Build your Adversity Quotient

The pandemic has me concerned about how our kids will handle adversities. It is imperative to put in place tools that will enable our youngsters deal with hardships better than we have. We invest a lot of effort into building Intelligence Quotient and Emotional Quotient. Now is the time to look at Adversity Quotient (AQ) – a measure of how we choose to respond and handle adversity, writes Rakesh Godhwani

Between 1988 and 89, the Indian cricket team toured the West Indies and played many ODIs and test matches. The West Indies bowlers were fierce and terrorised Indian batsmen to no end. In an interview, Navjot Singh Siddhu explained the ordeal of facing the legendary Courtney Ambrose on a wet pitch. The ball would bounce off the damp pitch and take an unpredictable trajectory to land everywhere on Siddhu’s body but his bat. Facing these towering bowlers in their turf was a terrible task. Enter 16-year-old Sachin Tendulkar who, seemingly unaffected by the belligerent bowlers around him, did something remarkable in that match. Instead of going on the defensive, he embraced an aggressive stance, hitting balls for sixes even before they touched the pitch.

Suppose we were to break down that match and peer at it through a conceptual framework of stimulus and response; we can term the West Indies bowlers as examples of adversity or the stimulus– unpredictable and brutal. Sachin’s reaction was the response to this stimulus. Adversity can come knocking anytime and anywhere, and we have no power over them. But how we choose to respond to them is in our control. Sachin’s reaction to the fierce bowlers is an example of how not to cower in the face of adversities.

Viktor Frankl documented this concept of stimulus and response in the heart-wrenching non-fiction he wrote in 1944 called Man’s Search for Meaning. He states, in the book, that those who faced adversities in the horrendous Jewish concentration camps with positivity, resilience and hope, had a better chance of survival. This concept is also documented in a different way in Marcus Aurelius’s Meditations which later became the foundation of ‘Stoicism’.

The simplest example of stimulus and response theory is often played out in the lives of students. Take the varying response to the stimulus of exams. One student might be scared, holed up in their room, mugging as much information as possible; while the other may indulge in a game of basketball and enjoy a hearty meal with their family, before retiring for the day. In simple terms, if you react to a stimulus with anxiety, negativity, and anger, you are only going to harm yourself.

‘AQ=CAGR^p’

The unprecedented adversity we are all collectively facing today is Covid19. As an educator, researcher and entrepreneur, I have witnessed young people losing their jobs, my own enterprise going through a lull, and the loss of our loved ones. The crisis has me concerned about how our kids will handle adversities during and post pandemic. It is imperative to put in place tools that will enable our youngsters to deal with hardships better than we have. We invest a lot of effort into building Intelligence Quotient and Emotional Quotient. Now is the time to look at Adversity Quotient (AQ) – a measure of how we choose to respond and handle adversity.

Here is a simple method of building AQ in learners. We all have heard the finance acronym CAGR – compounded annual growth of returns. I will offer you a formula based on a similar acronym with a twist. I love movies and admire their ability to transcend languages to make an impact on us. So I have used films and TV series as points of references to articulate my thoughts on AQ, here goes:

AQ = CAGR^p 

Read as Adversity Quotient equals to CAGR to the power of P.

1. C for Courage – Enola Holmes, on Netflix, is a beautiful movie with courage as its theme. Girls in the late 19th century Britain were sent to finishing school to sharpen their etiquette to land a good marriage proposal. They were not allowed to vote, let alone work or engage in politics or businesses. But Enola Holmes, Sherlock Holmes’ sister, dared to break the existing norms and lived life on her own terms. With raging courage, she overcame all obstacles society pushed her way. We may face many obstacles, but if we have courage, everything will be easier to cope with.
2. A for Ambition/Action – Purna is a movie that exemplifies pursuing one’s ambition in the face of severe adversity. The 14-year-old protagonist wanted to be a mountaineer but came from a family of limited means. However, she fiercely pursued her ambition, eventually climbing Mount Everest. Ambition is not a dirty word; it gives us the strength to overcome every hardship.
3. G for Gratitude – After Life, a funny yet heartfelt series by comedian extraordinaire Ricky Gervias, touches upon the important topic of being grateful. The series explores the idea that adversities can crop up suddenly, and the impact might be severe. But even in our darkest of days, we must not forget to be grateful for what we have. Lament losses for a while, then pick yourself up and feel happy for things not yet lost.
4. R for Resilience – Imagine living in the 1960s and dreaming of joining NASA’s engineering and computer departments. Now imagine that you cannot fulfil these dreams because you are a woman of colour. Despite these adversities of sexism and racism, Katherine Johnson, Mary Jackson and Dorothy Vaughan were resilient in pursuing their dreams and are today heralded as hidden figures behind the Apollo Missions.
5. And finally, P for Patience –  In the movie Apollo 13, my favourite character was Ken Mattingly played perfectly by Gary Sinise. Ken was all set to be on Apollo 13 but was asked to drop off last minute because he had a minor flu. Imagine how devastating it is when your dreams crumble before you. But instead of being bogged down, he rose to the challenge and took the decision on his stride and helped his colleagues come back safely to earth despite numerous obstacles. Ken was patient and got his chance to go on Apollo 16 and two other missions.

Adversity will always come in some form or shape; respond to it with courage, ambition, gratitude, resilience and patience. There is a famous quote: “Leaders don’t do different things, they do things differently”. Every day do something that builds your adversity quotient. Sign up for a music class despite everyone telling you not to. Show up to your online class irrespective of what others say. Go to your lab and keep working on that project that will positively impact people’s lives around you. Binge on that ice-cream with your family tonight despite having a tough interview tomorrow. And lastly, listen to the songs ‘Apna time aayega’ and ‘All izz well’, many times over.

Rakesh Godhwani

The author is Adjunct Faculty, IIM Bangalore, and Founder School of Meaningful Experiences. He can be contacted at Rakesh.godhwani@gmail.com.