On June 7, 2008, Senator Hillary Clinton made history. I
knew it as I watched her deliver her exit speech before
2,000 supporters at Washington's National Building Museum.
She wasn't just endorsing presumptive Democratic
presidential nominee Senator Barack Obama; she was leading
by example.
In her speech, she exemplified how to be gracious in the
face of defeat. She did not take "no" for failure. She
remained ambitious, confident, and strong. There is much
the entrepreneurial woman can learn from Senator Clinton,
including the following 10 lessons about facing so-called
defeat:
1. If there's an elephant in the room, talk about it right
from the start.
"Well, this isn't exactly the party I'd planned, but I sure
like the company."
2. Be generous with your gratitude and appreciation.
"I want to start today by saying how grateful I am to all
of you - to everyone who poured your hearts and your hopes
into this campaign, who drove for miles and lined the
streets waving homemade signs, who scrimped and saved to
raise money, who knocked on doors and made calls, who
talked and sometimes argued with your friends and
neighbors, who emailed and contributed online, who invested
so much in our common enterprise, to the moms and dads who
came to our events, who lifted their little girls and
little boys on their shoulders and whispered in their ears,
'See, you can be anything you want to be.'"
3. Reaffirm your commitment.
"To all those who voted for me, and to whom I pledged my
utmost, my commitment to you and to the progress we seek is
unyielding . . . I will continue to stand strong with you,
every time, every place, and every way that I can. The
dreams we share are worth fighting for."
4. Remind people of why you do what you do.
"I entered this race because I have an old-fashioned
conviction: that public service is about helping people
solve their problems and live their dreams. I've had every
opportunity and blessing in my own life - and I want the
same for all Americans. Until that day comes, you will
always find me on the front lines of democracy - fighting
for the future."
5. Let people know what's next.
"The way to continue our fight now - to accomplish the
goals for which we stand - is to take our energy, our
passion, our strength and do all we can to help elect
Barack Obama the next President of the United States."
6. Unify rather than divide.
"The Democratic Party is a family, and it's now time to
restore the ties that bind us together and to come together
around the ideals we share, the values we cherish, and the
country we love."
7. Know what motivates and inspires you.
"I ran as a daughter who benefited from opportunities my
mother never dreamed of. I ran as a mother who worries
about my daughter's future and a mother who wants to lead
all children to brighter tomorrows."
8. Dare to be you.
"Always aim high, work hard, and care deeply about what you
believe in. When you stumble, keep faith. When you're
knocked down, get right back up. And never listen to anyone
who says you can't or shouldn't go on."
9. Keep things in perspective.
"Although we weren't able to shatter that highest, hardest
glass ceiling this time, thanks to you, it's got about 18
million cracks in it. And the light is shining through like
never before, filling us all with the hope and the sure
knowledge that the path will be a little easier next time.
That has always been the history of progress in America."
10. Keep moving forward.
"So I want to say to my supporters, when you hear people
saying - or think to yourself - 'if only' or 'what if,' I
say, 'Please don't go there.' Every moment wasted looking
back keeps us from moving forward. Life is too short, time
is too precious, and the stakes are too high to dwell on
what might have been."
Love her or hate her, Senator Clinton holds a vision for
the future and keeps her eye on the mark. No moss will ever
grow under her feet. Instead, she counts her blessings and
moves on. She considers failure as nothing more than a
stepping-stone toward success. She is resilient and
determined, she never gives up, and she knows who she is.
She is a woman getting it done. No agony of defeat for
Senator Hillary Clinton!
----------------------------------------------------
Dr. Susan L. Reid is a business coach & consultant for
entrepreneurial women starting up businesses. She is the
award-winning author of Discovering Your Inner Samurai: The
Entrepreneurial Woman's Journey to Business Success. Susan
provides intuitive small business solutions, powerful
attraction marketing tools, inspiration, & direction. Visit
http://www.SuccessfulSmallBizOwners.com & download your
copy of her latest free business success article.
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