Barack Obama: 8 Success Lessons We Can Learn from Him
Monday, February 25th, 2008This is not a political blog—so I’m not writing about why I’m supporting Barack Obama in the upcoming presidential election. I hope you are watching (and have watched) the debates, both Democratic and Republican, so that you can listen to the issues and judge for yourself.
But, no matter who you are supporting, you must admit that Barack Obama’s bid for the presidency has been amazing. Historic, to say the least. An African-American man who was not born with a silver spoon in his mouth has a real chance at becoming President of the United States of America.
He is not a legacy of any kind. He is truly a self-made individual. Without a doubt, there is a lot we can learn from him about being successful, despite the odds.
Here are a few things I am learning from watching the illustrious Senator from Illinois:
Speak from your Heart with Honesty
It is unquestionable that Senator Obama really touches people. He speaks from the heart, and his words are as inspiring as some of the great speakers throughout American history. He is lauded for his candor and heart-felt sentiment. Who else could inspire a music video such as the amazing “Yes, We Can” video that has been so popular on the Internet? People feel that Barack is telling the truth. And that has given him a groundswell of support.
Stand on Principle
Whether it is about the decision to invade Iraq, or to take money from lobbyists, Barack Obama stands on principle. In fact, without the foundation of principle, it would be impossible for him to speak with such openness and honesty. He stands on principle, and he is willing to debate issues and principles—but he does not allow himself to be sucked into political mudslinging. And that is an admirable trait. No matter what your principles are.
Attacks from the Outside do not have to Affect your Internal Being
No matter what the attack, Barack Obama keeps his head held high and stays focused on his principles and goals. Let’s face it—anyone who isn’t of the same gender and ethnic background as the previous 43 Presidents will be up for attack from some people who resist change. But attacks from the outside do not need to dissuade or disgruntle us from our missions. Just because someone calls us a name does not mean that we have to internalize it.
As an African-American, I have allowed myself to become offended, angry, and otherwise disturbed too many times by people who make derogatory comments or simply unthoughtful actions.
But I have had to learn (the hard way) that the more faith, belief, and dignity I had in myself, the less I depended on the opinions of others. And when the opinions of others did not affect my self-worth so much anymore, I became more and more immune to those types of comments and actions.
Barack Obama shows that to all of us every day.
Learn to Work with all kinds of People
This one is critical. Obama is not just a “black candidate” or a “democratic candidate”. Obama stands on the principle of uniting everyone under the promise of the founding documents of the United States. Thus, he honors the inner dignity of each human being. When people shout out “We love you, Barack,” he shouts back, “I love you back.” And he means it.
Learning to work with what unites us as humans and not focus on what divides us is a wonderful skill that I continue to work on.
Develop Supportive Relationships with Friends and Family
Where would Barack be without Michelle and his daughters? If Barack was getting pressured all the time for “being away from home,” or “not fulfilling his duties as a father,” how long could he last on the campaign trail?
Now, Mr. Obama is not singular in this trait. All of the candidates must have the support of their spouses and families in order to succeed.
And without true friends, who would we know we could count on when the chips are down?
It’s just important to note how necessary that is for success.
Admit Mistakes and Learn from Them
Barack Obama freely admits mistakes and missteps that he made in his youth. And he has been attacked with the information he freely reveals.
Everybody makes mistakes. What do you do once you made them? Do you “’fess up” and correct them like Senator Obama, or do you “stay the course” and refuse to admit mistakes like some of our other public officials?
Move Forward with Courage
In a world where so many others that stood for change faced incredible danger (MLK, JFK, RFK, etc.) one cannot go without thinking that Barack is taking a risk. In fact, there was just a story in the New York Times today about this matter. Because of death threats, he requested the support of a Secret Service security detail sooner than any presidential candidate in history. And I’m sure he needs the security. There are still enough racially-motivated incidents in America to know that Senator Obama could be in danger.
But he moves forward anyway, undeterred. And that’s the courage of a hero.
Find a Higher Purpose for What you Do
When I listen to Barack Obama, I get the sense that he’s not really in this election “to be president”, as an end unto itself. He honestly believes (as I do) that our political system is tarnished from the inside. And he wants to change that.
He believes, as I write above, in the promise of America, as set forth in our founding documents. And he wants to help America move closer to fulfilling its promise, as our other great leaders did before him.
This higher purpose gives him the energy to persevere, the strength to challenge the odds, the courage to face danger, and the power to inspire hundreds of millions.
Having a higher purpose is critical to achieving real, lasting, holistic success, that I name in my latest book, “360 Degree Success”.
I hope you found this “success lesson” from Barack Obama useful. Feel free to browse the rest of this blog for lots more lessons and reflections on 360 Degree Success.
