Hi Thought I'd add my perspective to this discussion. In my life I know that the more challenges and adversaries I've encounted, the better I've gotten at identifying opportunities. I have been self-employed running a small consulting business since 1999. I walked out of a 16 year marriage in 2001 because I had a dream to build my business and create a life where I controlled the purse strings. Shortly thereafter I became involued with another man who seemed like he shared my dream and was willing to help me. Along the way I realised that this man wanted a companion and as much as he appeared to be helpful and supportive, perhaps unintentionally? he undermined my efforts. I made the decision to leave that relationship, finially cutting ties in April 2007 At that time I was very close to bankrupcy, in fact one of the reasons I left was because financially I couldn't afford to stay in the relationship! I had no money, little income, no where to go, it all looked very bleak! One of the things that made the biggest impact was a book by Paul Hanna "Don't Give Up" He had been through a similar experience and at the time the book was written was still going through it! Since that time I have entered the Real Estate industry as a property consultant for new house and land packages targeting investors. I have built a new  life that includes a 3 Bed Unit which I rent within 5km of the city of Brisbane. My personal debt is still considerable, however it is reducing and I can support myself financially and see opportunities to increase my income by helping more people to become financially secure through the careful selection of investment properties.

I believe perserverance pays off because we learn additional skills, and have better insight which helps us make better decisions, go after opportunities with more potential and get noticed by those who can assist us. Our peers and associates observe our expanded skill set, our belief in ourselves and our ability, our willingness to go after what we want and our ability to put together a deal. It is also our values and integrity that shine though, and it's our behaviour and decisions regardless of external cicumstances that determine our outcomes. People sence our genuiness, clients want to deal with us.

I can honestly say I'm pleased that the balls that others see as curved were thrown my way! My current life and future prospects are brighter, bigger and more exciting than I previously even considered. It's all in learning to see options and find solutions. - to get to this point I first was exposed to "... if at first you don't suceed then try, try again..." I trust that someone reading this, finds something here that helps them to go on and find the greatness within them that thier current life adversaries birth within them. An idea, option, proposal that without the extenuating circumstances in thier life they might never have been privilidged to experience. Debra Jarvis InvestmentPropertyServices.com.au