Three Minute Leadership: On Perseverance

To: The Great Leaders Who Have a Passion for Continuous Learning

Vincent Lombardi, legendary American football coach said: “All right Mister, let me tell you what winning means… you’re willing to go longer, work harder, give more than anyone else.” Newt Gingrich, politician and statesman, tells us: “Perseverance is the hard work you do after you get tired of doing the hard work you already did.” Perseverance is one of the magnificent hallmarks of great leaders – the drive to continuously and passionately embrace their dreams, to pursue what others think is impossible, to challenge and stretch themselves to find within themselves the depth, breadth and richness of all who they are and can be.

Oscar Pistorius, the “Blade Runner” of the 2012 Olympic Games is a magnificent role-model of perseverance and passion for life. Pistorius’ legs were amputated below the knee shortly after his birth. Since then has worn prosthetic legs. This has not prevented him from engaging his love of sports as a youth, from rugby, to tennis, to wrestling and boxing. Nor did it prevent him from becoming a runner, a sprinter of the 100m, 200m, and 400m events, and an Olympian representing South Africa. At the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London, he was the first ever amputee to compete at the Olympic Games. In a recent Nike commercial his words capture his perseverance and passion:

“They told me that I would never walk, that I would never compete with other kids. It wasn’t in me to play water polo. They told me I’d never make the team. They told me the choir was working out next Tuesday. That motocross wasn’t for me people like me. And that a man without legs can’t run. Anything else you want to tell me?”

It is this beautiful and exciting passion that fires the souls of great leaders to persevere and see beyond limits that, at first, seem impassable. Cheryl Richardson, author, wrote: “Be bold and daring and fearless and unconventional. Go on. Rock the damn boat. The wave you create might just change the world.…” As the Nike slogan says: “Just do it!” And have fun doing it. Life is so very beautiful.

Have a beautiful day and a magnificent week!!!

Mike

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