Turning Adversity Into Purpose And Power
Written by Dionne Malush, Entrepreneur/Business Owner
Dionne Malush is renowned in Pittsburgh real estate and personal development. She owns Realty ONE Group Gold Standard, leads a Think and Grow Rich Mastermind, studies to be a Napoleon Hill instructor, and studies personal development relentlessly, blending expertise and inspiration.
Life is full of moments that knock us down, some harder than others. Whether it's losing a loved one, a career setback, or personal hardship, the challenge lies not in avoiding these falls but in getting back up. This article takes you through the highs and lows of my journey—from being arrested on the same day I started my first business to losing everything I built, and the relentless resolve it took to rise again. The truth is, adversity is inevitable, but it’s how you respond that defines your story. Ready to discover your strength? It starts with getting up.
I Have Fallen, and I Can’t Get Up
But you have to. People are counting on you.
My Dad died. I can’t kick this.
But you have to.
You have no choice. Get up and keep getting up.
Have you ever faced adversity in your life? If not, plan on it. And if you have, know that it’s going to happen over and over again. I know because I’ve been through it, and I’ve pushed through to the other side.
Let me take you back to when I was 21. On the same day I started my first graphic design business, I was arrested. There I was, face down on a pool table, handcuffed, wearing a mini skirt—can you imagine? The police had to call my parents to come pick me up. It was a rough start, and that day, I knew I wouldn’t let this be my story. I wouldn’t let this be the path I traveled. I got back up, went to work, and proved I was more than my mistakes.
I grew my business to 11 employees and $1 million in sales, but adversity didn’t stop there. My partner lost his job, we laid off half the company, and eventually, I had to give my 90-day notice to leave the business I built. Stress landed me in the ER, and in just two years, I lost 14 friends and family members. But through it all, I kept getting back up.
Real estate became my next chapter. By my second year, I was making more than I ever had in my 17 years as a designer. I built my business to 78 transactions a year—eight times the national average. But just when I thought I was on top, adversity hit again. My Achilles ruptured after a tough chapter in my personal life, and I had to start over. I rebuilt my personal life and realized that true success wasn’t just about business. It was about aligning my life and career for fulfillment. Eventually, I built a real estate brokerage that now does over $2 billion in sales with 200 agents.
Then came the hardest year of my life—losing my dad, my first love, my person. That pain tested me more than anything. But even in grief, we have a choice: to stay down or get back up. I chose to get up and honor him.
1. Get back up
We all face challenges. The world knocks us down, and it’s easy to feel like staying down. But the key to success isn’t avoiding adversity—it’s how you respond to it. You have to decide to get back up every single time you fall.
I’ve faced some dark moments. I was arrested, I lost my design company, and I lost people I loved. I had every reason to stay down, but I made the decision to rise. That decision changed my life.
And it can change yours, too. When life feels impossible, remember: it’s not about how hard you fall, but how strong you rise. Every fall is a chance to build resilience, to prove to yourself what you’re capable of.
Resilience isn’t about bouncing back; it’s about bouncing forward, stronger.
2. Find your purpose
Once you’ve learned to get back up, the next step is discovering why you’re doing it. Finding your purpose is the fuel that keeps you moving, even when times are tough. For me, that purpose was helping others. I found my purpose when I discovered The Secret and learned the power of visualization. I began to see a different life for myself—a life where I didn’t give up, where I succeeded despite the odds. That vision pulled me through.
You can shift your perspective, too. Purpose gives your struggles meaning. It makes everything you go through matter, because you’re working toward something bigger than yourself. When you know your 'why,' you have a reason to keep pushing.
Purpose gives meaning to your struggles and turns them into strength.
3. Create a new future
When you find your purpose, you realize you have the power to create a new future. You’re not stuck in your past. The future is yours to shape, starting today.
For me, honoring my dad became part of that future. I had no idea how hard it would be, but I knew I had to keep moving forward, to live a life of impact and purpose. Losing him taught me that life is too short not to create the future we want.
And that’s what I want for you—to know that your future isn’t set in stone. You have the power to rewrite your story, no matter where you are today. You can design the life you want to live. You get to be the difference in your own life and in the lives of those around you.
Your future is an open canvas, and you hold the brush.
Weekly think and grow rich training
These principles have transformed my life, and they can transform yours, too. For the past seven years, I’ve been running a Think and Grow Rich mastermind, and it has changed my life and the lives of those who’ve joined me. Adversity is always a part of life, but the principles I share in this mastermind give people the tools to get back up, find their purpose, and create a future they never thought possible.
I’ve seen agents in my company have the best years of their careers, start their own businesses, and check off everything on their dream boards. This year, I created my Vivid Vision for the next three years. It’s the first time I’ve truly laid out a roadmap for what’s to come, and I want to invite you to do the same.
Join me for my weekly Think and Grow Rich training. This is your opportunity to transform your mindset, build the life you deserve, and learn how to get back up every time life knocks you down.
So, I leave you with this:
Get back up, no matter how many times life knocks you down. Find your purpose, because that’s where your power lies.
And create a new future—one that honors those you love and proves you’re the difference this world needs.
Adversity doesn’t just happen once. It happens over and over again. But each time, you’ll grow stronger, more capable, and more aligned with your purpose. And when you choose to rise, you show the world that nothing—not grief, not failure, not doubt—can hold you back.
Dionne Malush, Entrepreneur/Business Owner
Dionne is a marketing maestro and mindset mentor, guiding professionals to elevate their branding and personal growth strategies. Her expertise lies in harnessing the power of effective marketing techniques alongside fostering a positive, success-oriented mindset. She offers insightful tools and support, enabling individuals to navigate the competitive world of marketing while developing a resilient and growth-focused mentality. Dionne's approach empowers others to achieve both professional success and personal fulfillment.
