Doing Business by the Good Book Ch 19

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.