ABRAHAM LINCOLN: Without Divine assistance I cannot succeed; with it I cannot fail.

This story is about Lincoln’s farewell address at Springfield, Illinois, on February 11, 1861. The speech was very brief -less than two hundred words (Watson, 1951, p.70).  It was supposed to be a very happy day for him, a day of triumph but close ones could see that he was not happy (Watson, 1951, p.69). It was a bittersweet day for him as he had been elected as the President but he was also leaving the place he was born and lived in, the people who contributed so much to his life and success. His speech was very personal and he talked about how grateful he is for all the people who have supported him throughout and how heavy and sad he feels about leaving this place and these people as he was not sure when or if he will return to Springfield (Watson, 1951, p.70). He was also aware of the challenges that awaited him as the President because the nation was in a bad state at the time and he wanted to make sure he restores the peace and harmony. The thing that stood out from his speech was how he connected with the people and the way he explained that in prayers of god they will always stay together as God is with each one of them. It was this expression of faith and trust, this firm belief that with God’s help he could not fail, which sets Lincoln’s words at Springfield apart and gave them the unmistakable quality of inspiration, radiant and enduring. (Watson, 1951, p70).

Abraham Lincoln was one of the great leaders and he was indeed a servant leader. He believed in serving the world and was against dominance. What made me pick this story out of the book is the quote on the very first page by Abraham Lincoln that says, “Most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be” (Watson, 1951, p.1). The is so much to learn from Lincoln and he exhibits so many amazing leadership traits. He was very perceptive and determined. He was also empathetic and sensitive as his farewell speech reflects that’s clear. In this particular story, I learned that being a leader you should be selfless and work for the greater good and not shy away from making sacrifices for it. Another important leadership lesson that can be learned here is the importance of being sensitive towards other people and being forever grateful for their contributions and connecting with them on a deeper level. Above all, this story is a great example of leadership, sacrifices, empathy, and determination and it teaches about never forgetting where you came from.

This story has impacted my life to a great extent. It was a gentle reminder that to lead is to serve. His thoughts about connecting through prayer and god hold a great relevance in my life. “Without divine assistance I cannot succeed; with it I cannot fail” (Watson, 1951, p.70), these words have a great impact on my life and I have always practiced this. I’m from a Sikh family and I’m a strong believer and there are words in the Sikh holy book that resonate with this message strongly. Furthermore, I loved his statement about happiness and I find it to be very true. This story has been an enlightening and insightful experience and I would certainly read more about Abraham Lincoln and his ideas and theories