Stronger: Develop the Resilience You Need to Succeed - Hardcover

Everly Jr., George S.; Strouse, Douglas A.; Mccormack, Dennis K.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0814436048 ISBN 13: 9780814436042

Publisher: AMACOM, 2015

Synopsis

Professional athletes, surgeons, first responders - all perform remarkable feats in the face of intense stress. Whydo they thrive under pressure, while others succumb?

What separates the two is attitude. Resilient people meet adversity head-on and bounce back from setbacks. They seem to naturally exude an inner strength - but studies show that resilience is something that anyone can build. Analyzing the heroic exploits of U.S. Navy SEALs and others who succeed against all odds, Stronger identifies five factors that combine to unlockdeep reserves of personal power:

• Active optimism - believe that you can change things for the better
• Decisive action - you can’t succeed if you don’t takethe leap
• Moral compass - face any challenge with clear guiding principles
• Relentless tenacity - try, try again
• Interpersonal support - gain strength from those around you

Drawing on the unique perspective of a standout team of authors (a stress management expert, a skilled entrepreneur, and a Navy SEAL), Stronger explores the science behind resilience and explains how you can develop this vital trait for yourself.

Whatever your profession, today’s demanding world calls for a special kind of strength. This revealing book holds the key.

About this title

About the Author

GEORGE S. EVERLY JR., PH.D., is Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Professor of Psychology at Loyola University Maryland. One of the fathers of modern stress management, he has consulted with FEMA, ATF, and the FBI National Academy. DOUGLAS A. STROUSE, PH.D., is founder and CEO of Global Data Source. He has a doctorate in organizational psychology and is a recognized expert on business resilience. DENNIS K. MCCORMACK, PH.D., is one of the original Navy SEALs. He pioneered SEAL combat doctrine and tactics in Vietnam, and holds doctoral degrees in leadership and human behavior, and professional psychology. DENNIS K. MCCORMACK, PH.D., is one of the original Navy SEALs. He pioneered SEAL combat doctrine and tactics in Vietnam, and holds doctoral degrees in leadership and human behavior, and professional psychology.

From the Back Cover

First responders, emergency medical personnel, star athletes—all perform remarkable feats in the face of intense stress. But how often have you heard of athletes, businesspeople, students, or performing artists who had remarkable talent and enormous potential, but never achieved the success for which they seemed destined?

Why do some people rise above adversity and excel under pressure, and others doubt themselves and panic—or choke? What separates them is attitude. Resilient people meet adversity head-on and bounce back from setbacks. They seem to exude a natural inner strength. But studies show that they’re rarely born with this outlook; rather, it develops over time. In fact, as this book will show, you can develop the attitudes that shield you from stress and help you overcome obstacles.

Drawing on decades of research, scientific analysis, interviews with nearly 1,000 highly resilient people working in unusually stressful professions, and the unique perspectives of a standout team of authors—a stress-management expert, a skilled entrepreneur, and a Navy SEAL—Stronger analyzes the heroic exploits of the Navy SEALs and others who succeed against all odds, pinpoints the traits that define the most resilient people on earth, and reveals how you can develop this vital competitive advantage at any age.

Complete with self-assessments, engaging and empowering stories, and Rx prescriptions, this wise and practical book will teach you how to practice the essential skills that will build your resilience. With its guidance, you’ll be able to:

• Make better decisions under pressure

• Achieve peak performance

• Discover hidden opportunities

• Boost your energy, both physically and psychologically

• Recover quickly from setbacks

Change any situation for the better—and live a more satisfying and happy life. Why let problems keep you from moving forward? With Stronger you’ll develop the life-changing ability to not just withstand adversity and extreme pressure, but to succeed under even the most challenging conditions.

Competing in today’s world calls for deep reserves of strength—in sports, academic placements, auditions, promotions, or entrepreneurial success. Let Stronger give you the competitive edge you need to withstand the pressure and achieve your best!

George S. Everly Jr., Ph.D., ABBP, FAPM, is one of the founding fathers of modern stress management and a pioneer in the field of human resilience. Dr. Everly is Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Professor of Psychology at Loyola University Maryland. He has consulted with FEMA, ATF, US Federal Air Marshals, and the FBI National Academy.

Douglas A. Strouse, Ph.D., is the Managing Partner of Wexley Consulting HRD, LLC, an international management consulting firm, and the founder and President of the Chief Executive Officers Club (CEO Club) of Baltimore. He received his doctorate in organizational management and organizational psychology, and is a recognized expert on business resilience.

Dennis K. McCormack, Ph.D., is one of the original Navy SEALs. He pioneered SEAL combat doctrine and tactics in Vietnam and holds doctoral degrees in leadership and human behavior as well as professional psychology.

From the Inside Flap

First responders, emergency medical personnel, star athletes—all perform remarkable feats in the face of intense stress. But how often have you heard of athletes, businesspeople, students, or performing artists who had remarkable talent and enormous potential, but never achieved the success for which they seemed destined?

Why do some people rise above adversity and excel under pressure, and others doubt themselves and panic—or choke? What separates them is attitude. Resilient people meet adversity head-on and bounce back from setbacks. They seem to exude a natural inner strength. But studies show that they’re rarely born with this outlook; rather, it develops over time. In fact, as this book will show, you can develop the attitudes that shield you from stress and help you overcome obstacles.

Drawing on decades of research, scientific analysis, interviews with nearly 1,000 highly resilient people working in unusually stressful professions, and the unique perspectives of a standout team of authors—a stress-management expert, a skilled entrepreneur, and a Navy SEAL—Stronger analyzes the heroic exploits of the Navy SEALs and others who succeed against all odds, pinpoints the traits that define the most resilient people on earth, and reveals how you can develop this vital competitive advantage at any age.

Complete with self-assessments, engaging and empowering stories, and Rx prescriptions, this wise and practical book will teach you how to practice the essential skills that will build your resilience. With its guidance, you’ll be able to:

• Make better decisions under pressure

• Achieve peak performance

• Discover hidden opportunities

• Boost your energy, both physically and psychologically

• Recover quickly from setbacks

Change any situation for the better—and live a more satisfying and happy life. Why let problems keep you from moving forward? With Stronger you’ll develop the life-changing ability to not just withstand adversity and extreme pressure, but to succeed under even the most challenging conditions.

Competing in today’s world calls for deep reserves of strength—in sports, academic placements, auditions, promotions, or entrepreneurial success. Let Stronger give you the competitive edge you need to withstand the pressure and achieve your best!

George S. Everly Jr., Ph.D., ABBP, FAPM, is one of the founding fathers of modern stress management and a pioneer in the field of human resilience. Dr. Everly is Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Professor of Psychology at Loyola University Maryland. He has consulted with FEMA, ATF, US Federal Air Marshals, and the FBI National Academy.

Douglas A. Strouse, Ph.D., is the Managing Partner of Wexley Consulting HRD, LLC, an international management consulting firm, and the founder and President of the Chief Executive Officers Club (CEO Club) of Baltimore. He received his doctorate in organizational management and organizational psychology, and is a recognized expert on business resilience.

Dennis K. McCormack, Ph.D., is one of the original Navy SEALs. He pioneered SEAL combat doctrine and tactics in Vietnam and holds doctoral degrees in leadership and human behavior as well as professional psychology.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Chapter 1: Active Optimism and the Self-Fulfilling Prophecy

“In times of conflict or uncertainty there is a special person ready

to answer the call; a common person, with an uncommon desire

to succeed. I am that person. I stand ready to bring the full

spectrum of resources to bear in order to achieve my goals. . . . In

the worst of conditions . . . I will not fail.” These words, adapted

from the U.S. Navy SEAL Ethos, describe the type of person most

of us would like to be. They certainly describe the type of person

most businesses want to employ—and rapidly promote. But what

do these people have that others don’t?

What is the secret of experiencing extreme adversity and

bouncing back stronger than you were before? More than 40 years

ago, we set out to try to answer that question. Interestingly enough,

setbacks, even failure, are a common experience associated with

almost all human endeavors.

Everyone reading this book has faced adversity, and each has

failed at least once in life. The issue is neither adversity nor failure

per se, but what happens in the wake of adversity when you find

yourself in the dark abyss of despair. Successful people fail. Happy

people fail. The key doesn’t lie in the nature of the adversity. What

really matters is the degree of personal resilience you possess in the

wake of the adversity.

Personal Resilience Defined

Personal resilience, what we sometimes think of as psychological

body armor, is your ability to bounce back, to pick yourself up and

try again, and again and again, until you either succeed or decide

on a more productive direction. Resilience is your ability to see

yourself in the dark abyss of failure, humiliation or depression—

and bounce back, not only to where you were before, but to even

greater heights of success, happiness, and inner strength. Resil-

ience helps you withstand adversity. Think of it as a form of im-

munity that helps you make good decisions under pressure,

motivates you for the achievement of peak performance, and al-

lows you to bounce back quickly and effectively.

Science has shown that not only can you rebound from adversity

and trauma, but you can also grow to be better than you ever

were. As George Eliot once noted, “It is never too late to be what

you might have been.”

Five Factors of Personal Resilience

From our research we concluded that successful people share a set

of five core factors that equip them with personal resilience. Just as

a suit of physical body armor protects the wearer from physical

injury, it seems to us that a suit of psychological body armor can

protect you against psychological distress and emotional injury.

We believe that our five factors of personal resilience enable people,

organizations, and even entire communities to withstand or

rebound from adversity. They enable us to see opportunity in crisis.

In psychologically toxic environments, they enable us to grow

stronger.

Our goal for this book is to share with you the five factors of

personal resilience and to show you ways you can develop this psy-

chological body armor for yourself and foster it in others. While

we have written about our preliminary findings on this topic in

scientific and more readily accessible formats, this book represents

our sometimes startling new conclusions, honed through more

than four decades of research and experiential refinement.

Our five factors of personal resilience are:

1. Active Optimism. Optimism is more than a belief, it’s a man-

date for change. It’s the inclination to move forward when

others are retreating. This mandate can be so strong that it

can become a self-fulfilling prophecy. But to do so it must

lead to . . .

2. Decisive Action. Optimism is not enough. You must be decisive

and act in order to rebound. As Clare Boothe Luce observed,

“Courage is the ladder on which all the other virtues

mount.” You must acquire the courage to make difficult

decisions. Making hard decisions is easier when it is based

upon a . . .

3. Moral Compass. Use honor, integrity, fidelity, and ethical

behavior to guide your decisions under challenging circums-

tances.Once your decisions have been implemented, employ

. . .

4. Relentless Tenacity, Determination. Persistence can be om-

nipotent. As comedian Jonathan Winters once quipped, “If

your ship doesn’t come, swim out to meet it!” Be persistent,

while at the same time knowing when to quit. To find hidden

opportunities and aid in physical and psychological energy,

rely upon . . .

5. Interpersonal Support. Who has your back?

Edition details

• Publisher: AMACOM
• Publication date: 2015
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0814436048
• ISBN 13: 9780814436042
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 240