Have you all been following the presidential race in the US?
I was thinking about the reaction that people had to the first debate and I
realized that there are a few lessons that many of us could stand to learn from
Obama. Here are three:
1.It’s not what you say, it’s how you say it. At the first debate
Obama was more direct than Mitt Romney. He answered the questions that were
asked and he was honest. But that isn’t what most people noticed. The majority
of feedback has been that Obama came across as passive and disinterested. In
fact, his strategy going into the second debate was to come across as more
passionate. This principle is true in most things in life – whether you are
auditioning for a part, giving a speech to a large audience or pitching an idea
to a funder, the delivery is just as important as the message itself.
2.You get more than one chance to make an
impression. Although after the first debate Obama’s numbers began to dip, rather
than give up Obama and his campaign team immediately began preparing for the
next debate. This is an important lesson for many of us because it is easy to
think that we have “blown” it when something doesn’t go our way the first time.
It’s also easy to quit and walk away. But it is the ability to make a
successful comeback that separates the successful few from those who
shoulda/woulda/coulda.
3.Take nothing for granted. Going into the
first debate many people dismissed the idea that Romney would come away the
winner. They were convinced that Obama was a better speaker and had more
experience in this setting. Clearly, they were wrong. Obama learned his lesson
and prepared better for the second debate. It’s important for us to realize
that even when we think we have something wrapped up we should always over
prepare and never, ever underestimate anyone!
Did you learn anything else from the debates, from either
candidate? If so, be sure to comment below and let me know!
I am really enjoying these debates but I’m even more excited
about this Saturday’s workshop where we will talk about some of the above, as
well as many other tips and life lessons to create and attract success. Only 3
days left to get your ticket! Click here to buy tickets today.
There were so many quotable moments throughout her entire speech. For a woman who wanted to stay away from the political limelight, she sure is making her presence known over the last 4 years and especially last night at the convention. She painted President Obama in a light that we (the public) never see. She made mention of their early years, where they had nothing but love and a dream. She talked about her husband pulling his favorite table out of the trash and wearing shoes that are a size too small when they didn't have much. These stories makes him seem more 'real' (whether you think he fits the title of president is besides the point.)
Let's face it, no matter who is elected, they have huge shoes to fill and years upon years of misguided choices to repair, but there is something about our current first family that is electric.
She said something in her speech that really stood out to me:
"Today, after so many struggles and triumphs and moments that have tested my husband in ways I never could have imagined, I have seen firsthand that being president doesn't change who you are – it reveals who you are."
It's so true. Being in the spotlight only exaggerates whatever you have inside of you. Your character is on display for all to see under a microscope. And President Obama has been thoroughly tested. It's never easy being the first to do something. And as the first Black President he had a lot weighing on his shoulders. But I think he stayed true to who he was and is.
I don't know if he'll get re-elected for another term. But I think he needs to be, because there is no way anyone could have made the amount of change people expected of him in that short period of time.
I would love to hear your thoughts about her speech and what you think it means to the presidential election.
Please refrain from attacking any presidential candidate on a personal level. But instead lets talk about the issues at hand and start a meaningful dialogue.
In case you missed it, here's a video clip of her speech.
Also, Ebony.com has transcribed her speech and you can read it here:
This poem was written for and presented to President Bill Clinton by Maya Angelou during his inauguration ceremony in 1993 and it's a beautiful piece. It really touched me this morning and I had to share it with you with the hopes of encouraging you this morning.
I know it's a longer piece, but it's an excellent read. (And yes I've included a YouTube link at the bottom for those who don't want to read it....)
On The Pulse Of Morning
by: Dr. Maya Angelou
A Rock, A River, A Tree
Hosts to species long since departed,
Marked the mastodon.
The dinosaur, who left dry tokens
Of their sojourn here
On our planet floor,
Any broad alarm of their hastening doom
Is lost in the gloom of dust and ages.
But today, the Rock cries out to us, clearly, forcefully,
Come, you may stand upon my
Back and face your distant destiny,
But seek no haven in my shadow.
I will give you no more hiding place down here.
You, created only a little lower than
The angels, have crouched too long in
The bruising darkness,
Have lain too long
Face down in ignorance.
Your mouths spilling words
Armed for slaughter.
The Rock cries out today, you may stand on me,
But do not hide your face.
Across the wall of the world,
A River sings a beautiful song,
Come rest here by my side.
Each of you a bordered country,
Delicate and strangely made proud,
Yet thrusting perpetually under siege.
Your armed struggles for profit
Have left collars of waste upon
My shore, currents of debris upon my breast.
Yet, today I call you to my riverside,
If you will study war no more. Come,
Clad in peace and I will sing the songs
The Creator gave to me when I and the
Tree and the stone were one.
Before cynicism was a bloody sear across your
Brow and when you yet knew you still
Knew nothing.
The River sings and sings on.
There is a true yearning to respond to
The singing River and the wise Rock.
So say the Asian, the Hispanic, the Jew
The African and Native American, the Sioux,
The Catholic, the Muslim, the French, the Greek
The Irish, the Rabbi, the Priest, the Sheikh,
The Gay, the Straight, the Preacher,
The privileged, the homeless, the Teacher.
They hear. They all hear
The speaking of the Tree.
Today, the first and last of every Tree
Speaks to humankind. Come to me, here beside the River.
Plant yourself beside me, here beside the River.
Each of you, descendant of some passed
On traveller, has been paid for.
You, who gave me my first name, you
Pawnee, Apache and Seneca, you
Cherokee Nation, who rested with me, then
Forced on bloody feet, left me to the employment of
Other seekers--desperate for gain,
Starving for gold.
You, the Turk, the Swede, the German, the Scot ...
You the Ashanti, the Yoruba, the Kru, bought
Sold, stolen, arriving on a nightmare
Praying for a dream.
Here, root yourselves beside me.
I am the Tree planted by the River,
Which will not be moved.
I, the Rock, I the River, I the Tree
I am yours--your Passages have been paid.
Lift up your faces, you have a piercing need
For this bright morning dawning for you.
History, despite its wrenching pain,
Cannot be unlived, and if faced
With courage, need not be lived again.
Lift up your eyes upon
The day breaking for you.
Give birth again
To the dream.
Women, children, men,
Take it into the palms of your hands.
Mold it into the shape of your most
Private need. Sculpt it into
The image of your most public self.
Lift up your hearts
Each new hour holds new chances
For new beginnings.
Do not be wedded forever
To fear, yoked eternally
To brutishness.
The horizon leans forward,
Offering you space to place new steps of change.
Here, on the pulse of this fine day
You may have the courage
To look up and out upon me, the
Rock, the River, the Tree, your country.
No less to Midas than the mendicant.
No less to you now than the mastodon then.
Here on the pulse of this new day
You may have the grace to look up and out
And into your sister's eyes, into
Your brother's face, your country
And say simply
Very simply
With hope
Good morning.
