Never Throw in the Towel
Their names were Mittie and Alice.
Two women who were very important to him.
One was his mother and the other his wife.
Alice, his wife, had just given birth to their daughter.
So much joy in the house.
A new baby and he had been busy at work getting some reform bills through the New York legislature, which was no small venture.
But then things start to turn…his mother dies from typhoid fever.
On the same day….
Allow me to type that again….
On the same day, his wife dies from kidney complications which were highlighted from the birth of their new daughter.
Their baby was only four days old and Teddy Roosevelt’s mother and wife die within hours of each other.
Roosevelt believed he could outrun grief.
He adopted a hectic lifestyle where he was constantly on the go and pushing himself to the limit.
Roosevelt’s sister, Bamie, took the baby and raised her as her own.
He announced that his wife’s name was to never be spoken in his presence. It was simply too painful of a reminder for him.
Roosevelt headed west where he took up ranching, read books, wrote and did a stint as local law enforcement among other exciting things.
He eventually returned to the East Coast where he reentered politics and eventually became President of the United States.
Roosevelt’s tragedy and pain did not stop him from moving forward.
I’m not saying T.R.’s method for dealing with grief was the healthiest path. But he did find a coping mechanism. And that mechanism allowed him to not stay stuck.
Roosevelt’s story is powerful and encouraging for this reason…we all have stuff.
As a leader, you may face a quality control issue and have to stop production for a time. That requires enormous focus, time and energy which could create strain at home.
At the same time, you’re trying to encourage your team to keep the faith and not get bogged down in the current problem but to look ahead when the issue is fixed.
Yet, you’re trying to navigate cash flow, leadership coaching and questions from the board.
In times of great difficulty, you can’t become frozen.
The team must see you taking action.
If the organization sees you standing still and being quiet, a wave of fear and doubt will sweep through it.
Preach the mission. Remind the team as to why they do what they do.
Cast the vision. Stoke the fire as to where the organization is going and what it hopes to accomplish.
Be like Roosevelt and you could quite possibly come out of your valley stronger than you were before with a future full of hope and promise.
Perspective is helpful. If Roosevelt could keep going in the face of his storms then you can soldier through your difficulties. Let his example be an encouragement to you.
Remember…everybody has some crap.
In order to fulfill the mission and vision you must endure. Why? Giving up is not an option for any leader.
Be like T.R…never throw in the towel.
Leadership matters,
Brian
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