I think that's what's thrilling about leadership - when you're

Hear the words of Jensen Huang, a leader forged in the furnace of adversity, who declared: “I think that's what's thrilling about leadership—when you're holding onto literally the worst possible hand on the planet and you know you're still going to win. How are you still going to win? Because that's when the character of the company really comes out.” These words burn like fire in the hearts of all who carry the burden of command. For true leadership is not tested in times of ease, when the sun shines gently and the waters are calm, but in the hour of storm, when the vessel leaks, the winds howl, and despair tempts even the strongest to surrender.

What does it mean to hold the worst possible hand? It is to face the world with resources scarce, allies few, and fortune turned against you. It is to sit at the table of fate with nothing in your grasp but ashes and yet still proclaim, “I will prevail.” This is not arrogance—it is the unshakable faith that greatness does not come from cards dealt by chance, but from the unyielding character of those who refuse to yield. The ancients knew this well, for Fortune is a fickle goddess, but the will of the steadfast is a power beyond her reach.

Consider the tale of Winston Churchill during Britain’s darkest hour. The nation was cornered, outgunned, outnumbered, and seemingly destined for defeat. The hand they held was indeed the worst imaginable: an island surrounded by enemies, cities under fire, resources dwindling. Yet Churchill declared, “We shall never surrender.” Through sheer resolve, through the unbreakable character of a people united, they endured, until the tide of war turned. This is the very essence of Huang’s words: when all seems lost, the true heart of a company, a people, or an individual is revealed.

Jensen Huang himself speaks not as a philosopher gazing from afar but as one who has walked through the desert of hardship. He built NVIDIA not upon endless blessings but through years when the company stood at the brink of collapse, when competitors were stronger and resources were meager. Yet by clinging to vision, by trusting in the character of his people, he turned what seemed like weakness into strength, guiding the company into triumph. His quote is a testament to this lived truth: that victory comes not from the hand you are given, but from how you play it.

The lesson is clear: do not fear the worst hand, for it is only in such moments that your inner strength is revealed. The weapons of the spirit—resilience, creativity, unity, and conviction—are stronger than any stroke of misfortune. When storms break against you, do not curse the heavens; instead, look within, for there lies the wellspring of victory. Leadership is not about comfort but about endurance, about guiding others when they themselves are blind with fear.

What, then, must you do in your own life? When adversity comes—and it will—stand firm. Do not shrink from the impossible task, but ask instead: “How shall I still win?” Gather your allies, fortify your resolve, and let your actions speak louder than circumstance. Cultivate character daily, in small trials as in great, for character is not built in the storm but before it, and in the storm it merely shines forth.

Thus, let these words be carried forward as a sacred teaching: the worth of a leader, of a company, of a people, is revealed not in triumphs handed freely, but in battles fought against impossible odds. When you hold the weakest hand, play it with the strength of unbreakable character, and you will discover that victory belongs not to the fortunate, but to the fearless. This is the true thrill of leadership—to wrest light from the jaws of darkness, and to stand victorious where others thought no victory could be won.