Page 23 - Leadership Secrets of Hillary Clinton

LEADERSHIP SECRETS OF HILLARY CLINTON

moments in my life.” She elaborated and explained to peo-
ple that the difficult times in her life enabled her to press for-
ward when the odds appeared to be daunting. Throughout
this book, I will share her fascinating stories and the secrets
we can learn from her so that you too can tap into your
resilience and be recognized for it, both at home and at work.
Helen Keller wisely said, “A happy life consists not in
the absence, but in the mastery of hardships.” Becoming a
great leader begins with your first encounter with misfor-
tune, great desperation, or failure. Each crisis you confront
turns into a stepping-stone to greater strength and
endurance. Each disruptive change you address gives you
greater insight into your leadership abilities. Great leaders
are people who look at daunting challenges as opportuni-
ties to learn new things and to change in a positive way
rather than feeling that they are victims of the situation.
In 1984, the Center for Creative Leadership (CCL)
conducted a study on the “key events” that contribute to a
leader’s development. This study, Building Resiliency: How
to Thrive in Times of Change, found that the greatest oppor-
tunities for leaders to learn, grow, and further their devel-
opment came during their hardships, lessons learned,
failures, and career setbacks. At that time, 34 percent of the
respondents indicated that hardships had been their key
learning experiences.
Like all of us, Hillary has had her share of hardships,
both personal and professional. In her book Living

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