To understand adversity, take two acorns from the same tree, as nearly alike as possible -- and plant them in two separate locations. Plant one on a hill by itself and the other in a dense forest. The oak standing alone is exposed to every storm. Its roots grow deep in every direction, grasping every rock to support itself from the threatening elements.

The acorn planted in the dense forest grows up a weak, willowy sapling. Since it was shielded by its neighboring oak trees, it feels no need to spread its roots far and wide for support.

Don't be afraid of adversity. Welcome it! Adversity makes you stronger. It helps you grow.

I recently returned from the annual Horatio Alger Awards in Washington, D.C. According to its website, these awards are named after Horatio Alger Jr., "whose tales of overcoming adversity through unyielding perseverance and basic moral principles captivated the public in the late 19th century."

Each year, the Horatio Alger Association selects and honors approximately 10 individuals who have triumphed over adversity with the virtues of hard work, honesty, individual initiative, adherence to goals and community leadership. I am honored to have been inducted into this prestigious organization in 2004.

The mission of the association is about promoting success and extending a helping hand to others. This year we awarded scholarships to 106 students, who, in the face of great adversity, have exhibited an admirable commitment to continuing their education and serving their communities.

I am proud that the Horatio Alger Association has become one of the nation's largest providers of privately funded, need-based scholarships. This year marked the 30th anniversary of the scholarship program, which has awarded more than $100 million to more than 21,000 students.

My good friend Lou Holtz, Hall of Fame college football coach, always says, "Show me someone who has done something worthwhile, and I'll show you someone who has overcome adversity."

Adversity is a fact of life. It can't be controlled. Problems and people can't stop you. The only thing that can stop you is YOU. Only you can control how you react to adversity. When faced with adversity, do you buckle beneath the weight of it all? Do you ask "Why me?"

Dolly Parton said, "The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain."

Here is a sampling of Horatio Alger Award recipients who turned adversity into an advantage.

Author and poet Maya Angelou was 3 years old when her parents separated. She was raped at the tender age of 7 and as a result did not speak for nearly six years. She has published seven autobiographies, three books of essays, several books of poetry, and many plays, movies and television shows.

Former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and his family were forced to leave Germany in the 1930s due to the Nazi movement. He ended up in New York City and couldn't speak English. He entered the U.S. Army and returned to earn his bachelor's, master's and doctorate from Harvard.

Carol Burnett, actress, comedian, singer and writer, had a difficult childhood with alcoholic parents and was raised by her grandmother in an impoverished area of Hollywood.

Hank Aaron, who broke Babe Ruth's unbreakable Major League Baseball homerun record, grew up in a poor family, picking cotton. His family couldn't afford baseball equipment, so he practiced by hitting bottle caps with sticks.

TV business commentator Lou Dobbs started working in the potato fields of Idaho when he was 9 years old. His mother taught him to read before he even started school and his parents taught him to keep up on current events, which led to his news career.

Mark Victor Hansen, along with his writing partner Jack Canfield, was rejected 140 times before hitting it big with the "Chicken Soup for the Soul" series of books. There are now more than 200 titles and 500 million books sold internationally in 47 different languages.

Actor James Earl Jones stuttered so badly as an elementary student that he communicated with friends and teachers using written notes. Today he is known for the richness and power of his voice.

It's hard to find a bigger celebrity today than Oprah Winfrey. Yet she was born into poverty and raised by a single teen mom. She was repeatedly molested by a cousin, uncle and family friend.

Mackay's Moral: A winner never quits, and a quitter never wins.

I was fortunate to attend the NCAA Final Four basketball tournament in Arlington, Texas, earlier this month. It's my absolute favorite sporting event, in part because of the intense competition and will to succeed demonstrated by the players.

In doing my research before the game -- and I study the teams and coaches intently -- I came across a blog from Jim Tunney, the "Dean of NFL Refs," who spent 31 years officiating pro football. In that time, he's seen it all. His insights are spot on.

His topic was "flopping," defined as "an intentional fall by a player with little or no contact by an opposing player in order to draw a personal foul call by a game official."

For the record, I hate flopping. It sets a bad example. Unfortunately, flopping has filtered through all levels of basketball.

Tunney talks about how the NBA added a rule in 1997 to cut down on flopping. The rule was ignored until the league actually began fining players 15 years later. The NCAA has a similar rule which results in a technical foul, but the call is seldom made. Some players use flopping as a tactical maneuver, he says, but purists say it is a mockery of the game.

So is this a column about basketball rules? Hardly. I'm borrowing a page from Tunney, who takes examples from sports and relates them to messages for everyday living. He continues with some real-life questions: "Did you ever intentionally not do your best?" "Did you ever try to trick others into believing it was someone else's fault and not yours?" Flopping is a deliberate deception -- and it translates in business to a failure to accept responsibility for your actions.

Tunney also says that flopping is a difficult call to make. Exposing the deceivers is not always simple, because deception is not always immediately obvious.

Damon Runyon, a New York City newspaperman, also wrote charming short stories about gamblers and various types of con men. The Broadway musical "Guys and Dolls" was based on one of his stories.

Runyon had this advice on avoiding the pitfalls of con artists: "One of these days in your travels, a guy is going to come up to you and show you a nice, brand-new deck of cards on which the seal is not yet broken. And this guy is going to offer to bet you that he can make the jack of spades jump out of the deck and squirt cider in your ear. But, son, do not bet this man, for as sure as you stand there, you are going to get an earful of cider."

Spotting deception requires paying close attention. Think you can detect a lie easily? There are some clues to watch for, but bear in mind that accomplished liars can fool experts. If you think someone is trying to deceive you, you should watch for these signs.

-- Do words and body language match? When someone says, "Sure, I'd love to help," but can't manage a sincere smile, chances are, you shouldn't trust the offer.

-- Is there a pause in the answer? "I couldn't make it to work because ... my car broke down" is more than likely a cover story. Take it a step further and ask, "Why didn't you call me for a ride?" Awkward speech patterns are a good indicator of deception.

-- Does the answer include some repetition? Liars are more likely to repeat your question or rephrase it when they answer. "Did you leave the mess in the break room?" "No, I did not leave the mess in the break room."

According to a recent biography, a man who is the epitome of deception got his start at a young age. As a high school sophomore, this young man was assigned to present a book report to his class.

But he never actually got around to reading anything. So he stood up in front of the class and told them about "Hunting and Fishing," by Peter Gunn -- a book that didn't exist. He made it up. When the teacher asked to see the book, the student calmly replied that he couldn't, because he'd already returned it to the library.

The student was Bernie Madoff, whose Ponzi scheme bilked investors out of more than $17 billion. In that case, the judge had no problem sentencing him to 150 years in federal prison for his deception.

Mackay's Moral: With lies you may get ahead in the world -- but you can never go back.

There's an epidemic sweeping the country, and the cure is just outside the window. Spring fever is infecting folks from coast to coast, following the winter that wouldn't end with its record snowfalls and biting temperatures and the dreaded polar vortex.

And what would spring be without spring cleaning? We sweep out the cobwebs in the corners and clean out the garage. Pack up the boots and stow the winter blahs. It's time for a fresh start!

Why confine that spring cleaning to the house? It's the season for fresh thoughts and new starts. Forgotten all your New Year's resolutions? Ready to actually turn over a new leaf? Then spring into action! A change of season is a perfect time for a change of attitude.

Start with the clutter around you. It's hard to think straight when you are surrounded by a mess. Clear off your desk. Go through your email and messages and deal with any outstanding business. Put files in order. Get organized and do it in a way that you can maintain on a daily basis. Once your environment is manageable, you can move on to the next step.

Now you are ready to tackle the tough stuff: your mindset. Set aside some time -- and it may take some time -- to think about what you could do to make your situation better.

Maybe you have a bad habit that needs work. Giving up a vice is never easy, but you need to keep it in perspective. Is it holding you back from being healthy or happy? Then any amount of effort is worth it. Aim for one thing at a time if you want to improve your chance of succeeding.

Get outdoors and breathe in fresh air. Spring is a great time to get into a routine of walking, running, biking, playing golf or tennis, or anything that gets you moving. Exercise is good not only for the body; it's also great for your mind. It improves concentration and creativity. And the change of scenery has advantages too -- nothing like a crisp, sunny day to brighten your outlook.

Spring is a great time to fix what needs fixing in anticipation for the coming season. What is your biggest fear? Think about how it messes with your mind. Write it down and then consider what you can do to conquer it. It isn't necessary to climb Mount Everest to get over your fear of heights. And it's helpful to remember that more than 90 percent of the things we worry about aren't worth the concern because they never happen.

Maybe you are thinking about a job change or a move. That can't happen without some research and planning. Spring represents hope for new beginnings -- perhaps this spring is a good time to get the ball rolling. Think about the steps you need to take. Do your homework and make a punch list. You may discover that changing your situation is not as difficult or as far out of reach as you imagined.

Freshen up your brain. Perhaps there are some classes that would help you in your career, or give you the satisfaction of learning something new and interesting. It's like a fresh coat of paint for your attitude. Spruce it up and see what else you decide to improve.

Are you familiar with the Zeigarnik effect? It is named after a Russian psychiatrist who discovered that a waiter could remember orders he had not served yet more easily than orders that were served. Further study showed that people are 90 percent more likely to remember tasks that are undone than those they completed. That makes sense to a degree, but it also causes tremendous stress rather than pride of accomplishment. There is always work to be done, but stop and smell the roses -- or the crocuses and daffodils -- occasionally! And seriously, what do you think you would do if suddenly all your work were done?

Spring is also a time to turn your clock forward. Start thinking about how you can control your time better, rather than always reacting to others' demands. Take charge of your schedule! If you can't bring yourself to say "no," learn how to say "later" or "I'll think about it." Your time is valuable -- so valuable, you can't put a price on it. And once it's gone, it's like snow melting when winter is over.

Mackay's Moral: The best cure for spring fever is a sunny outlook.