With all the talk and uproar around politics right now, I’ve been taking some time to look back through American history to remind myself of the leaders we’ve had in the past, and how they may handle the chaos of today.
We’ve had many great leaders in the past 240+ years, but there’s one that stands out every time I do this thinking exercise. In doing so, I realize that the attributes of this leader go well beyond politics and shine a light to our own success in our personal lives.
So, I decided to turn my thoughts into writing and provide you a simple way to copy this great man and reach your own successes…
Whether we’re talking about his fame gained in the Spanish American War as a member of the Rough Riders or his Nobel Peace Prize to everything in between, this President pushed himself to accomplish an incredible number of goals.
But he wasn’t handed everything on a silver platter. He was just like you and me in that sense—he had to build and achieve everything himself from the ground up.
If you haven’t guessed it from those hints already, I’m talking about Teddy Roosevelt.
The special thing about Roosevelt is that he realized the importance of something that ANYONE can utilize—genuine interest in the people around us.
He had many hard-earned skills and traits, but every time I revisit the history of Roosevelt, that’s the driving force behind the life that earned him a place on Mount Rushmore.
There are many accounts of Roosevelt returning to the White House post-presidency and recounting specific information about the people he used to work with—from the stewards to the kitchen staff.
His attention to detail allowed him to recall even the most minuscule details of his interactions with others, enough so to bring tears to the eyes of White House Usher Ike Hoover as he described his encounter with Roosevelt.
Roosevelt was also known for always saying hello to the gardeners and other workers in the White House regularly.
And, as you can imagine, that simple characteristic was also a major part of his dealings with people in much more prestigious positions as well.
I understand how novice this sounds, but that was his biggest secret to success. And despite being easy to employ, Roosevelt’s secret is something that 99% of people in the world fail to do.
Achieving success and wealth will in one way or another require your ability to get others to do something. Now, don’t you think you’ll be much more likely to get someone to do something if you’ve shown genuine interest in their lives?
It’s not rocket science.
And that’s great news for people like us—All we need to do to copy Roosevelt’s most influential secret is to become courteous and show curiosity in others.
Start using this likeable trait today and you’ll start noticing a big difference in how people treat you back, and what they’re willing to do to help.
