[March 15, 2017] Tenacity is an essential characteristic of successful leaders and cannot be underestimated for its veracity in making it so. That is why so many folks that do well have learned to roll with the punches that life dishes out. Those who feel the ups and downs know that it depends on how you take it; standing back up each time and taking it in a positive way makes one a better person.
“The real glory is being knocked to your knees and then coming back. That’s real glory. That’s the essence of it.” – Vince Lombardi, American professional football coach
When we think how hard life can be, just think of Cyrus the Great and how he became one of the best – if not the best – leader in the history of humankind. As a young boy he was elected to represent other boys in their games as children. They elected him because he always challenged other boys in sports who were stronger, faster, and better than him. He did so with the aim to make himself (and them) that much better.
The other boys seemed to instinctively recognize that Cyrus was something special because he would always treat others with the respect they deserved and was willing to put himself in harm’s way to be better. From the writings of historians Herodotus and Xenophon we learn that Cyrus, despite a tragic upbringing, was generous, courteous, tolerant, and kind, as well as committed to those who served with him.
In the pages of this leadership blog, I regularly criticize politicians for their public failures but there is one thing that they have over most of us and that is the ability to roll with the punches. Anthony Weiner, my state representative when I lived in Brooklyn, NY is a classic example. No matter how tragic his life has become he manages to always spring back; frequently to the consternation of the Democratic Party. He was recently described as “OUR loudmouth kick ass New Yorker.”1
Claire Cook, in her book the Seven Year Switch, said that “If plan A doesn’t work, the alphabet has 25 more letters.” She’s telling us that if things don’t go well, there’s always another day. Get back up she says because that is what makes us good folk.
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