In their now classic study called "Cradles of Eminence", Victor and Mildred Goertzel investigated the home backgrounds of 400 highly successful people. Their purpose was to identify the early experiences that may have contributed to greatness. All of the subjects are well known for their accomplishments: Einstein, Freud, Winston Churchill, and many others. The backgrounds of these people proved quite interesting. Three-fourths of them came from troubled childhoods; enduring poverty, broken homes, or parental abuse. One-fourth had physical handicaps and most of the writers and playwrights had watched their parents get embroiled in psychological dramas. The researchers concluded that the need to compensate for disadvantages was major factor in the struggle for personal achievement. The application to our family should be obvious. If your child has gone through a traumatic experience, or is saddled with a physical handicap, don't give up hope. Help them identify their strengths and natural abilities with which to compensate for the presence of hardships. That problem that seems so formidable today may be the inspiration for greatness tomorrow. This article was featured in Today, October 2009. http://imcms2.mediacorp.sg/CMSFileserver/documents/006/pdf/20091027/2710VOR02...