FROM THE WOMEN IN AMARILLO

 “Crucibles often launch leaders into despair, crisis, and doubt. In the midst of a crucible, pain and suffering may overwhelm leaders. With sufficient resilience, leaders emerge from despair and become open to introspection that can catalyze major breakthroughs in their development.” (p.57) Everyone experiences hardships in their life, what they do with their circumstances defines them as a person and a leader. You can either succumb to the hard experience, or you can see it as an opportunity to learn and improve yourself. For example, in Vasella’s youth his family was burdened with sickness and death, which lead him to want to pursue a career and start his passion to become a physician. His crucible had a powerful impact on his life as he became CEO of Novartis a major pharmaceutical company. Ultimately, the only thing he cared about is what he could do for others. We have all personally experienced our own crucibles in different phases of life, and we view those as valuable experiences that have helped mold our lives and make us the people we are today. When experiencing a crucible, it is important to realize the value in it and how it can benefit you in the end. Warren Bennis stated, “The crucible is an essential element in the process of becoming a leader.” We agree with this statement and believe that our own crucibles have been an essential element in our own lives and quest to become great leaders."