Welcome to Under 2, an email series delivering short insights to empower your money life – in 2 minutes or less.
Sign-up below to get Under 2 and other news from me landing in your inbox:
I recently finished a book called Leadership: In Turbulent Times that described the path of four famed U.S. presidents through their careers and personal lives to reach the legacy they ultimately left us.
The crux of these stories was essentially that some of our country’s most transformational leaders only rose to the occasion after serious “crucible” periods.
A crucible event, per Oxford, is “a situation of severe trial… leading to the creation of something new.”
Author Doris Kearns Goodwin quite persuasively tied these presidents’ success in leadership to the skills and traits they acquired and honed during incredibly trying times.
Abraham Lincoln, after a tremendous failure in his first notable political role in the state legislature to carry out the promises he made to the people of Illinois, that led to public blame, a deep depression, suicidal thoughts, and having to start all over with nothing (no money and negative career points).
Teddy Roosevelt, then a New York state legislator, stricken with unrelenting grief after the death of his beloved wife after the birth of their daughter… followed by the death of his mother under the same roof just 12 hours later.
Franklin Roosevelt, after the onset of polio and losing all function of his body, including his bowels and bladder for a time, and fighting back to the best life he could in a time where severe physical disability was even more difficult to live with than it is today.
Each of these men would ultimately reach, of course, the U.S. presidency and have historic impact on the country. Indeed, we only know these names from the great achievements attached to their names in the history books. But their road to those accomplishments was no picnic.
Abraham Lincoln, in particular, was seriously broke. He came from no money whatsoever, no influence, nothing. Just a hand to mouth farm existence on the early 1800s U.S. prairie.
And it took decades for him to really hit his stride. It may have been the only thought that helped him survive his lowest point was the realization than he hadn’t made an impact yet – and he couldn’t die until he’d left his mark for good on the world.
It’s a reminder that becoming our best selves takes time, and often takes hard knocks.
While this knowledge doesn’t lessen the pain and exhaustion that life’s punches deal, it does help put them in perspective.
Why not have to overcome massive debt?
Why not have to overcome the loss of retirement security due to divorce?
Why not have to overcome a major career (& paycheck) setback?
While carrying the burden of your particular challenges today, keep the bright spots in view (and those just out of view); focus on becoming better for it and keeping going.
Look for the growth opportunities in the storm and persist towards the desire of your inner voice.
It may be years or decades in the future when things do get better, but when you see your financial obstacle course as a place to test your mettle and grow your financial prowess, it changes the whole game.
A trick of opportunity is it comes disguised as misfortune or defeat. Perhaps this is why so many fail to recognize [it].
Napoleon Hill in Think and Grow Rich
[Theodore] Roosevelt had come to see political life as a succession of crucibles—good or bad—able to crush or elevate. He would view each position as a test of character, effort, endurance, and will. … he would regard each job as a pivotal test.
Doris Kearns Goodwin in Leadership: In Turbulent Times
A long desert. A desolate valley. Either way, you’ll need to cross it. You’ll need patience and endurance and most of all love. You can’t let this period make you bitter. You have to make sure it makes you better.
Ryan Holiday in Courage is Calling
I hope you enjoyed this edition of Under 2, an email series designed to share quick bites of wisdom to empower your financial journey (while keeping it short). Be sure to sign-up below to get these messages in your inbox.
All for now,
Lindsey