Resilience is often the x-factor that differentiates between mild and wild success. The stories of most of the wildly successful folks in our community have exhibit an extreme degree of resilience and we’ve come to believe that if our goal is to help our community achieve great outcomes we have to help build resources and knowledge around how one can become more resilient.
Melinda Hughes

Resilience is a form of strength. In the gym, we work our muscles to become stronger. As we lift the weights, we actually make the muscles temporarily weaker. The muscles contract creating microscopic tears to the muscle fibers. It’s the body’s response to this stimulus that initiates the process to grow new muscle tissue. In the gym, it’s the body’s response to the exercise, not the exercise itself. I view my resilience, my emotional strength, in the same way. The hardships and challenges I’ve faced provide opportunities to become stronger. Read more>>
Aiyana Torres

Honestly speaking, I learned at a young age that “life goes on” as cliche as it may sound it is very true. When looking over my life I encountered a few stepping stones that if the average person would have endured, they may have given in or given up. I say that to say my resilience is just my way to keep going in knowing that anything I may want to achieve or obtain solely relies on my hunger to receive it. Therefore my resilience fuels my ability to not allow life and its many obstacle hinder my bigger picture. Read more>>
Katie Wade

challenges, and adapt positively to life’s setbacks. It goes beyond mere toughness; it embodies the ability to maintain one’s equilibrium in the face of adversity and emerge stronger from difficult experiences. I personally believe my resiliency was built early on in my childhood. I was a child of divorce and my family struggled financially so I am sure you can imagine the trivial situations we all traversed to ensure each of us met our basic needs. Read more>>
Samantha Naht

I definitely get my resilience from my parents. Growing up they were really strict and old school and it took a lot for them to adapt to the American life and lifestyle. Being refugees and coming to a whole different country with nothing is a lot. We were taught no matter what to never give up. No matter how hard life gets, no matter how much you have to pick yourself up and try again, do it. Seeing how hard they worked to give us the life they didn’t have was inspiring. Their work ethic is something I live by and will never forget. Read more>>
Crystal Knight

The statement “life lessons and experiences have been the best teachers to build resilience” emphasizes that resilience, the ability to bounce back from challenges and adversity, is often developed through the various experiences and lessons encountered throughout one’s life. Read more>>
Joe Jarvis

Being in the entertainment industry requires a thick skin. I didn’t fully realize how much it would require of me at first but it wasn’t long until I did. Even as a Christian artist in the Christian music space, it’s a balancing act between business and ministry. Not everyone is going to be easy on you and no one is going to hand it to you. It’s hard to keep at it, but you have to keep moving forward. Thick skin and a tender heart, that’s what I’m going for. Read more>>
Alma Husidic

Ah, resilience! I have my mom to thank for that. We came to the United States during the war in Bosnia in 1996, it was everything but easy. My mom was 18 with two kids under the age of 4 in a country with a language barrier, no employment and all the odds against her. We struggled. Our toys came from the dumpsters and our apartment was infested with roaches. It was a far cry from comfortable. Luckily, both my mom and dad were determined to build a better life for my brother and I. Read more>>
Tracy McHugh

My career started around the 2008 recession. In addition to my early 20s naivety and lack of experience, I had an unsteady economy and few job prospect working against me as well. I was fortunate to come from a stable family as a child that gave me love, stability, and education to be able to fight and advocate for myself. But every new job, promotion, milestone, etc. that I achieved in adulthood came from me planning, pushing, repetition, networking, and fighting most of the way. Since I’ve been in the workforce, for most people like myself, you are not going to just be handed things. Read more>>
Amanda Woods

We never know how truly strong we are until we are in the middle of the battle and the choice we are faced with is to either give up or push forward. I decided long ago that no trial was ever worth compromising self or integrity and the only way out is through. In 2007, my family was faced with the unimaginable when our daughter Emma was born prematurely at 24 weeks and not expected to survive the night. Little did anyone anticipate the power she had as she proved everyone wrong several times over. Read more>>
Jeehye Shin

My resilience is rooted in the solitary moments I spend at home. Embracing solitude has allowed me to introspect, understand my strengths, and develop a profound sense of self-reliance. Through this personal time, I’ve encountered challenges head-on, honed my coping mechanisms, and cultivated resilience in the face of adversity. The ability to navigate life independently within the familiar confines of my home has been instrumental in shaping my inner strength and fortitude. It is in these quiet moments that I discover the resilience born from self-reflection and self-discovery. Read more>>
Matt Brown

I started the podcast in October 2020, I will say though, besides starting this brand and creating content, personally my life has been challenging. In the last few years, I battled unemployment, getting laid off, losing my apartment, dealing with Mental Health issues, and a whole lot of other things that I hope not even my worse enemies have to deal with. Its been a tough stretch, but I will say with my parents, brothers, grandmas, aunt, and best friends, they have kept me from not giving up on not only this show, but my life. Read more>>
Lyanna Moore

My resilience stems from a lifetime of facing various challenges, both physical and mental. These experiences have taught me a valuable lesson – that my reaction to a situation significantly shapes my attitude towards it. Through the ups and downs, I’ve learned to approach difficulties with a mindset of adaptability and optimism. I’ve witnessed firsthand that, with faith and perseverance, things do work out for the better. This understanding fuels my resilience, reminding me that challenges are opportunities for growth and transformation. Read more>>
Drishti Verma

I draw my resilience from a combination of personal experiences, a supportive network, and a mindset that embraces challenges as opportunities for growth. Throughout my journey, I’ve faced setbacks and encountered unexpected obstacles, and it is in overcoming these challenges that I’ve developed resilience. Read more>>
Madelaine Anderson

Resilience, for me, has been a quietly accumulating strength, shaped by a series of profound challenges and life experiences. It’s the combination of rejection, death, postpartum depression & anxiety, becoming a parent, and cross-country moves – to name a few. I grew up loving theatre and performing. I started auditioning at 8 and continued well into adulthood. I’ve heard “no” in my life far more than “yes”. I didn’t know it at the time, but each no was teaching me how to bounce back from disappointment. Read more>>
Melissa-Sue John

I get my resilience from my faith. As Christians, we are told that we will always have trials and tribulations. Specifically in John 16:33, it says “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows; but cheer up, for I have overcome the world.” I know that I am not alone in dealing with my trials so I persevere through all the different challenges life throws at me. I had my children fairly young and having them allowed me to fight for my dreams so that I could give them a better life and leave a legacy for them. It also helps to have a great partner. I know he supports my dreams for my career, our home and family life, and our adventures. Read more>>
Maria Shapley

My resilience comes from how I overcame hardships in my life. For instance, some of those hardships involved around loved ones getting sick, taking care of them, abusive relationships, living in a car, anxiety and depression to name a few. I knew that no matter what, in order to improve or change my life it was up to me. I choose the path of healing and through that I developed an inner resilience that is a force to be reckoned with. Read more>>
Janine Parkinson

I recall the early days of my career as a stunt performer when work and recognition were scarce. Despite the challenges, I persisted in rigorous training and continuous effort. A seasoned friend in the industry with years of experience shared a valuable insight: “Water wears away rock.” This principle holds true for various aspects of life, whether it’s overcoming obstacles, acquiring new skills, or waiting for opportunities. Essentially, the idea is to be adaptable and resilient, echoing the wisdom of Bruce Lee: “Be water.” Read more>>
Sisi Surgant

I believe I had to be resilient almost my whole life since I had to carry around my burn scars wherever I went. Besides that, moving to the United States and running a business in a language which is/was foreign to me is pretty hard. This is especially hard emotionally when it comes to managing things for my kids because I don’t want them to go through what I had to go through as a child, feeling unprepared and behind in things just because we are immigrants. Read more>>
Joshua Banner

I credit my resilience to my parents. My father, a member, of the Silent Generation, passed when I was 25 years old but instilled in me the value of hard work and the ethos of never giving up before his death. He worked tirelessly for our family, holding multiple jobs, and even after his retirement and cancer diagnosis, went back to work. He always taught us the value of education and reputation, vowing to provide greater opportunity for his children, helping us avoid the same mistakes he made when when he was young. Read more>>
Tiffany Brown

I was born and raised in Baltimore City, one of the toughest places to live. Growing up, my family didn’t have much but we managed to survive. Over the years I saw many of my family members show how resilient they were and it became something that was natural within me. Watching them build a strong foundation at a young age made me want to be just as strong and have that “bounce back” like they did. I was born and raised in Baltimore City, one of the toughest places to live. Growing up, my family didn’t have much but we managed to survive. Over the years I saw many of my family members show how resilient they were and it became something that was natural within me. Watching them build a strong foundation at a young age made me want to be just as strong and have that “bounce back” like they did. Read more>>
Shanika Small

From watching my mother, who was a single mom, raise four children. She instilled the values of hard work, responsibility and humanity in all of her children. Her daughters went on to be educated professionals. Anything that I am in this world is because of my mother. Read more>>
Destiny Frye

I believe my resilience just comes from the adversity that I faced growing up. Which for me after a while felt very normal so every time I faced rejection it was second nature to continue and quitting or failure was never an option. Read more>>
Janel Nicole

Heaven sent and born under the passionate and confident sign of a Leo, Janel Nicole has the innate ability to lead and inspire individuals from all walks of life. She is a twenty-three-time award-winning film producer, writer, and director, a five-time Grammy Ballot Finalist, and a Top 12 Finalist in American Idol Regionals. She is not just an ordinary business owner but a force to be reckoned with – a true embodiment of resilience. Read more>>
Julie Morey

I believe the heart of resilience comes from deep-rooted experiences and watching and learning from those around. As a 1st generation immigrant, we are what some would call boat people or refugees. My immigrant story begins with my Grandfather who was the sole survivor of his family in China . He made his way down to Vietnam where he raised a large family. There is a scripture in the bible that says ‘Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends’. Read more>>
Maria Sarobeiki Ortiz

Let me introduce myself, my name is Maria Sarobeiki Ortiz. I am a Taíno artist that specializes in crochet and all things yarn. I like to think that my resilience comes from the blood that runs through my veins . Let me explain, as a Taino, we as a culture and people have been fighting a paper genocide that has been going on since 1492 when Christopher Columbus first encountered my people. Read more>>
Jahlisa Williams

My resilience is deeply rooted in my life experiences, shaped by the strong influences of my mother and my upbringing in Brooklyn, NY. My mother was a single mom raising three kids in the 90s and early 2000s. I watched her do the best she could, making sure my sister, brother, and I had the essentials. It wasn’t always the best childhood, but she did the best she could with what she knew. Read more>>
Jamie Scoles

Growing up with a cultural background like mine, you are surrounded by people who want you to be a Doctor or a Lawyer and that boys are supposed to like certain things and girls are supposed to like certain things. Wanting to be a musician is frowned upon and highly discouraged. I was lucky to have parents that let me play an instrument other than piano or violin, but even with that, friends and family would often ask my parents how they could let their daughter play the drums when it’s for boys and it would never get me anywhere in life. Read more>>
Emily Berning

Resilience, much like a rubber band, embodies the remarkable quality of adaptability. Initially, I envisioned it as an unyielding force, capable of enduring any stretch and reverting to its original state. However, my understanding evolved when I observed that rubber bands, when overstretched or frequently strained, can lose their elasticity or even snap. This mirrors the nature of human resilience. Read more>>
Federica Rizzo

From difficult challenges I had to overcome in my life I always tried to take action from what destiny had in plan for me. So I just try take care of myself first. Even in challenges times of my life I stay positive, hopeful and grateful for the little big things that I have starting from my health and family which are the most important things to me two things where I always start to find resilience and strenghth . I think our loved ones can give us the support and help to guide us in good or bad times. Read more>>
Irais Elizarraraz

My resilience stems from being a product of immigrants. Seeing the ethics of hard work and selflessness through my parents instilled my motivation to become an entrepreneur and community leader. My mother has been an endless example of everyone eats before me. Seeing that special quality as well as growing up with not so many resources has inspired me to always push forward. Before knowing what the word entrepreneur means, I saw my dad be his business owner. Having both kindness and grit while being a trailblazer is my combined recipe for my resilience. Read more>>
Shawntay Gorman

I derive my resilience from the strength and wisdom passed down through generations, particularly from my mother, grandmothers, and their grandmothers. I firmly believe that I am a product of the enduring blessings embedded in my family’s history. Read more>>
Paola Camacho-Bansal

Resilience and adaptability have been defining threads in my life. Moving from my home country at 12 and living in the USA, Mexico, Spain, France, England, and then back to the USA (across two states even!) instilled in me an incredible ability to embrace change and forge new paths. It hasn’t always been easy. Saying goodbye to friends, family, and familiar jobs has been tough. But rather than focusing on loss, I learned to find the silver lining: the excitement of fresh starts, the richness of diverse cultures, and the opportunity to reinvent myself. Read more>>
Shaun Rylee

When stopping from time to time to evaluate my life path and where it’s headed, I think it’s important to remember how I got as far as I have. I constantly set big goals for myself but my life has no doubt been challenging along the way. In the film industry, there is no easy path to get anywhere. But I have had incredible moments that stay at the forefront of how I remember the entire journey too. I stay resilient because of those positive moments and think of ways to stay ahead of the curve, so to speak. Read more>>
Shanae’a Rae Moore

Being an actress is kind of a harrowing experience. You and your body and your mind are your product. There is a necessity to divorce yourself taking all rejection or acceptance as a personal experience. Not being hired is not a personal slight and might only come down to the fact that your hair happens to be blond when the character has brown hair in the director’s head. Something that if only discussed would be solved in a quick hair appointment. Read more>>
Lisa Kellner

I think for me, resilience comes from deep dissatisfaction and being faced with a choice. When I’ve had really low moments, I just got to a point where I said to myself you can either continue on this trajectory of thought (and action) or do something else. When I was younger, it had to get to a low point for me to realize I needed a change. Now I have an awareness that I pay attention to and try to navigate things before they hit rock bottom. Read more>>
Vanessa Cabrera

I’ve been an entrepreneur for over 12 years, and I’ve learned many lessons along the way. One of which is that there will be days where you are unmotivated, those are the days where discipline comes into play. You want the business? You need to take strategic action on the daily that will get you to your ultimate goal. I have seen first hand what happens when you keep your focus, stay committed and are consistent in your messaging to the world in who you are and what you have to offer. You also have the have the courage to keep going even when times get hard. The secret to my success is that I refuse to quit. Those who don’t quit….win. It’s inevitable. Read more>>
Rich Holly

I attribute my resilience to two things from when I was growing up. The first is that there were a couple of bullies in my neighborhood, and I had to learn to stand up to them, which was not easy at first and didn’t come naturally to me. Thankfully I had a friend who knew how to stand up to them and he was a great inspiration to me as I determined not only how to stand up to them, but to fully understand that I could stand up to the bullies as well as overcome them and shut them down. Read more>>
Avery Looser

I very purposefully chose the word ‘brave’ as the cornerstone of my production company, BraveMouse, and I believe bravery takes an incredible amount of resilience. Inherently, the act of being brave is walking fearlessly and courageously into any circumstance, including the ones that result in failure and force you to be resilient and brave all over again… Read more>>
Tracey Parson

Strong Spirituality: A deep connection to my spirituality has provided me with the strength and guidance during my challenging times. I have found resilience in my faith, relying on spiritual practices, beliefs, and a sense of purpose to navigate difficulties. Family Bonds: Raising five children and one grandson involves strong family bonds. The love and support exchanged within my family is a powerful source of resilience. The Shared responsibilities, mutual encouragement, and a sense of unity contribute to my ability to overcome challenges. Read more>>
Daniel Gutierrez

I get my resilience from both my mom and dad. My dad faced economic challenges throughout his childhood as he was the oldest of five children and grew up with parents who immigrated from Nicaragua to San Francisco before he was born. He was able to rise above the economic hardships of his upbringing and pursue a career as a firefighter. He took it upon himself to provide stability for our family while also confronting adversity head on. I was able to learn the importance of discipline and dedication to one’s craft through the rigorous training and demanding nature of my father’s role as a firefighter. Read more>>