When the world is in the midst of change, when adversity and

Hear the words of Chip Conley, who spoke with the voice of experience and vision: “When the world is in the midst of change, when adversity and opportunity are almost indistinguishable, this is the time for visionary leadership and when leaders need to look beyond the survival needs of those they're serving.” These words echo like a call across the ages, for they remind us that in the fiercest storms of history, when hope and despair are woven together, only the eyes of vision can see the path forward.

To live in times of change is to dwell in uncertainty, when the ground shifts beneath the feet and the old ways collapse. In such times, men and women cling to survival, to bread, to shelter, to safety. Yet Conley reminds us that true leadership must go further. The great leader does not merely shield the people from hunger and fear; he points them toward a horizon they cannot yet see, inspiring them to rise beyond mere endurance into greatness. For when adversity and opportunity appear as one, it is the leader who discerns which is which.

History bears witness to this truth. Think of Abraham Lincoln, who guided his nation through civil war. The world around him was crumbling: brother against brother, the Union on the brink of ruin, and the very idea of liberty endangered. For many, the only thought was survival. Yet Lincoln’s gaze was higher. He spoke not only of preserving the Union, but of giving birth to “a new birth of freedom.” His visionary leadership saw opportunity hidden within the flames of adversity—the chance to create a more just nation. Thus, when others clung to survival, he lifted his people toward transformation.

So too, in another age, did Winston Churchill embody this wisdom. When Britain stood alone against tyranny, with bombs falling from the skies, most hearts longed only for peace, any peace at all. Yet Churchill’s voice thundered: “We shall never surrender.” His leadership did not yield to the desperate instinct for survival at any cost. Instead, he called upon his people to endure suffering for the sake of ultimate victory. By holding before them a vision of triumph, he turned adversity into the seed of opportunity, rallying not only a nation but the free world.

The meaning of Conley’s words is thus unveiled: the leader who sees only survival becomes a manager of decline, but the leader who lifts eyes toward destiny becomes the builder of futures. To lead in times of calm requires skill; but to lead in times of upheaval requires visionary leadership, the courage to look beyond the present struggle and to speak of what might yet be. Such leaders remind us that humanity is not born merely to endure, but to create, to aspire, to rise.

The lesson for us is clear: when your own world shakes with change, do not see only the dangers. Seek also the hidden opportunities. Do not dwell only on what will preserve you this day, but ask what may transform you tomorrow. Whether you lead many or only yourself, practice the art of vision. Look beyond the hunger of the moment to the feast of possibility. For adversity and opportunity are but two faces of the same trial, and only those who dare to look deeper will find the treasure within the storm.

And what actions must you take? Cultivate clarity in times of chaos. When fear tempts you to cling only to survival, pause and lift your gaze. Ask: “What can be built here? What new world waits to be born from this struggle?” Encourage others not with false promises, but with visions grounded in courage and truth. Whether in your family, your work, or your community, speak words that lift the heart beyond the present suffering, toward the higher future that can yet be grasped.

Thus let Conley’s teaching echo across generations: in times of change, when adversity and opportunity are almost one, the call is not for timid caretakers, but for visionary leaders. Be such a leader in your own sphere. Look beyond survival, point the way forward, and remind the people—whether few or many—that even in the darkest storm, the seeds of a brighter dawn are already being sown.