Timeless Truths on LEADERSHIP - The eloquent bulldog

… and how he inspired a war-weary nation to resist imminent defeat

Come back in time to Europe during the early 1940’s. Hitler’s armies, with the speed and power of a wild animal gone mad, ripped and clawed their way through six European nations within three months. Then, having defeated France, the Nazi war monster crouched, bared its teeth, and prepared to pounce on Great Britain, just 21 miles across the English Channel.

Confidently, almost matter-of-factly, Hitler told his generals that the British would surrender in a few weeks. His plan for this murderous assault: bomb them into submission.

From September 7, 1940 through May 10, 1941 the German Luftwaffe attacked London and other British cities nearly every night, dropping a total of 190,000 tons of bombs! Hitler then offered to negotiate a peace settlement, but the British didn’t even reply, so the bombing raids continued—for three more years into 1944! And still the British did not surrender!

How did they withstand such brutal punishment? They had, as their leader, one of the greatest statesmen in history: Winston Churchill.

Churchill became prime minister of Great Britain on the eve of World War II, saying to his countrymen, “I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat,” all of which were soon to be exacted in full measure.

“We shall not flag or fail,” he said. “We shall go on to the end… we shall fight in the seas and oceans …we shall fight on the beaches …we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in hills; we shall never surrender!”

Later, though Britain stood alone, desperately outmanned and outgunned, Churchill declared: “Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that, if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will say, ‘This was their finest hour.’”

While the battle raged, this stocky, cigar chomping, determined, eloquent bulldog of a man appeared to be everywhere, urging the British people not to give up. He defied air-raid alarms and walked the streets of London even while bombs were exploding. He toured military installations and visited hospitals to encourage the wounded. All the while he held one arm aloft with two fingers in a “V for victory” salute.

To the people of the Allied nations, and especially to the British, this simple gesture became an inspiring symbol of faith in victory. But the source of Churchill’s inspiration was not widely known—it was a message inscribed on a brass plaque—a quotation attributed to Queen Victoria:

“Please understand there is no depression in this House and we are not interested in the possibilities of defeat —they do not exist!”

Here’s what you can do:

Develop TOTAL commitment to your values and your cherished beliefs. Act as if your very existence depends on that commitment. Remember Winston Churchill’s example of what one totally committed person can do.
Just as Churchill kept his brass plaque, keep—on your desk, on your office wall, in your pocket, on your car’s dashboard, on your bathroom mirror, or anyplace where you’ll see it often—something that inspires you. It could be a symbol of your goal, a quotation, a memento, or even a "Can of Success."

More articles on leadership

… and how he inspired a war-weary nation to resist imminent defeat

More articles on leadership