What is overcoming adversity?
In our lives, we will all need to face and surmount challenges, difficulties and obstacles that stand in the way of our goals, whether that be in a business, physical or personal sense.
Adversity can come in many forms, and each individual must be prepared to show resilience and determination to overcome the setbacks they are faced with.
In the modern world of business, adversity is constantly presented in most working environments – it’s up to teams to show togetherness, and leadership to show guidance and support on how best to come out unscathed.
At Champions, it’s my job to lead senior executives to the optimal mindset and achieve high performance rates. In this blog, we’ll discuss real world examples of figures overcoming adversity, and how you can apply their methodologies personally.
1. Steve Jobs – Apple
Steve Jobs faced significant adversity when he was ousted from technology giants Apple, the company he co-founded. However, instead of giving up, he started another company, NeXT, and acquired Pixar, turning it into a leading animation studio.
His journey came full circle when Apple bought NeXT, leading to his return to Apple, where he led the company to unprecedented success, launching iconic products like the iPhone and iPad. His journey showed that when one path appears to have closed, there’s always another route to achieving your aspirations.
2. Sara Blakely – Spanx
Sara Blakely faced rejections from every representative in North Carolina’s hosiery mills when she first pitched her idea for Spanx, a line of slimming undergarments. These organisations dealt regularly with established outlets and saw zero value in her personal idea.
With no background in fashion or business, she self-funded her startup with $5,000 in savings, often encountering scepticism from manufacturers and investors. This included paying for the Spanx trademark with a credit card for $150. Despite these hurdles, Blakely persisted, eventually convincing a manufacturer to produce her product. Spanx became a massive success, making Blakely the world's youngest self-made female billionaire.
The now-53-year-old utilised her own adversity to fuel her ambition, and took lessons from rejection when others would have given up. Blakely’s journey proved that resilience is one of the most imperative pieces of the perfect modern mindset.
3. Reed Hastings – Netflix
Reed Hastings co-founded Netflix as a DVD rental service by mail. The company faced adversity when the demand for physical media began to decline with the rise of streaming. Instead of clinging to the old model, Hastings pivoted Netflix to become a streaming service, a risky move at the time. The company also faced challenges from content providers and competition from other streaming platforms.
Netflix's ability to adapt and innovate led it to become a leader in the entertainment industry, showcasing the importance of flexibility in modern mindsets and open-mindedness in innovative business. Hastings’ story tells us that becoming demoralised by industry trends is futile, and that there’s no point dwelling on circumstances out of our control.
4. Jack Ma – Alibaba
Jack Ma faced significant adversity in his journey to create multinational technology company Alibaba. He was rejected from multiple jobs, including one at KFC, and faced numerous failures before founding Alibaba. The company struggled in its early years with a lack of funding, scepticism from investors, and fierce competition from global giants like eBay.
Despite these challenges, Ma's persistence and vision turned Alibaba into one of the world's largest e-commerce platforms, transforming the landscape of online business on an international scale.
Maintaining a resilient and sturdy mindset is vital in modern business leadership. Comprehensive workshops and open-mindedness to modern performance techniques will develop a group of visionary leaders who drive innovation.
Concerned by your internal performance? Contact our specialist People & HR team today to access industry leading team and leadership optimisation, either at 08453 31 30 31, or by filling out an online contact form.