I'm riveted by biography of Napoleon Hill, author of classic book "Think and Grow Rich." Not only did this man struggle for 20 years to write definitive guide to success, but he experienced poverty, his life was threatened, his backers were murdered, he suffered from bouts of hopelessness, and his family suffered beyond all understanding.
His was not an overnight success.
One thing that stood out in Hill's life story was his ability to turn negative into positive. He always looked for what some people call that silver lining in dark cloud. As I thought about Hill's life, I realized I've been noticing this ability to see good in bad practiced by others, too.
I was at a meeting with my friend Mark Joyner, Internet pioneer and bestselling author. I overheard Mark talking to a man who had just gone through hell due to FTC. Mark listened to man's sad story and then said, "Turn it into something good."
This was remarkable advice. It's kind of thing Napoleon Hill would have said. It goes against what most people ever even attempt to try. The whole idea of taking whatever happens to you and turning it into something good seems, at first glance, preposterous.
But this also seems to be a key to success. I remember P.T. Barnum offering a to buy a rival's elephant. He sent a telegram stating his offer. His competitors took Barnum's telegram and ran it as an ad, saying, "Here's what Barnum thinks of our elephant."
Instead of being upset, Barnum decided to join with those competitors. That gave birth to famous Barnum & Bailey Circus. Barnum took experience and turned it into something good.
The other day Nerissa, my love, released her first e-book at www.freevideoediting.com. She had a small mistake on her site. When I went to promote her site, I used mistake as a way to get attention for her e-book. I could have said, "Correct your site."