THE DOMINO EFFECT

The ultimate purpose of challenges is what it makes us after we confront it. Challenges come with a package. They are multidimensional - while passing through a challenge, it is not only that challenge that is happening to you; but a purification process is also happening to you at the same time. This purification process makes the challenge effect a domino effect. It is the goal of this post to encourage you that something great will result from the challenge that you are facing. According to Nena O’Neill, an author, “out of every crisis comes the chance to be reborn” and I agree with her on that. The challenge effect makes you grow in the following ways:

Enlightenment
Challenges illuminate; imparts the individual or entity with a new set of skills, new approaches and for that matter new ways of thinking. When a scientist designs and builds a machine, he expects it to work in a certain way. If the machine doesn't work as expected, the scientist gets to work again. This means a modified design, new materials, new tools and even the application of new scientific principles. He does all that to overcome the challenge of making the machine work. But then again, there is one more reason the scientist does that;

It is simply because you cannot solve a new problem with the same level of thinking. Albert Einstein puts it that “The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them”. To cut a long story short, a challenge that is successfully overcome or otherwise, clothes the individual with a new level of thinking as the individual may have an idea about that kind of challenge.

Innovation
Challenges have a wonderful way of making us innovators and problem solvers. Throughout history, setbacks have given birth to ideas that have changed the world. I believe that the inventors of the telephone, the airplane, and electricity were seeking to solve one setback or the other. Dubai, one of the United Arab Emirates, anticipated that their flow of income from oil and gas will eventually cease. They were as a result faced with the challenge of finding a new source of income. What could a desert country like Dubai find as an alternative resource? Their search for a solution brought about a mega structure that many have testified is a wonder to behold- Dubai built a stretch of artificial islands that has made it one of the most favored tourist destinations in the world. Nikesemo ( www.nikasemo.com ), a social learning platform that is slowly making wave in University of Ghana, was born because an “ordinary” course representative sought to solve a problem of accessibility to lecture materials. That’s the power of challenges for you.

Uncovering Potentials
Challenges have the ability to reveal the human potential. There have been times in history that extraordinary performances have been dependent on the presence of obstacles. Typically, I personally hold that the coming of Usain Bolt into the limelight as a challenge to other athletes has actually caused some of those athletes to perform at levels that they couldn't dream of. A few weeks after Usain Bolt ran an extraordinary 9.69s during the Beijing 2008 Olympics, Tyson Gay, the American athlete did something he had never done before by running a wind assisted 9.68s. He repeated that feat when he equaled Usain Bolt’s 9.69s in Shanghai. Remember that this was something that was completely out of his norm. I have no doubt that Usain Bolt’s genius, that would continue to make him number one in track and field, pushed Tyson Gay to push boundaries. Maybe you thought you couldn't achieve that “A” that you got in that math exam. I believe that grade “A” has probably convinced you of your potential and boosted your confidence.

Opportunity
Opportunities are most often hidden in challenges. A seeming challenge may actually be an opportunity in disguise. A story is told of a college group leader for an assignment whose group members ignored him and left all the work for him to do. The task was to lobby for the financials of a company and since his group members were not willing to take on that challenge, he put it upon himself to do the lobbying. In his quest, his impressive presentation and delivery won him a summer vacation job with the company. That’s an opportunity wrapped in a challenge. Another example is  how the challenge of lecture notes accessibility led to the creation of Nikasemo ( www.nikasemo.com ).

“Behind every adversity is an opportunity. If you lament over the adversity you miss the opportunity”- Ajaero Tony Martins

Persistence, Consistency and Strength
Challenges breed persistence, consistency and strength. Why do you think that some individuals and entities have the courage to attempt and see seemingly impossible ventures to completion? It’s simply because they have seen it all. The legendary Michael Jordan in his famous quote said “I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” If you have been tried and tested by challenges it “hardens” you, makes you strong, and builds an element of persistence in you. What you get from losing is "1000" times more than what you get from winning.

 
A few weeks before the 2012 Olympics Usain Bolt was painfully beat by Yohan Blake, his training partner, in both the 100m and 200m sprints. He came back so strong during the Olympics and won 3 gold medals including the 100m and 200m heats. Usain Bolt has admitted on a number of occasions that the presence of the hardworking Blake has kept him on his toes. If one reacts to challenges with the right attitude, and harnesses it to one’s advantage, consistency would be that person’s hallmark.

In conclusion, accept challenges as part of life, face it with the right attitude and use it to your advantage. I will however urge that we shouldn't be challenge conscious; let’s be destination conscious.

I don't know what setbacks have done to you. You can share with us how you have grown through challenges. We at Noeses value your comments.