The Adversity Paradox: An Unconventional Guide to Achieving Uncommon Business Success (Hardcover)

~ (Author), (Author) "Business savvy is not something you're born with, nor is it something you inherit..." (more)
Key Phrases: gray zone, adversity paradox, physical work ethic, The Principal, Global Industries, Pampered Chef (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

“The leaders of today face real challenges.  Many challenges are challenges of adversity.  Determined leaders learn from adversity and gain character and a set of skills that propel them into the future.  This is the book to read if you want to get real insights and prepare for the hurdles that we all face in our careers from time to time.”-- Ram Charan, best-selling author and acclaimed management philosopher

“As Griswell and Jennings point out, there really is no substitute for hard work.  We have to build endurance of character the same way we build endurance of speed or strength, and it always pays off.”--Wayne Gretzky, NHL Hall of Fame player, businessman, and coach

“If you’re going to be really successful in business, you have to have the confidence that you can do what others see as impossible.  The Adversity Paradox gives readers the chance to gain that confidence from facing their own struggles, take inspiration from the victories of others, aspire to courage and character, and arm themselves with the optimism required to turn big ideas into big realities.”--Wayne Huizenga, award-winning entrepreneur and CEO, and founder of Waste Management, Blockbuster Entertainment, and AutoNation

“The overriding message of this book is consistent with my belief that every one of us is capable and deserving of success and fulfillment in life, no matter what adversity we encounter.  I am so glad to see these themes of self improvement, responsibility and positive thinking being recommended to business readers.”-- Dr. Robert Schuller, author and founder of the Crystal Cathedral Ministries

Fascinating insights into the ways that successful people have not only overcome adversity but made a friend and ally out of it. This book offers readers a great opportunity to consider how they will emerge from the major challenges we face individually and as a society. Griswell and Jennings have a deep understanding of the experiences of success arising from adversity, and their observations are unique and encouraging to us all. --David J. Skorton, President, Cornell University

“The Adversity Paradox provides incredible insight into how adversity, when you have made it your friend, can dramatically change a person for the better. I have known both of the authors for over fifteen years and have witnessed the adversity paradox in action in their lives as they grappled with setbacks or misfortunes and became more and more successful. Their extensive knowledge of business, coupled with the amazing stories they compiled in this book, will improve the lives of all those who read it.  -- Ron Willingham, Founder of Integrity Selling and author of ten books

“In some of the most difficult and troubled times for American leaders Griswell and Jennings offer the right prescription. Embrace adversity, learn from adversity, and overcome adversity. The stories of individuals who squarely faced adversity, including Griswell's personal triumph, should inspire us all.”--  The Honorable Tom Vilsack, former Iowa Governor and incoming United States Secretary of Agriculture

Product Description

Harvey Mackay, Doris Christopher, Pete Dawkins, Clay Jones and John Pappajohn know that the answer to how you recover from career toppling adversity, and then go on to achieve pinnacles of success lies in firsthand knowledge of “the adversity paradox”. They all attest to having found that the knowledge they gained from overcoming adversity played such a crucial role in their success trajectories, they now consider adversity a friend.
While many motivational business books promise easy access to prosperity and power by way of secret insight, quick and easy steps, or “insider tips” that are dubious at best, The Adversity Paradox tells it straight and offers no secret formula or silver bullet; instead it offers candid accounts from those whose skills, resourcefulness, and confidence have been tested by adversity and who have put their misfortunes to good use by gaining invaluable business lessons from them. The paths to success are diverse, but The Adversity Paradox identifies patterns that anyone can study and learn from. Business people working to overcome humble beginnings, lack of knowledge, unexpected setbacks, or any manner of misfortune may find the greatest tool for creating business success lies in this new book.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press; 1 edition (April 14, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312385552
• ISBN-13: 978-0312385552
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.9 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #289,189 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars How to Turn Adversity on It's Head and Achieve Extraordinary Success, August 30, 2009

By	Thomas M. Loarie (Danville, CA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Authors J. Barry Griswell and Bob Jennings set out in "The Adversity Paradox" to uncover the source of business savvy, an underlying and critical attribute of extraordinary success. They found that success and fortune were not an accident of luck. Rather, it was about adversity - embracing it then overcoming it - that played a crucial role in establishing a success trajectory that was extraordinary. Adversity can be your teacher and your friend. When approached with this attitude, you will emerge stronger, smarter, and savvier.

"Paradox" is filled with stories of business leaders -including the personal stories of Griswell and Jennings - who have overcome all manner of adversity and applied their experiences to create the business savvy to attain unmatched levels of success. They turned failure on its head and built successful careers and personal lives upon the very experiences most people work to avoid.

Griswell and Jennings include sections on how adversity transformed leading people 1) to be more introspective, 2) to become values-based, 3) to work with "and then some" attitude, 4) to identify their purpose and seek it with passion, and 5) and to develop an unquenchable thirst for knowledge. These are foundational attributes which lead to extraordinary success.

Adversity, large and small, is always lurking and it happens. Last year, 2008, millions came face-to-face with adversity due to the catastrophic global, economic meltdown. Those caught up in this mess will find "The Adversity Paradox" a hopeful book...but only if they can make adversity a friend. Severe setbacks have a way of "making us take stock of our careers and our lives - our progress towards dreams and goals, our strengths and weaknesses, our motivation, and our daily work habits which can often reveal inner resources and abilities we wouldn't have otherwise known we possessed."

We have a choice when faced with adversity and with the right choice, we will find ourselves in one of the most powerful and transformative situations life has to offer. This is a very good book for the times.

4.0 out of 5 stars A nice group of business stories, July 6, 2009

By	Dr Cathy Goodwin (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

If you like reading stories about successful business people, you'll love this book. Written in easy conversational style, it's a good choice for a long plane ride or rainy afternoon.

The authors have an excellent premise. Many business leaders have overcome adversity to arrive where they are today. But the authors define adversity quite broadly. After all, just about everyone experiences some negativity. The takeaways and lessons are very broad and not really new. Working hard, visualizing and find your purpose and passion.

Therefore, I gave the book four stars primarily because the content doesn't fill the promise implied by the title. The book doesn't get into what constitutes adversity and why adversity seems to spur some business leaders to success, yet drive others into more adversity. Being born in difficult circumstances seems to create a different set of challenges than business reversals or career derailment. The chapter on values doesn't even talk about adversity, although it's got some interesting insights.

I'm a little puzzled by the Appendix, a "database of business-savvy leaders." Not all these leaders overcame adversity; Bill Gates grew up in a very supportive family and in many ways was in the right place at the right time. Martha Stewart grew an empire from humble beginnings, yet her name is missing.

5.0 out of 5 stars In the face of my own adversity paradox..., June 8, 2009

By	M. Fuller "adventure" (Wilmette, IL) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I met Barry on an airport shuttle bus in April 2009. My wife and I where headed to a company sponsored getaway at the time. Meeting people is almost second nature to me. The basic ideas of the book ring true like Christchurch bells in Dublin. I have taken to heart the ideas of leadership and self improvement. The real life examples are fantastic and really drive home the ideas presented in the book. I look forward to the life successes that come from the tools and examples presented in this book. Thank you Barry.


M Fuller