May 2025 | Lessons in Leadership Reflections on Courage Character & Change
- Mister Mike
- May 25
- 3 min read
“If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.”
Sir Isaac Newton 1643-1727
Greetings, and welcome to our May issue! Last month we had a discussion on Bruce Feiler’s book, Life is in the Transitions. If you recall, we talked about his use of the term: "LIFEQUAKE," If you missed it, it is in the April SOG (if you did not receive it or lost it, let me know).
This month I want to tell you about some of the people with whom I spent time with this past winter and what I learned from each of them about leadership.
The first person I “spent time with” (at least through reading about him in depth), proved to be insightful, very direct and frequently hilarious. Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President from March 4,1861 to his death on April 15, 1865. Lincoln had three basic principles of leadership: “Know your people, build strong alliances, and persuade rather than coerce.” In her book, Team of Rivals, Doris Kearns Goodwin also attributes these basic principles to the man. In reading more about Lincoln in several other books, not necessarily about Lincoln, but about people who knew Lincoln personally, it is obvious that Lincoln “knew his people.”
Another person I “spent a LOT of time with,” was the late great Harry Truman, 33rd President of the United States, beginning in 1945. It was great to get to know Harry and understand his thoughts as he made some of the great decisions of our time. Harry Truman came to be known for his courage, integrity, and humility. He was a man of principle, prioritizing what was right over political expediency. Truman's leadership style might be described as efficient, mixed with some willingness to take swift action when it was required. Harry, with no formal education, was often quoted as saying, “It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.” One quote I particularly like is, “Not all readers become leaders, but all leaders must be readers.” The Accidental President,” by A.J. Blain is a great read if you want to know Harry a bit better.
I also spent some time with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., this winter. He is quoted as saying “I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it… The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear." A great leader indeed. Consider all he did. If you read much about him you find that while being a great man, he was still a man. Maybe that is why it is easy for us to try to emulate him as he was someone that we can still look up to as a man with character and qualities that show true leadership. Timeless qualities of leadership, for sure.
Now, I am just starting a new book, “Chesty” by Jon T. Hoffman. The book is about Chesty Puller, who is still the most decorated U.S. Marine in history. Puller is quoted as having said, “Bravery is being the only one who knows you're afraid." Let’s face it, we are all afraid at times. I am anxious to get further into the book and get to know “Chesty” a bit better.
One of my favorite new friends is Eleanor Roosevelt. Doris Kearns Goodwin won a Pulitzer Prize for her book, No Ordinary Times, a deep dive into Franklin and Eleanor, the war on the home front and their personal relationship during that time. Eleanor defined leadership very succinctly: “The leader leads, and the boss drives. No man will make a great leader who wants to do it all himself or get all of the credit.”
More interesting facts
When Harry Truman left office he was in a group with America’s worst presidents. In a recent survey, he was placed as 8th best. What changed? Not Harry! “We the people” have changed.
Want to energize yourself? Put your feet in a bucket of ice every morning? WOW! Now there is an idea! I also found out this winter that Jefferson did this every morning! Let me know if you start doing this daily.
Michael M. Carney mr.mikecarney@gmail.com
A special thank you to my support team!
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Reflections on Courage Character & Change
