Dr. George S. Everly Jr. - Stronger: Develop the Resilience You Need to Succeed

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More Praise for

STRONGER

This is an unusual book from a talented author thats well worth reading for those interested in growing their business. Twenty-five years ago, Dr. Strouse and I co-founded the www.ceoclubs.org, a worldwide association of CEOs. Since then I have written 27 books that have sold several million copiesand what I dont tell everyone is that a good many of my ideas came from this talented writer/speaker/friend. I suggest you buy his book Stronger to develop the resilience you need to succeed.

Joe Mancuso, Co-founder, www.ceoclubs.org

This is much more than a guide for attaining individual success.... To have adequate standards of well-being, we must now begin to build a resilient society as well. This book invaluably points the way to achieving both personal and societal resilience.

Cathal Flynn, retired Rear Admiral, US Navy, and former SEAL

George S. Everly Jr., Ph.D.

Douglas A. Strouse, Ph.D.

Dennis K. McCormack, Ph.D.

To Patti Copps. Kind and loving. Courageous and tenacious. You are as beautiful inside as you are outside. You are truly STRONGER! And to my grandchildren, Olivia and Bentley. May you know only happiness, but just in case... read this book!! GSE

To my family, where I saw and learned the dimensions and power of resiliency; my wife and loving partner, Sharon Toher Strouse; my children, Kimberly, Kevin, and Kristin (who lives with us in spirit); my sisters, Rosalie and Gale; and my brothers, James and Charles. DAS

To my wife, Michelle, my ongoing source of strength for my accomplishments, and to all who strive to better themselves when dealing with adversity. DKM

Stronger is a most compelling study of human behavior and the ability to successfully cope with adversity and all of its ramifications. The authors believe that resilience may be defined as the ability to adapt to or rebound from adversity, a trait that has had an impact on me personally and to a great degree on my chosen professional military career as a naval officer with assignments on ships, staffs in the Pentagon, Vietnam, Germany, and, operationally, as a member of the Navys Underwater Demolition and SEAL Teams.

The authors are interested in how people adjust to adversity and what the core factors are that allow them to survive and prosper in what can be very trying times. They cite five such core factors to achieving personal resilience, what they call psychological body armor: active optimism, decisive action, moral compass, relentless tenacity, and interpersonal support.

Optimism heads the list. Cynics need not apply, because the cynic is always content with the way things are, or that there is no better option for rectifying a situation. Often disguised as humor, cynicism tries punching holes in optimistic emotion. It never gets started. Optimism defines the limits of potential outcomes and will be fairly stated by the persistent optimist. Indeed, optimism is a necessary element to enlightened leadership.

Decisive action, not file fumbling, is the hallmark of an energized organization. Get around the table and study an issue as long as needed; ensure group buy-in to the several courses of action; decide on it; and step out. Case closed, but ready for potential road bumps. Develop resilience, which will naturally evolve out of determination and persistence.

Moral compass. The West Point motto is Duty, Honor, Country. This works well in combat and our wars. It will work well in a commercial enterprise and is bedrock to ethical behavior.

Relentless tenacity. Pay attention to detail and singleness of purpose. Put teeth into tenacity. To see adversity through requires tenacity.

Interpersonal support is a team sport. In Special Operations Forces there is a constant recognition that their missions most likely require outside backup, airlifts, ships, logistics, etc. Actions in war require teamwork in order to be successful, just like in any organization. A smoothly functioning organization draws its strength from robust interpersonal support. The resilient leader recognizes this in his team.

These five factors of personal resilience are keys to improving work habits and output. They are indispensable at all levels of human endeavor. We all wonder how we will survive the inevitable bad news that sometimes accompanies our existence. Handling the unannounced news can be a systemic shock. Having the necessary resilience is key to survival.

Stronger is a powerful read that takes us on a journey to successfully navigate the maze of dealing with personal and professional adversity.

George R. Worthington, Rear Admiral, USN (SEAL), retired Former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations Former Commander, Naval Special Warfare Command San Diego, California

What do baseball great Cal Ripken Jr., neurosurgeon Ben Carson, Governor Martin OMalley, accident survivor Pat Rummerfield, Olympic champion Jim Craig, psychologist Abbey-Robin Tillery, and U.S. Navy SEAL Moki Martin all have in common? They have what we believe is the single most powerful factor that will help you realize your full potential, that will foster your happiness, and that will assist you in achieving both your personal and professional goals in life. They have personal resilienceor what we sometimes refer to as psychological body armor.

In 1989, the movie Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade was released. The popular fictional movie starring Harrison Ford and Sean Connery told the story of a death-defying quest for the Holy Grail. The Grail was a treasure prized above all things because, according to legend, those who drank from it would be granted immortality. Many pursued the Grail, but even the movies heroes were unable to take it from the boundaries of its resting place.

In the same year, another death-defying quest was undertaken. This wasnt a fictional pursuit of immortality but a real-life quest for something that many have unsuccessfully pursued: immunity to excessive stress. More specifically, this was a quest to discover how one might resist, or rebound from, disease-causing stress and the potentially disabling consequences of aversive life experiences. Unlike the movie, this immunity doesnt have boundaries. Millions around the globe can benefit from this form of human resilience that we call psychological body armor. While physical body armor worn by police and military personnel protects against physical injury, psychological body armor is designed to protect us from potentially stifling and even disabling adversity. And while there are several components that constitute a full suit of physical body armor, there are also, we believe, several that constitute a full suit of psychological body armor.