There is no education like adversity. – Benjamin Disraeli
Adversity comes in many shapes and sizes, yet all adversity provides an opportunity for learning. For growth. Paula often shares this story of how a setback with a customer became the catalyst her company needed to change its ways and improve its services:
As head of sales, I was leading a team in a proposal to a major customer that could have been a $25 million deal. I had assembled what I thought was a great team to make the pitch. When we lost the bid and were told it was because we were too arrogant, it was a big blow. Where had we gone wrong? As it turns out, while we thought our proposal offered in-depth information and knowledge, they thought we were telling them what to do and even questioning their current way of doing things. They viewed us as competing with them instead of complementing them. They did not want to partner with a company they viewed as egotistical. Wow — that was tough to hear. But we listened and then looked inward, deciding we had just given ourselves an example of what not to do. From then on, we crafted our proposals and presentations differently to exhibit our knowledge but not in a way that would threaten or offend the customer. It was a worthwhile lesson. It changed our checks and balances and approval process for the better. Our $25 million setback turned into a growth opportunity for the company that was priceless.
The same can happen for us if we learn to view our setbacks, mistakes and losses from the standpoint of learning from them. I’m often reminded of Nelson Mandela’s quote, I never lose. I either win or learn. Imagine how different our lives would be if we lived with this mindset. Imagine how much we’d learn – I’ve sure been given plenty of opportunities to do so!
While we likely wouldn’t choose adversity as our favorite teacher, it certainly is one of the best when we’re open to learning. How has adversity propelled you to new heights? Have you shared your experiences with others to help them learn?