This I Believe

I grew up during the Reagan presidency, and as a child of that era, Reagan's calm, charismatic confidence set the tone for how leadership looked and sounded to me.  Years later, I traveled to California, where I visited the Reagan Library, and as I walked through the incredible exhibits and immersed myself in the challenges and triumphs of the 1980s, I found myself reflecting upon what made Reagan such a transformational leader.

While I share many of President Reagan's views, his greatness transcended politics.  Instead, his greatest gift to Americans during the 1980s was the restoration of hope - an infusion of confidence and optimism that served as an inspirational antidote to the malaise and disappointment of the 1970s.  Reagan helped Americans to believe, once again, that they could win - that it truly was Morning in America.

That's the charge of any leader: to instill and inspire confidence, hope, and optimism, and to impart meaning and value to that which must be done to create change.

Sitting next to his grave, I reflected upon the conviction and principle required to fuel such an unrelenting optimism, and realized that the answer lay in the inscription upon his memorial.

'I know in my heart that man is good.  That what is right will always eventually triumph.  And there's purpose and worth to each and every life.'

Twenty-eight words that profoundly articulated the foundation for such an impactful philosophy.  As I contemplated the core of my own philosophy, seven of Reagan's words stood out.  

I've always held a strong belief that the greatest wisdom comes from the words of those who have come before us, and I combined that belief with President Reagan's profound words to assemble my own Guiding Principles.  

Select one of them below to read more.