On July 29, 2016, the BBC News headline declared, “US election 2016: Six reasons it will make history.” Roland Hughes highlighted:
- the age of the candidates,
- that both were from New York City,
- the money to be spent and NOT spent,
- the experience and lack of government service,
- the possibility of the first female president, and
- the equivalent of a third term for the Democratic party.
The morning after the election, a CNN article leads: “Donald Trump will become the 45th president of the United States…a historic victory for outsiders that represents a stunning repudiation of Washington’s political establishment.”
Fox News reported: “Trump wins the presidency, defeats Clinton in historic election upset.”
Historic.
Listen to the historians, pollsters, and reporters, and the 2016 Presidential Campaign and Election were significant. How great and lasting, history will tell.
Beyond historic events
Donald Trump is a businessman, Chairman and President of The Trump Organization. Wikipedia reports, Trump leads
…approximately 500 business entities of which he is the sole or principal owner. Donald Trump serves as Chairman and President. His three adult children and three unrelated employees serve as key executives.
Now, he was elected President of the United States.
In his victory speech, I found it refreshing to hear his assessment of what’s “historic.” (Please note, this is how a leader thinks, not politics.) Taking the stage at New York’s Hilton Midtown Hotel around 3:00 a.m., Trump said,
So, it’s been what they call a historic event, but to be really historic, we have to do a great job. And I promise you that I will not let you down. We will do a great job. We will do a great job. (Emphasis added)
Notice how Trump thinks about using his influence to drive performance, execute a plan and get results. “We have to do a great job.”
Create space for reflection
For Trump’s election to be truly historic, it will be because he does the work of a leader. That’s right; it won’t be because of his age, his hometown, his unconventional campaign, or his election to this world’s most powerful position. It will be historic when he does an excellent job.
Your Story will be historic, not because you “got the job” it will be because of the work you do. To help, answer three simple questions regarding your Next Level Journey and make your leadership truly historic:
- What got us here?
- What does there look like?
- How will we get there?
Trump comes to serve as President of the United States of America from decades in Business where execution matters. His challenge is to become worthy of the office and do what he promised to do.
Our challenge as leaders is to do the same.
What has to happen for your work as a leader to be truly historic?
How would you, or when will you answer the three Next Level Journey questions?
Here’s to your Next Level in 2017,
Steve
Photo credit: Upsplash – Joanna Kosinska