By Deanna Mascle
There is much that we can learn from Winston Churchill's life and words.
At first glance, it appears that he was born with all the advantages. Certainly he was born into wealth and prominence. He was after all born at Blenheim Palace and was a descendant of John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough. Winston's politician father, Lord Randolph Churchill, was the third son of the 7th Duke of Marlborough: Winston's mother was Jennie Jerome (née Jeanette Jerome) of Brooklyn, New York, a daughter of American millionaire Leonard Jerome. It is not surprising that he would do well in the world of politics with all these advantages.
However, we all know that doing well in politics does not necessarily equate with leadership skills and ability. A study of Churchill's life certainly demonstrates that he had both which is why he was able to see the United Kingdom, and in many ways the world, through a very dark and difficult time.
Of course, perhaps it was the very difficulties that he faced that shaped him into the man and the leader that he became.
He declared himself an optimist saying he didn't see much sense in being anything else. "The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty".
The first of those difficulties was a childhood stutter. Not only did he conquer that difficulty but, he then went on to become a master orator whose words inspired millions around the world. Some of the credit for his oratory must also go to his writing ability, which earned him a Nobel Prize for Literature.
He did not take the credit for the United Kingdom and Allied victories however despite the importance of his words for inspiration.
"I have never accepted what many people have kindly said-namely that I inspired the nation. Their will was resolute and remorseless, and as it proved, unconquerable. It fell to me to express it."
"It was the nation and the race dwelling all round the globe that had the lion's heart. I had the luck to be called upon to give the roar."
He was also determined to learn about the world and make an impact upon it. To this end at the age of 21 he was already working abroad. First in Cuba, as a military observer with the Spanish army in its fight against the independents, then in South Africa as a war-correspondent in the second Anglo-Boer war between Britain and self-proclaimed Afrikaaners in South Africa. He was captured in a Boer ambush of a British Army train convoy, but managed a high profile escape and eventually crossed the South African border to Lorenzo Marques (now Maputo in Mozambique).
He then began a political career which would last a total of 61 years, serving as an MP in the House of Commons from 1901 to 1922 and from 1924 to 1964 and entering the Cabinet in his early thirties.
I find his views on politics to be both inspiring and troublesome. "You will make all kinds of mistakes; but as long as you are generous and true, and also fierce, you cannot hurt the world or even seriously distress her."
They are inspiring because this is the kind of leadership that we all yearn for today and yet troublesome because too many politicians today are not concerned with leadership but only with politics.
Similarly I fear we do have the type of leadership the world once knew: "I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears, and sweat."
Some of the reason for this may lie in this simple quote: "Study history, study history. In history lies all the secrets of statecraft."
While each day brings new adventures and new mistakes, if we do not learn from our mistakes then we are doomed to repeat them. It often seems to me that our leaders do not learn from their mistakes or the mistakes of the predecessors.
Finally, I feel this is the greatest lack among people today and especially those who would lead us: "The price of greatness is responsibility. "
No one today seems willing to take responsibility and everyone is happy and willing to shift blame willy-nilly to anyone and everyone.
Churchill often had to take chances in his life and career and admired audacity in others. He also stressed the need for purpose and action. "Let our advance worrying become advance thinking and planning."
He also recognized the importance of lifelong learning-however painful the learning process might be. "Criticism may not be agreeable, but it is necessary. It fulfils the same function as pain in the human body. It calls attention to an unhealthy state of things."
There is much to be learned from Churchill. While we may not all be called upon for the tremendous challenges of leadership on a global scale. Many of his sage advice can be applied to our own lives and the leadership we must display within our own spheres-however small they may be.
This message brought to you by Musings by Dawggone.
MGM
© ALS Independence 2003-10