On my 40th birthday, I wasn’t celebrating a career milestone, a growing bank account, or a happy family. I was flat on my back in a hospital bed — broke, divorced, and paralyzed from the neck down.
That wasn’t the plan. At forty, you’re supposed to have things figured out. A stable income, a strong marriage, a title that proves you’ve “made it.” I thought I had time. But Adversity doesn’t care about your plans.
As I stared at the ceiling wondering if I’d ever walk again, the temptation to quit was overwhelming. Quitting felt justified. But then I realized something that leaders often forget: if you quit once, you train yourself to quit again. If I gave up in that bed, I’d be conditioning myself to give up the next time life got hard. And if you’re leading others, that precedent spreads like wildfire.
So I made a decision. I promised myself that if I ever got a second chance, I’d never settle, never hesitate, never compromise again. That vow changed everything.
Here’s the truth: culture, resilience, and leadership don’t show up when things are easy. They reveal themselves when the bottom drops out. Comfort is where potential goes to die. Crisis is where leaders are born.
I discovered gratitude in paralysis. I discovered purpose in pain. Most importantly, I discovered that Adversity is the ultimate leadership test.
If you’re a leader reading this, ask yourself: if Adversity hit tomorrow — a market crash, a health scare, a betrayal — would your team see someone worth following? Or would they see someone who hesitates, compromises, or folds?
Don’t wait for your own wake-up call. Stop waiting. Stop hesitating. Lead like your future depends on it — because it does.