Melinda French Gates's 1-Word Response to Her Divorce and Departure From the Gates Foundation Is a Lesson for Every Leader

gratitude expands our possible responses.

The psychologist Viktor Frankl observed, “Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.”

This is what I now know with age and perspective—that many times, getting demoted or getting fired is an opportunity for something else to show up. Lots of people I’ve interviewed over the years have these stories about it being the best thing that ever happened. It puts you in the next best place. I was not a good television reporter. I was too em

best frame of mind to be in – for anything you want – is an ability to walk away from it, were it not to come right. Otherwise you put yourself at the mercy of chance and people abusing your desperation.