Grit and the Ability to Lead

It is highly unlikely that anyone would disagree that 2020 has been the most challenging year. The uncertainty, challenges of governmental requirements for healthcare, and the inability to see an end to the pandemic have created a general sense of doom and gloom.

As I consider the impact of this year and what might happen going forward, I did recall reading a book by Minnesota author Curtis Brown. The title of the book is “1918” and is a recounting a series of events from that year in Minnesota and it impacted it had on people.  Obviously, the virus was raging across the state and the world, similarly to what we are facing today. Secondly, the world was in the midst of a world war in Europe. Finally, Minnesota had experienced a series of massive forest fires in the Hinkley, Croquet areas of northern Minnesota. All within that most difficult year!

 The cohort population at that time, the “Greatest Generation” were alive and being born. They went on to live thru the Stock market crash of 1929, the Great Depression that followed, and another world war. Interestingly, they also saw the passage of the New Deal legislation of 1935 that started Social Security and other beneficial changes to federal laws. They then presided over the great economic expansion of the 1950s. They have been characterized by their resiliency, sacrifice, community focus, and hard work. 

While we have lost most of them today, those characteristics should give us hope for a life and even prosperity after COVID-19. I know it has been difficult these past months and probably will be in the coming week. Like the Greatest Generation, we have the ability to choose how to respond and what actions to take. We need to exhibit leadership and chose to continue our fight to conquer this terrible virus. As we look towards the future, think about the character and actions of the Greatest Generation. Exhibit the grit and tenacity that got the Greatest Generation thru the most difficult periods.