Helloo0O Ladies
and Gentlemen!
Welcome to Graceland Ontario, your one stop location for success
advice from the greats. Today we’re going to talk about standing for what you
believe in.
Now, as many of
you know, Margaret Thatcher, once Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, passed away yesterday. But, though I
will not venture to say whether I liked or disliked her political positions (I
doubt whether I have the expertise to say anyways), the news of her death’s
struck me rather strangely.
Here we have a
woman who was the first female prime minister of the U.K. (and, at present, the
only), a woman who led her country for eleven and a half years with an iron
fist, who stood tall through a war and tough economic times, who brought her nation
to the level of respect it had long since enjoyed in world politics. And what
did she get for it?
Some respect… but
an equal amount of criticism and hate.
Margaret
Thatcher was a true leader. She stood
up for her ideals, did what she thought was right, took the bananas as they
were thrown at her and ultimately was backstabbed by her own party. Even then she earned
herself a baronessies and a comfortable place as a national icon. Yet, I’d say
little of what she attained has been acknowledged by the people she led with news
of her death, at least in comparison to what you’d think given her
accomplishments.
Sometimes we
need to do what we think is right. Sure not everyone will agree with us. I
might not even agree with everything Thatcher did, but I sure do respect her.
Anyone who can take that kind of hammering from those you’re trying to help is
worthy of all the esteem they can garner.
Now, contrary
to the title of this post, great leaders aren’t hated, not always. But you’ve
got to be willing to be hated, willing to be like Margaret Thatcher, the “Iron
Lady”. Because she got things done and she got them done her way and she lost
no dignity doing so. She was the greatest ally and the most revered enemy. When
you need to get things done, she’s the one to model.
Because people
without the strength to stand by themselves don’t achieve great levels of
success. Sometimes you can be liked or you can do what needs to be done.
Successful people choose the latter, however painful it may be.
It’s up to you
whether you’re capable of that level of excellence.
Alex H.
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