The American President

They say that the American President is the most powerful person in the free world.

I would not blame you if you look at any President, Prime Minister, or even CEO’s of the Fortune 500 companies, and say, “I could never be the President…I could never be the CEO…I’m just me.”

Below is a list of prominent American Presidents. These men were not born into power, wealth and prosperity, yet they each achieved the rank of most powerful person in the world by working hard, not making excuses, and believing that they can become whatever the set their minds to.

Richard Nixon: born in the home his dad built. He won an award from Harvard his senior year of high school. Unfortunately, his family couldn’t afford Richard leaving home to go to college, so he instead attended Whittier College.

Gerald Ford: born as Leslie Lynch King Jr. In 1913, his mum left her abusive husband and took Gerald with her to live with her parents. She met Gerald R. Ford, whom she met and married and it was he who gave her child his new name Gerald Rudolph Ford Jr. He was the only President to be adopted. Ford worked in his stepdad’s paint and varnish store growing up. He coached boxing during his college years to pay for his tuition.

Jimmy Carter: President Carter’s dad was a poor peanut farmer, and Jimmy was the first member of the Carter family to ever go to college after finishing high school.

Ronald Reagan: the son of an alcoholic travelling shoe salesman. He worked his way into show business by broadcasting baseball games. At age 40, he was divorced and his show business career was at a dead end.

Bill Clinton: born William Jefferson Blythe IV. Like Reagan, his dad was a travelling salesman, however, he sadly died in a car accident 3 months before Bill was born. His mother married Roger Clinton and Bill took that name. Clinton grew up in a turbulent family environment. His stepfather was a gambler and alcoholic who regularly abused his wife and Bill’s half brother Roger.

See. Anything is possible.

All you need is ambition, drive, focus and hope. Giving yourself a higher valuation than you have been will also do the trick.

Cast excuses aside. Yes, life can deal you an awful hand at times, but they may indeed be a gift that teaches you the value of hard work.

Again. Anything is possible.