Over the holidays I had the privilege of meeting Peter Wright over the internet.  He had viewed the WoodChips, made some good comments, and asked me some questions about an advanced web site building / internet marketing training program put on by Early To Rise (an organization I am an alumnus of).

So in the process, I went out to look at his web site.  Casually clicking on the About section I began to read his story.  It was inspirational, to say the least.  I’ll just briefly summarize his story here, because candidly, I can’t do it justice and you really owe it to yourself to go out to his site and read it.

But briefly, he was born in London, spent some time in Rhodesia, then South Africa, then back to Zimbabwe (as Rhodesia had become), where in 2000, he and his family experienced first-hand the reign of terror by President Mugabe.  Subsequently, he relocated to Canada, where he now resides.

Peter is a resourceful man, who has started many successful businesses.  At one point in Zimbabwe, before President Mugabe’s terror, he was again living a good life, saying “we had our horses so we could ride around our farm every evening to check on our cattle and see a variety of wild animals, including Kudu antelope, wild pig, warthog, large pythons, monkeys, baboons, many smaller animals, hawks and eagles.”

His successful businesses were all destroyed by the governments of these countries.  So he has had to face losing everything and starting from scratch in a new country more than once.  

About himself, he says, “I am not a hero, I am just an ordinary man that likes animals and nature, but I also value my independence and it is that goal of being self sufficient and a determination to get ahead that has allowed me to pick myself up and keep going.

As Peter says, “It is not what happens to you in life, but how you deal with it.”

I couldn’t have said it better. 

So if you’re ever feeling like you’re having a bad day, just read Peter’s story.  Better yet, read it now – I promise you won’t have many bad days after you do.  And you’ll be inspired to carry on.

Read Peters full story on his web site here.

And have a great day – J. Daniel