “powering” down for periods of time can be. Just like our smart devices, we all benefit from time to recharge. Read More>>
Ari Robinson
I think that just with time over the past 8 years of actually selling my artwork as a working artist you naturally become more resilient. It is definitely a good quality to have, especially when you are in the world of selling your work, applying for projects, and having your art in the public eye, as all of these things can lead to rejection. I think it is important to keep in mind that there are endless opportunities you can continue to look for or create for yourself and that you need to have the capacity to not take anything too personally and be able to spring back into action doing & creating what you love. Read More>>
Maceo
I’ve been through a lot in my brief 23 years of life, ya know. Emotionally, spiritually, romantically, etc.. I feel as if those experiences kind of forced me to grow, especially since I started really young and was always around people older and, at the time, far more talented than me. But I just always want to improve. Both as a creative and artist, but more so as a person. My music is always a reflection of who I am, and what I’m going through so if there’s growth musically, there’s growth personally. Read More>>
Webster Casseus
During my upbringing, I’ve consistently been fascinated by challenges, which distinguished me from others in my surroundings. Given my family’s sacrifices to immigrate to America, I believed it was my responsibility to make the most of every opportunity that came my way. Overcoming skeptics and the gratification of achieving success continue to motivate me to push forward. Read More>>
Antonio Gonzalez-Garcia
If you have read Taleb, resilience is to become to the same position after being in a stress context. I am not Resilient, I am antifragile. Antifragile means that stress cause a positive experience and this makes increase my actions, awareness, quality, value. Read More>>
