Coming Back Stronger: Unleashing the Hidden Power of Adversity

How true and especially applicable to those of us over 50, out of work for more than six months wondering not WHEN but IF we will EVER work again! Like Drew Brees we have paid our dues, become well educated, expertly trained in our respective fields with many years of experience yet because of a set of negative circumstances i.e. serious injuries in his case; a poor economy, unfavorable politics or some other (hidden from us) reasons in ours. we find ourselves in a seemingly hopeless position with a bleak future.For those who do not know, Drew Brees is the 2009 Super Bowl MVP-winning quarterback for the New Orleans Saints. A 2001 graduate of Purdue University, he initially played for the San Diego Chargers. As he writes in the book's Epilogue: "My dream was to win a championship with San Diego and play my whole career with that one team. That didn't happen--it wasn't the plan. And it took a devastating injury to tear me away from that city." At one point Drew Brees actually believed he might NEVER be allowed to play football again. Yet, in the end, as he further writes: "A step back is not necesarily a setback. Sometimes you have to take a few steps backward before you can get the momentum to jump over a chasm in your life." Brees tells the reader: "When people think you're not big enough, not smart enough, not wise enough, or not experienced enough for a task, remember that faith will carry you through....It is not where you start in life, but how you finish. It's that last play that can make all the difference in the outcome" and "...when you least expect it...opportunity will present itself." As we all know now, Drew Brees ended up being named 2004 Comeback Player of the Year, 2006 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year and 2008 Offensive Player of the Year. On February 7, 2010 he led the Saints to their first World Championship against the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV. Through all of it Drew Brees believed: "It was the fact that God was with me every step of the way. I had a strong belief that no matter what happened, things were going to work out for the greater good."After retiring in Miami in 2004 after 28 years of military service, my husband, still not of (civilian) retirement age, was hired to work at Fort Stewart, Georgia. In an effort to be a "good" supportive wife I had to leave an outstanding job in Miami to follow him here. It took nine months for me to find a job at Winn Army Community Hospital located on the same post. Sad to say, however, my father's physical health worsened in the summer of 2007. My mother requested assistance and I asked my superiors for Leave Without Pay to help care for him. This was denied so I resigned to be with my father in his final days. Since that time I have not been able to get another job. It really feels like being punished for choosing to do the right thing. Now after three years of unemployment it really does feel like I will never work again. Yet after reading this book and seeing what the Saints winning of the Super Bowl did fo the City of New Orleans, I really feel inspired. There may be hope for me (any many like me) yet.I love when Brees writes: "The tougher the journey, the sweeter the celebration at the end..don't forget that adversity is not your enemy. It can unleash a power in your life that will make you stronger and help you achieve amazing things--things you may have never thought possible--until now." He goes on to say: "DON'T GIVE UP. The worst thing that could happen in life is not getting kicked down; it's getting knocked down and STAYING down." For those of us like myself it CAN indeed be hard to believe that we will ever work again. I mean a study by the National Employment Law Project clearly informs us that "older workers -- those 45 and up -- make up the largest slice of the long-term unemployed". Additionally, the proportion of people jobless for six months or more has grown in the past year and now makes up 46 percent of the unemployed. With statistics like these, it is really hard NOT to give up.Brees advises the reader that in order to come back after a disappointment and accomplish something good you have to believe in something bigger than yourself: "I clung to the belief that if God calls you to it, he will give you the power to walk through it. He will give you the tools required to accomplish the task. He will give you the heart, the resolve and the fortitude you need....Having hope in the Lord means I trust his plan and believe he's never going to put anything in front of me that's too hard to handle with his help. BE FLEXIBLE enough to know when you're being led in another direction, and then follow that new vision with all your heart. You are being led there for a reason...You have to look around and believe that the negative stuff is there to strengthen you and can successfully lead to a big break. But you have to be on the lookout for it, and you have to keep believing that God can work in the midst of even the most trying circumstances...You can come back...even stronger."

"In the aftermath of one of the most devastating natural disasters in U.S. history, the city of New Orleans needed a hero. WHAT THEY GOT WAS A SAINT."Wow! And that's just the back cover.The story of Drew Brees, the Saints and the city of New Orleans is inspiring. I wouldn't be surprised if there's a movie about this someday. I'm glad God chose Drew Brees to be a part of that story. He's a good guy with a great heart.Brees preaches that God uses adversity for our good. However, you don't have to be a Christian to believe in Brees's god. Having a job that requires him to win it back every day, and having parents who are human, have set Brees up as a case study in idolizing people's approval. He frequently acknowledges his motivation: the people who believe in him, and fear of failing them. "I've got to prove myself every time I step onto the field. I know how hard I've worked, and I know how many people believe in me" (190). That must be a hard way to live.Most of the book is a sola-boot-strapia message (see note below). "Adversity equals opportunity. The only way to believe that is to lift yourself up from the ground. Getting up is always the first step" (149). Only in chapter 15 does Brees hint at the gospel, but even then he doesn't mention the name of Jesus. I have a feeling, though, that Brees is about to discover Jesus. Maybe chapter 15 (the best part of the book) is the first step in finding the gospel that is stronger than his boot straps.[I stole the term sola-boot-strapia from Brian H. Cosby, who discusses Moralistic Therapeutic Deism in student ministry: [...] This is a tongue-in-cheek, Latin-like term that mirrors Martin Luther's five solas from the Reformation: Sola Scriptura (by Scripture alone), Sola Fida (by faith alone), Sola Gratia (by grace alone), Solo Christo (through Christ alone), Soli Deo Gloria (glory to God alone).]

This is an enlightening well-written book for anyone! One lives through some days of adversity with Drew from a high school injury, college, draft, and the San Diego injury. These moments all played a role in preparing for his opportunity to play for the Saints. I began to see how his attitude, focus, preparation and team spirit has brought him to where he is today. I've been drawn to Brittany as I've seen her on television and was happy to see how much credit she is given as part of this story of success. This is definitely a very special family! Some incidents were quite amusing when the "idiot quarterback" at Purdue meets Brittany and his first thought is "I'm going to marry her" and she won't even talk to him and for good reason as Drew freely admits. I laughed out loud when Drew six months later is trying to get acquainted with Brittany and offered to drive her home in her car with a stick shift. Also special were Drew and his brother Reid as kids, the birth and naming of Baylen, and the weeks in the New Orleans home with a mattress on the floor and two camping chairs to sit in at night. We've all taken a turn at "camping in" in an empty home but it was just surprizing to see one additional revelation I could strongly identify with in the book. Finally reading about their Foundation and the enormous accomplishments to help others - children with cancer, schools and parks in New Orleans, Purdue Sports and the other ways Drew has helped in the community and supported our military. Adversity knocks on everyone's door and Drew offers some great advice on how to get yourself through it.

Me gusta cómo guía y libro de superación personal.

Don't get me wrong, the book is great and it's a biography so i'm not judging is faith or anything, i just tought it would be less axed on that direction, espaccially the end and birth chapter of his life, anyways...The book was in perfect condition, shipping was as promised, this store i could recommend to anyone! This book, it depends :P

Excelentes planteamientos de un magnífico deportista y hombre de familia. El libro fue un regalo para mi hijo. Me da gusto que tenga personajes como Drew Brees como modelo de superación y liderazgo ante la adversidad.

Gift purchased for my son, he really enjoyed it

Un libro Muy recomendable,!!!y respecto al proceso de compra, a pesar de ser artículo de importación, llegó bastante rápido (5 días).