One of the best examples of success through optimism is Sir Winston Churchill.
His frankness, resourcefulness, and faith in building others helped lead England from the darkest shadows of WWII to victory over Nazi Germany.
It’s not just my opinion, here are several others:
When Winston Churchill become Prime Minister of England, the German air force was “dropping plane after plane of bombs on England” at all hours of the day or night. “No one knew if the British Empire could hold out for another week.”
Despite the bleak outlook of the Nazis taking over France, Belgium and the Netherlands. Joseph P. Kennedy, the US ambassador to London, “told Washington that Britain was done for.”
Cameron C. Taylor wrote: “In the mists of gloom and confusion and in the face of what seemed to others impossible odds, Churchill took office with optimism and determination.“(* 8 attributes of the great achievers of Cameron C. Taylor)
Churchill understood the can of optimism to lay the foundations of victory.
On the day he took office, Churchill wrote: “I felt as if I was walking with the destiny that my past life had been nothing more than a preparation for this hour of this test … and I was sure that I would not fail.”
Churchill’s key to his courage “was his boundless optimism.” Optimists are brave as they depend on the hope “that dangers and dangers can be overcome.”
In 1910, Churchill said: “I am one of those who believe that the world is going to get better and better.” He “disapproved of negative thinking.” In 1916, in “a speech to his officers in the trenches of France, Churchill exhorted: Laugh a little and teach your men to laugh … If you can’t smile, smile. If you can’t smile, stay away until you can. ‘
On May 13, 1940, Churchill made his first speech as Prime Minister in the House of Commons. He said, “Questions: What is our goal? I can answer in one word: victory … victory despite all the terror, victory no matter how long and hard the road may be … with all the strength that God can give us … I undertake my task with enthusiasm and hope, I am confident that our cause will not be allowed to fail. “ (Winston Churchill, World War II, Volume II, His prime)
Just after becoming Prime Minister in 1940, Churchill “was informed of an apocalyptic plan that would be implemented in the event of a full-scale German invasion of Britain.” He would “not allow contingency planning for failure, knowing that it would inevitably leak out and generate pessimism.”
The plan: “The royal family and leading members of the government would be evacuated to Canada. Churchill vetoed the proposal outright, adding: ‘We will make them regret the day they try to invade our island'” (Celia Sandys and Jonathan Littman, “We will not fail “)
Even during the worst of times, Churchill remained optimistic and confident that they would achieve victory.
During a BBC broadcast, Churchill proclaimed: “We are determined to destroy Hitler and every vestige of the Nazi regime. Of this, nothing will convert us …any. We will never negotiate, we will never negotiate with Hitler or anyone in his gang. We will fight him by land, we will fight him by sea, we will fight him in the air, until, with God’s help, we have delivered the land from its shadow. “
“Churchill not only saw reasons for hope and confidence in the darkest days of World War II, but he was able to infuse his unique combination of stoicism and optimism into the very backbone of the nation, the military and his own personnel. ”
Leo Amery, minister in the Churchill government, said: “Nobody left his cabinet without feeling like a braver man.”… Great leaders bring out the inner strength that people often don’t know they have. “
Churchill empowered others to be their best!
“Churchill’s determination to never give in and his optimism that victory would be achieved enabled his country to fight bravely and bravely through tremendous difficulties and also enlisted the support of other countries in the cause until victory was achieved.”
The free world owes a debt of gratitude to Prime Minister Winston Churchill. At the age of 66, he inspired, motivated and propelled his people to fight. He was a leader with a positive attitude. In the face of adversity
On January 24, 1965 Churchill died. “More than 300,000 people passed his coffin and millions watched the funeral proceedings” on television, paying “their final respects to the man who helped change the course of history.”
Churchill presided over one of the greatest and most dramatic turning points in civilization. His actions were fundamental in shaping the world we live in today.
“He knew that if he could rally the mind, spirit and heart of the British people, he would eventually be victorious. Churchill not only saved Britain from defeat, but now, in hindsight, he saved democracy as a form of government in the There was really only one person here whose life made a huge difference to everyone on our planet. ” Hyrum W. Smith, What matters most (New York: Simon & Schuster, 2000).
What three leadership lessons did Prime Minister Winston Churchill teach?
1) Be optimistic and confident. “Brings out the inner strength of people.”
2) Churchill, “Laugh a little and teach your men to laugh.”
3) “If you can’t smile, smile. If you can’t smile, stay away until you can.”
Churchill was a builder and lifter of people.