Monday Morning Match is a simple post – maybe a quote, inspirational story or idea – intended to spark some motivation inside each of you so your week gets off to a fantastic start on Monday morning.
“I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat”
Winston Churchill
79 years ago today, those were the words uttered by Winston Churchill during his first speech as Prime Minister of Britain to the British House of Commons. Churchill would go on to become one of the greatest leaders in modern-day history, leading Britain to victory in World War II during his first term from 1940-1945 and served in the same role again from 1951-1955.
Churchill was a great orator and contributed some amazing quotes that, still to this day, inspire and encourage anyone who reads them;
- Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.
- Continuous effort – not strength or intelligence – is the key to unlocking our potential.
- A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.
- You have enemies? Good. That means you’ve stood up for something, sometime in your life.
Of course, Churchill had hundreds of great quotes, anecdotes, and examples for leaders everywhere to learn from, but it was those words from his inaugural address that should really stand out to us today.
As individuals, what do you offer each day to your loved ones? What about to your co-workers and peers? Most importantly, what do you offer to your customers, clients, and community? Hopefully, there won’t be any blood, but anyone who’s been in a sales or leadership position before can affirm that there will be toil, there will be tears, and there will certainly be sweat.
This week, be the leader you are meant to be. Offer up your toil, tears, and sweat. Do this by building relationships, solving problems and having fun. Who knows? Maybe 79 years from now, someone will be writing a tribute to you, not just about the impression you left, but about the impact you had.
Photo courtesy of Arthur Osipyan