One of our readers wrote in asking a really interesting question:

Were there any patterns in the childhoods of the Builders highlighted in Success Built to Last?

The backgrounds of the Builders we interviewed were very diverse: some were physically abused or neglected by parents while others had supportive families who helped them follow their dreams. Some had exceptional formal education while others dropped out of school. There were those who were well off and those who struggled to find food.

So, no, there didn’t appear to be patterns in their actual childhood experiences. The pattern that did emerge, however, was in the way the Builders interpreted their early experiences. Those interpretations included the following:

1. “I’m needed” or “If I don’t, than who will address this issue?”

2. “My passions are important” or “This pain must be stopped”.

3.“I can do anything: it’s just a matter of figuring out how” or “This cause is so important, I must DO everything I can, even if I’m not perfect.”

We don't have much of a choice when it comes to where we are born or how our parent's behave. But we do get to choose how we interpret and respond to the situations into which we are thrown.

What are you going to build? What creative, positive thing do you want to create? What does it look like and how hard will you work to achieve it?