A Helping Hand

“There is not a man of us … who does not at times need a helping hand to be stretched out to him, and then shame upon him who will not stretch out the helping hand to his brother.”

Theodore Roosevelt

There are many Americans today in need of a helping hand due to the hurricane Katrina. Those of us blessed to have not been affected should stretch out our helping hands to those in need. Please help in any way you can.

Presidential Firsts

This week marks the anniversary of two Presidential Firsts.

August 22, 1905 marks the day when President Theodore Roosevelt became the first President to ride in an automobile. In fact he was also the first President to purchase his own car. Being an avid horseman, he never understood why cars didn’t avoid holes in the road as his horses did. He first car lasted but a year. He took his mechanic, Frederick Gear, with him to buy his second car. His driving was so poor that eventually his wife Edith forbid him to get behind the wheel.

August 26, 1905 marks the day when TR became the first President to go underwater in a submarine, the USS Plunger. Keep in mind that submarines in 1905 were a far cry from the nuclear powered vessels of today. They were very dangerous and unreliable, and many sailors were afraid to volunteer for submarine duty. Read a fascinating article about Teddy’s harrowing submarine trip – http://www.teddyleads.com/articles.asp.

TR was also the first President to:

• Fly in an aeroplane, in 1910 in St. Louis. Arch Hoxsey was the pilot. Hoxsey died in a plane crash less than a year later.
• Travel outside the US while President. He sailed to Panama on the battleship USS Louisiana to oversee construction of the Panama Canal.
• Have a telephone in his home, Sagamore Hill, in Oyster Bay, New York.
• Invite an African-American to dinner at the White House - Booker T. Washington. He was severly criticized for this audacious act.

TR was not afraid of change. He embraced change and new technology. He led change.

How do you respond to change?
Do you resist change?
Do you fear change?
Do you complain about change?
Or do you embrace change, as Theodore Roosevelt did?

Read the series of Teddy's Tips on Leadership articles. Go to http://www.TeddyLeads.com/articles.asp

David brings Teddy Back to Life as a Keynote speaker for corporations, associations, academia, military, and other organizations. www.TeddyLeads.com

Contact David at Teddy@TeddyLeads.com or at 714-289-1233.

Teddy Roosevelt and Wade Boggs

"Success, the real success, does not depend upon the position you hold but upon how you carry yourself in that position."

Theodore Roosevelt

May 26, 1910 University of Cambridge, England

TR always strived to do his very best in whatever position he held throughout his career. He focused his energies on the job at hand as if it were the last job he’d ever have.

Before becoming our 26th President of the United States, TR served as an Assemblyman in the New York State Legislature, Civil Service Commissioner, President of the New York City Police Board, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Colonel in the US Army, Governor of New York, and Vice-President of the United States.

All these positions, as well as his time as a rancher in the Dakota territories, prepared him for taking over the Presidency upon the assassination of William McKinley.

On July 31, 2005, Wade Boggs was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. He earned this honor after an illustrious career in major league baseball. But he didn’t start there. He was drafted in the seventh round by the Boston Red Sox and spent five-plus seasons in the minor leagues. Boston finally promoted him to the major leagues after he led the International League in batting.

Here’s what Wade Boggs said during his induction ceremony at Cooperstown, New York.

"Life is about obstacles. Our lives are not determined by what happens to us, but how we react to what happens."

Theodore Roosevelt couldn’t have said it better himself.


Read the series of Teddy's Tips on Leadership articles. Go to http://www.TeddyLeads.com/articles.asp

David brings Teddy Back to Life as a Keynote speaker for corporations, associations, academia, military, and other organizations. www.TeddyLeads.com

Contact David at Teddy@TeddyLeads.com or at 714-289-1233.