Adversaries

Do you have a mentor? An idol? Someone you aspire to be? Someone who encourages you, roots for you, is always there for you no matter what? A very best friend? We all have those people who encourage us, support us, boost us up when we are down and we need them. We are even those people to someone else. But what about an adversary? Someone who always points out your flaws? Who looks for you to fail...who is happy when things don't go your way? You have anyone like that in your life? Anyone who makes your days miserable or challenging?

If so - thank them. Yes I said THANK THEM.

These are the type of people who will help you grow. Who push you or challenge you to become more than you thought you could be. You ever have someone tell you "oh you can't do that" or "you'll never do that right".

What is your immediate response...do you agree and quit or do you push on with an attitude of power and purpose?

When I was finishing school I interviewed one of our executive vice presidents to pick her brain about what success meant to her, how did she achieve the lot in life she had and what advice she would/could offer someone up and coming in the world. She talked about working hard, giving back to the community around you and being sure you gave equal time to work and family but she also talked about this book her father gave her as a young child....Disputed Passages.

It tells the story of a young doctor who went to work with an older doctor who always pointed out everything he did wrong, how he didn't really know anything which in turn made the young doctor work even harder and learn more just to prove the older doctor wrong. One of my favorite quotes from the book:

"Have you learned the lessons only of those who admired you, and were tender with you, and stood aside for you? Have you not learned great lessons from those who braced themselves against you and disputed passage with you?"

It's true, we learn most from those who challenge and push us outside our comfort zone. So when you create your list of idols, don't forget to include those who challenge you and dispute your passage.