Podcast
Questions and Answers
What does the author express as the primary benefit of facing trials?
What does the author express as the primary benefit of facing trials?
- It produces endurance. (correct)
- It allows for easy accomplishments.
- It leads to immediate success.
- It guarantees recognition and awards.
Which challenge did the author NOT face during high school?
Which challenge did the author NOT face during high school?
- Had a difficulty with public speaking.
- Chronic injuries affecting athletic performance. (correct)
- Failed to make the football team.
- Struggled academically with a low GPA.
How did the author's persistence influence his college basketball career?
How did the author's persistence influence his college basketball career?
- He made the team after attending practices though he initially didn't make it. (correct)
- He received immediate success without any failures.
- He was easily recognized by coaches during freshman year.
- His natural talent led to quick scholarships without effort.
What physical transformation did the author experience during his college years?
What physical transformation did the author experience during his college years?
What role did the author's attitude play in his basketball journey?
What role did the author's attitude play in his basketball journey?
What was the author's first job after graduation?
What was the author's first job after graduation?
What significant event occurred when the author attempted to join a local scouting troop?
What significant event occurred when the author attempted to join a local scouting troop?
What did the author's experience in scouting contribute to his career?
What did the author's experience in scouting contribute to his career?
How many résumés did the author send out over the course of three years?
How many résumés did the author send out over the course of three years?
What was the main focus of the training program provided by the Missouri Pacific Railroad Company?
What was the main focus of the training program provided by the Missouri Pacific Railroad Company?
What does the author cite as a source of his strength to overcome adversity?
What does the author cite as a source of his strength to overcome adversity?
During his challenging times as a business owner, what strategy did the author implement?
During his challenging times as a business owner, what strategy did the author implement?
What was one consequence of the company's financial difficulties mentioned by the author?
What was one consequence of the company's financial difficulties mentioned by the author?
How did the author react to the recurring financial pressures during his entrepreneurial journey?
How did the author react to the recurring financial pressures during his entrepreneurial journey?
What metaphor does the author use to describe understanding hardship?
What metaphor does the author use to describe understanding hardship?
Flashcards
Overcoming adversity
Overcoming adversity
Dealing with difficult struggles in life and finding the strength to overcome them.
Perseverance
Perseverance
Continuing to try even when faced with difficulties or setbacks.
College basketball
College basketball
Playing basketball at a college level.
Self-improvement
Self-improvement
Improving oneself through effort and determination; in this case, improving in height/skills through perseverance.
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Athletic scholarship
Athletic scholarship
A scholarship offered for academic studies in exchange for participating in a sport at a college level.
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Job-hunting Difficulties (1973-1976)
Job-hunting Difficulties (1973-1976)
The speaker faced significant challenges finding a job after graduation due to average grades and race.
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Integrated Troop 225
Integrated Troop 225
The speaker helped establish a racially integrated Boy Scout troop, after one was unavailable to him.
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Adversity as Training
Adversity as Training
The speaker believes experiencing hardships in youth strengthens character and prepares for future challenges.
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Importance of Faith (1970's)
Importance of Faith (1970's)
Faith in a higher power helped the speaker maintain a positive mindset during job-hunting and hardships.
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Missouri Pacific Railroad
Missouri Pacific Railroad
A company employing the speaker in a marketing position after a long job-hunt.
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Financial Struggles (1990's)
Financial Struggles (1990's)
The speaker faced significant financial pressures as a business owner, including debt, repossession.
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Persistence Through Hardship
Persistence Through Hardship
The speaker persevered through financial difficulty with unwavering focus on the positive impact of their work.
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Company Employee Loyalty
Company Employee Loyalty
The speaker noticed the loyalty of his employees during difficult times and was thankful.
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Turning Point
Turning Point
The speaker's focus on employees and customers through adversity transformed difficulties into a training ground.
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Faith and Adversity (Romans 5:3-5)
Faith and Adversity (Romans 5:3-5)
Suffering leads to endurance, character, hope. The speaker used this biblical concept during hardships.
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Dealing with Adversity
- James 1:2-4: Facing trials is a source of joy, because testing faith produces endurance, which leads to maturity and completeness.
Personal Struggles and Triumphs
- Adolescence: The author struggled academically (C average), in sports (failed tryouts for football and basketball), and with a speech impediment and shyness.
- High School: Found perseverance to be his key strength
- Basketball: Coach predicted no college basketball career, but the author enrolled in Central Missouri State despite his small stature, eventually growing to six-foot-five and receiving an athletic scholarship.
- College: The author's determination and attendance at practices impressed the coaching staff.
- Job Hunting After College: Experienced difficulty finding employment due to average grades and racial background. A substitute teaching job and then a role with the Boy Scouts led to a first business job.
- Layoffs and Job Searching: The author faced job loss, sent hundreds of résumés, and had multiple interviews, ultimately landing a marketing and sales position with the Missouri Pacific Railroad Company.
Importance of Faith and Adversity
- Romans 5:3-5: Suffering leads to endurance, endurance produces character, character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint because God's love is poured into our hearts.
- Lessons Learned: Adversity in youth is a positive experience, it helps individuals grow stronger and more capable of succeeding.
- Personal Interpretation: The author learned that sometimes God takes his hand away to allow individuals to experience adversity so that they can become stronger, better prepared for the future.
- Business Challenges: The author's entrepreneurship journey included significant financial hardships, including a $3.5 million debt and a repossessed car.
- Coping Mechanism: Maintained focus on doing good for employees and customers, recognizing their belief as a positive factor. Recognized the value of mutual trust with employees and other parties.
Perseverance in the Face of Pressure
- Employee Loyalty: Several employees were motivated to remain with the struggling company, despite potential opportunities elsewhere. This highlighted mutual trust and vision.
- Racial Prejudice: Acknowledged racial prejudice as a significant factor in past challenges.
- Maintaining Perspective: Viewed oneself not as a victim, but instead as someone who could leave room for God's wrath and not seek vengeance on others.
- Churchill's Advice: Cited Winston Churchill's famous commencement speech encouraging perseverance and resilience.
- Growth Through Adversity: The author's experience shows that adversity in youth can equip individuals more effectively for future challenges.
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