Sometimes you have to do things that you don't necessarily want to do...

There are times, as a leader, when you are called to do something that you don't necessarily want to do, even though you know that you should.  Regardless of where you are or what you are doing, eyes are watching - you, as a leader, need to model the behaviors that you profess to be the desired ones in order to move forward.  There are often commitments, many of which are after normal work hours, that require a leadership presence.  You may be tired at the end of a long day, and you know that you would rather go home, but you know that you should attend that function and support your organization.


Whenever I think of these things that we, as leaders, just have to do, I remember a story that I first heard a few years ago.  This past Saturday, October 14th, marked 105 years since former President Theodore Roosevelt was shot as he was walking from his hotel to the Milwaukee Auditorium to give a campaign speech before a large crowd.  A small history lesson may help here (and if you already knew this, please ignore the next few sentences). 


Remember that Theodore Roosevelt served as our nation's 26th President from 1901 to 1909.  He was a leader of the so-called Progressive Movement of the Republican Party during that time, and previous to his election as President had served as the Vice-President under President William McKinley.  Roosevelt became President after President McKinley was assassinated.  He is widely recognized as one of our best Presidents and is one of the four faces on the monument at Mount Rushmore.  He was re-elected as President in 1904 and groomed his successor and close friend, William Howard Taft to become President following the 1908 presidential election.  Roosevelt was frustrated with Taft's policies and unsuccessfully ran for President during the 1912 election as a third-part candidate (the Progressive or "Bull Moose" Party). 


Now back to the story.  Roosevelt, as I mentioned, was shot at close range by a saloon keeper named John Schrank.  The .38 caliber bullet hit Roosevelt in the chest, which normally would have been a fatal injury.  However, the bullet was apparently stopped by Roosevelt's thick folded speech and eyeglass case!  His aides tried to convince him to go immediately to the hospital, but he refused!  He walked on stage, showed everyone the bloodstains on his shirt, and said, "I don't know whether you fully understand that I have just been shot - but it takes more than that to kill a Bull Moose."  The name stuck, and the Progressive Party was forever after known as the "Bull Moose" Party.


Imagine giving a political speech right after an attempt has been made on your life.  Imagine giving a political speech right after being shot in the chest!  Apparently, the bullet was never removed and stayed with him for the rest of his life.  I would think that Roosevelt would have been forgiven for not making the speech.  But he gave the speech anyway, and that is an amazing example of dedication to the cause.


So, whenever you, as a leader, have a meeting or function that you should attend, or a presentation or speech that you don't really want to give, remember our 26th President.  It would be easy to complain about having to do something that you don't want to do - but then remember that Teddy Roosevelt gave a speech right after being shot in the chest!  It could always be worse...