Adversity is one of the most potent forces in life. It shapes your character, clarifies your priorities, and defines your path. It can also fuel your greatness. Each of us faces a rich assortment of adversities every day, ranging from minor hassles to major setbacks and challenges, even tragedies. But merely coping with or overcoming adversity barely keeps you in the game. The key to success, both in business and in life, is learning how to become an alchemist and convert any adversity, major or minor, into a genuine advantage. The Adversity Advantage offers proven principles and practical tools that teach you how to use adversity as a force for superior achievement, resilience, agility, innovation, energy, and happiness.

Stoltz and Weihenmayer posit that any individual or enterprise can use adversity to power their ultimate success. Stoltz has spent decades decoding the human relationship with adversity and is the creator of the globally acclaimed Adversity Quotient®. His AQ® theory — the most widely used method in the world for measuring and strengthening how we deal with adversity — forms the foundation of this book. Weihenmayer is the exemplar of Stoltz's work and the seven principles taught in this book. He has triumphed over and gleaned tremendous advantage from seemingly insurmountable adversities, becoming the only blind man in history to reach the Seven Summits, the tallest peak on every continent, including Everest. These two adversity experts have married their dream-team combination of practical science and unmatched experience to develop seven guiding principles to teach you how to transform adversity into your most powerful advantage.

The Adversity Advantage blends Stoltz's proven leadership techniques and groundbreaking research with Erik's soul-stirring real-world anecdotes and wisdom. It will rewire your core response mechanisms to react optimally to anything that happens, the moment it strikes. You will move past avoiding or simply coping with adversity to harness its true power. Learn to pinpoint and grow your adversity strengths to bring out your best when you need it most, under pressure. Use adversity to pioneer new possibilities in your work and life.

"Today's military is facing an entirely new brand of adversity; how we react will determine whether we win or lose. I view this book as a strategic weapon in our arsenal and recommend it for anyone who wants to harness life's tough stuff and deliver everyday greatness."

-- Major General Paul W. "Bill" Essex, commander, Army and Air Force Exchange Service

"This book confirms what I have learned in my many years of public service — that adversity is never- ending, but our choice is whether to wilt in its face or use it to our advantage."

-- Connie Mack, United States senator, Florida, retired

"...the very process of studying this book led me to look carefully at myself with an awareness of how the challenges of my life can be the fuel that will enable me to swim against the stream, against cultural currents, against all forms of adversity inherent in my most important goals."

--From the Foreword by Stephen R. Covey, Ph.D., author of The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People

"In The Adversity Advantage, Erik and Paul teach us how to meet adversity head-on to reach new heights. This book lays out a straightforward approach to taking advantage of business or personal challenges to 'achieve greatness every day.'"

-- Al Kelly, group president, American Express

"Every now and then a book comes along that can be used to shape a leader, one's life, and the entire culture of an organization. The Adversity Advantage is just such a book. Done right, these teachings are the true key to greatness."

-- John Suranyi, president, sales and service, DIRECTV, Inc.

"This message has made a huge impact on our clients and senior management. The Adversity Advantage combines Erik's captivating insights in dealing with his adversities with Paul's landmark research and ability to put it into practice."

-- Gregory J. Fleming, president, Global MarketsandInvestment Banking, Merrill Lynch