My Father was born in the 40’s in a coal mining town in Pennsylvania. Immediately after birth the doctor told my Grandmother “you already have five children and this one probably isn’t going to make it. He is too small and frail.” She was already dealing with just having a child and five more running around was going to be too much. My Grand-father was working in the coal mines. She wasn’t in a position to do a whole lot except listen to the doctors advice. My Great-grandmother had other plans. She immediately turned on the oven, pulled out the rack a bit, placed him in a large pot and then put him on the rack…with the door open. She fed him with a dropper and nursed him until he was a healthy baby boy.

My Father is currently 83 years old, was a marine during the Vietnam war, worked three jobs to afford to send four boys through school, fixed his own car/house/appliances/etc., bargain hunted everything, saved like crazy when he could, survived prostate cancer 15 years ago and is going through chemotherapy now for liver cancer. He has always been strong and resilient to everything life has thrown at him. He found ways to make things work, like revolving credit 🙂 and so much more. I learned from him that if I put my mind to it, I can do just about anything. I believe he can beat cancer again. I am tremendously inspired by my Father and consider myself extremely blessed to have him in my life. We will always have tough times in our lives. We have to find the strength in our failures or misfortunes and keep moving forward.

While visiting my Father in the hospital this weekend, due to norovirus, I got a random phone call. The caller said they were looking for an opportunity and wanted to make connections. I told him I was in the hospital visiting my father and would send him a text with my email for his resume. Yesterday, I was reviewing their resume asked why they had movement/gaps at a certain point in their career. They told me that they experienced the unfortunate loss of their Grandmother, Wife, job, Best Friend and Parents in a three month time period. I struggle to comprehend the pain and suffering they went through and I am sure they still experience some of it today. They had been through more in three months than I have endured an entire lifetime. The strength and courage to keep moving forward inspired me. I couldn’t help but think, the timing of their call was intentional fate. I may not have voiced it, I needed the inspiration.

We all need more inspiration, especially with everything going on in the world. Bad news seems to gain more clicks. As I finish writing, I want to thank my late Great-grandmother. If it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t be here to tell the story. I might not have been here anyway, I was supposed to die 12 years ago….but that is another story. Your homework for today is to inspire someone. If you are a leader in your organization, remember that you have an opportunity to inspire others when going through tribulation by exuding positive discernible actions.

“I’ve been successful in life, because I have failed so often” – KP