On November 19, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln gave his noted Gettysburg Address at Soldiers’ National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.  Although you may not reside in this country, there are lessons to be learned from Lincoln, the 16^th President of the United States.

Abraham Lincoln (February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865) was born into a poor family in a one room log cabin in Kentucky.  When he was nine years old, his mother died of milk sickness.  He and his father, who later remarried, moved a few times during his younger years, but later settled in Springfield, Illinois.

Years after his first love, Ann Rutledge died of typhoid fever, Lincoln married Mary Todd in 1842 and would have 4 sons together.  Two of his sons died before his death, one at age 4 and another at age 11.

Lincoln’s formal education consisted of about 18 months of schooling; however, he was self-educated through reading books.  His dedication to reading led to his interest in law, and worked toward starting his own law practice in Illinois.

Along with his work as a lawyer, Lincoln’s list of accomplishments includes his position as an Illinois state legislator, a member of the United States House of Representatives, a two-time candidate for election to the U.S. Senate, and 16^th President of the United States.  His successes also include leading his country through the American Civil War, preserving the Union and ending slavery, just to name a few.

Despite his limited formal education and the emotional hardship from the loss of his mother as a child, his first love, and the loss of two of his own children, Lincoln overcame great obstacles in his life to become one of the greatest presidents in history.  So, how was he able to do that?  His purpose and passion, I’m sure, had everything to do with his success.

Lincoln’s passion for the written word prompted him to educate himself by reading a list of books which included The Bible, Aesop’s Fables, The Life of Benjamin Franklin, Pilgrim’s Progress, Robinson Crusoe, and The Life of George Washington.  He also read from the works of Shakespeare, Byron, Poe, Euclid and Milton.  His passion for learning paved his way to his career in law and politics.

Lincoln undoubtedly found purpose in serving his country and freeing the slaves.  His Gettysburg Address and the Emancipation Proclamation, and his passage of the 13^th Amendment to the Constitution were proof of his dedication and commitment to all people of this country.

Abraham Lincoln remains to be an icon in American History who lived his life with purpose and passion.  Now, what is your purpose and passion?  My challenge to you is to discover your purpose and put it to use.  If you already know what it is, great!  If not, stayed tuned for more on that topic.

To Your Success,

Kay L. Fontana
“The Grandcoach”

In recognition of Veteran’s Day today, as well as U.S. Marine Corps Day, yesterday, November 10th, I would like to express my heartfelt appreciation for our Veterans and their unwavering loyalty and patriotism.  Veterans are true examples of goal-oriented individuals who exemplify resiliency and purpose, which is defined by their motto and/or core values.

Each branch of the armed forces has its own motto or set of core values.  The U.S. Army’s motto is “This We’ll Defend.” The Navy, although without an official motto, is often cited with “Non Sibi, Sed Patriae,” or “Not for ourselves, but for our country.”  They also abide by the core values of “Honor, Courage and Commitment.”

The U.S. Air Force defines their core values as “Integrity First, Service before Self, Excellence in All We Do.”  The U.S. Coast Guard’s motto is “Semper Paratus,” or “Always Ready,” and the U.S. Marines are recognized by “Semper Fidelis,” or “Always Faithful.”

Veterans are, by the truest sense of the word, heroes.  They put their country before themselves, and sacrifice many things in their lives to defend the rights and freedoms of the citizens of their country.  Therefore, I want to share some lessons I have learned from veterans, and how we can all apply these strategies to carry out our own goals.

I have had the honor and privilege of knowing a few veterans in my life, including my own father who served in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II.  The stories, of the time he served in the marines, were examples of “Honor, Courage and Commitment” as defined by the Marines’ core values.

During his time on the small island of Tinian, he (as well as all veterans have done throughout history) sacrificed a great deal to defend his country, including the food, water and shelter we take for granted on a daily basis.  He continues to share his stories with pride to this day, as he should.  He risked his life and escaped gunfire, bombs, disease and death, yet still lived with a positive attitude to achieve his own personal goals. After all, he was, and always will be, a Marine.

That being said, there is one commonality that our veterans in all branches of the military share that helps them sustain the obstacles of war – they work together as a team.  Being part of a platoon, a unit, a squad, an infantry, a group or a section of any branch of the military, means being part of a collaborative effort for one common goal.  When people work together for a common purpose, they gain support from one another.  This is true in the military as well as for everyone else who sets out to accomplish a goal.

When setting goals, it is important to select people to be part of your “dream team” that can encourage, mentor and lend support in the achievement of your goals, as well as allow you to help them in the same manner.  Gaining support from other individuals has been proven to increase the rate of success as well as decrease the time required to achieve a given goal.  Remember, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

In the words of Confucius, “He who wished to secure the good of others, has already secured his own.”

Semper Fi

Kay L. Fontana
“The Grandcoach”

P.S. I invite you to watch this brief 3 minute video, “A Tender Warrior,” from Simple Truths.