FSS Newsletter :: November 2003

Career Corner

Obstacles are Stepping Stones to Success

By Harvey Mackay

A man was walking in the park one day when he came upon a cocoon with a small opening. He sat and watched the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force its body through the little hole. Then it seemed to stop making any progress. It looked like it had gotten as far as it could, so the man decided to help the butterfly. He used his pocketknife and snipped the remaining bit of the cocoon.

The butterfly then emerged easily, but something was strange. The butterfly had a swollen body and shriveled wings. The man continued to watch the butterfly because he expected at any moment the wings would enlarge and expand to be able to support the body, which would contract in time. Neither happened. In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and deformed wings. It was never able to fly.

What the man in his kindness and haste did not understand was that the restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the butterfly to emerge was natural. It was nature's way of forcing fluid from its body into its wings so that it would be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom.

Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our lives. If we were allowed to go though life without any obstacles, we would be crippled. We would not be as strong as what we could have been. And we could never fly.

History has shown us that the most celebrated winners usually encountered heartbreaking obstacles before they triumphed. They won because they refused to become discouraged by their defeats.

My good friend, Lou Holtz, football coach of the University of South Carolina, once told me, "Show me someone who has done something worthwhile, and I'll show you someone who has overcome adversity." Mackay's Moral: There is no education like the university of adversity.

I thought this article would be appropriate this month in lieu of the usualitems that adorn this column. Most of us face adversity in our jobs in some form or fashion. If you happen to be unemployed and currently seeking employment, there is absolutely no doubt that you are facing adversity right now. Take Mr. Mackay’s advice, the struggles will make you stronger. Nothing worthwhile in life ever comes easy.