Leadership Endurance “Accept The Risk”

Accept the Risk

Was Washington D.C. safe?

Was it safe for the President to be in D.C.?

General Scott thought not.  

He kept pressing the President to leave.  

He especially urged the President to send his wife and children away from the nation’s capital.  

Lincoln refused to do it.

Not only did Lincoln stay in D.C. but he refused to allow his family to leave.

Southern rebels were in the city.  

Sympathizers to the southern cause were waiting and hoping.

General Scott warned of bridges being blown up and guerrilla warfare-type attacks if the President and his family were seen walking the streets of Washington D.C.   

In the 1860’s, it was not uncommon to see Lincoln, Mary Todd and the children going to a store, a play or some dinner party.

But Lincoln refused to send his family away.

Why?

Why take the risk?

Lincoln knew there was a bigger issue at play.

Should Lincoln and his family leave the city, it would signal to the everyday person that they should pack the house and get out of town. 

The threat was large.

Lincoln’s desire to project confidence in a time of war and uncertainty was even larger.   

He put his own life, and that of his family, in danger in order to keep the greater populace calm and confident.   

Leadership requires risk and a price.

A dream you want to pursue may require you to drain your savings and retirement so you can take first steps.   

Perhaps you, as the leader, will have to skip a paycheck or two so your team can feed their families. 

Are you willing to be embarrassed if you fail?  
Do you have the fortitude to get back up and try again?

Leadership steals time from you.
There are events and occasions you’ll have to miss.

To get to your goal, you must be willing to cross whatever ocean of circumstances are in front of you.

Even though you may be nervous on the inside, you’ll have to project calm to your team.  They need to see you believing that the dream is achievable.  

Lincoln never complained about the price or risk of leadership.  

Neither can you.  

If it’s a cause you believe in and you’re called to lead the charge, then you must be willing to accept the risk and pay the price.

Want to be a better leader?  Be like Lincoln.

Brian Sanders serves as Executive Vice President of Positive Alternative Radio. He regularly writes and speaks on leadership topics.

His new book, “Leadership Endurance,” can be purchased HERE.