global awareness of critical issues like AIDS and poverty. Oprah’s integrity would lead her to more fame and prosperity over the years, as she became a mainstay in an industry filled with cheap tricks. Her death devastated young Abraham and further alienated him from his father. To say that Oprah, a black woman from the south, overcame the odds would be a huge understatement. MLK gave his life to the civil rights movement. Amazon.com is cutting a swathe across the realm of retail, from b… By 1860, he secured the Republican Party presidential nomination and was elected president. Then you won’t want to miss our 14-day FREE trial of The Leader’s Edge Membership: Mother Teresa’s unforgettable devotion to help the world’s poorest, most impoverished and vulnerable people left a lasting dent in the world. Powerful Persistence – Abraham Lincoln. Despite the lack of equipment and supplies, she found a way to open a school for poor children teaching them to read and write using sticks in the dirt. Incredibly, the founding of Microsoft isn’t Gates’ only legacy. Her remarkable leadership was even powerful enough to cut across conflicts and enemy lines — a strength clearly exemplified during the 1982 Siege of Beirut. A former IBM employee who made his fortune in real estate investing, Wright Thurston is first and... 2. Lincoln’s victory prompted southern slave states to form the Confederate States of America. The following Churchill quote still serves as a powerful motivational nudge to stick with your convictions even when the going gets tough: “Never give in. Oprah Winfrey is much more than a television talk show host. As one might expect, there was little time or need for a formal education in the Indiana wilderness. As a committed philanthropist, Bill and his wife Melinda Gates have established a $44 billion endowment designed to improve healthcare and reduce extreme poverty around the world. From an early age he showed flashes of brilliance, including a knack for business and entrepreneurship. Here’s the truth: motivation … We’ll demonstrate how to write an awesome and inspiring motivational letter through Jane’s letter to the admissions team of Harvard University below. That would prove to be Gandhi’s first, but certainly not last, act of civil disobedience. Her generosity didn’t stop there. It is by far the largest private foundation of its kind in the world. Winston Churchill is long remembered as one of the greatest leaders in modern history and the savior of democracy. To create a list of the most inspiring leaders who have redefined leadership, oh, and then dwindle this list down to a mere 10. You can do this through a team and the larger workplace environment. As does his humor and humble nature, which has been evident throughout his career. Ten inspiring leaders whose vision, perseverance and commitment to their values helped them rise up in the face of adversity and achieve almost impossible triumphs. of the group U2, Bono leveraged his platform as a world renowned music entertainer to. His killer, James Earl Ray, was eventually apprehended after a two-month manhunt. Churchill’s leadership style would prove so powerful that he would be elected Prime Minister again in 1951. Fortune asked America’s top executives to share their thoughts, and here's what they had to say. Bill Gates grew up in an upper middle class family in Seattle, Washington and had a very close relationship with his mother. He proved, just like Gandhi, that non-violent protests can influence tremendous change. Abraham’s formal education began much later in his life and amounted to a mere 18 months. It was here that his brilliance influenced what would become the freest and most prosperous nation on earth. Her youth was filled with horrible sexual abuse at the hands of relatives and family friends. His involvement with the MK movement, an armed wing of. It is these qualities that employees choose to follow. They know that the slightest mishap, whether internal or external, can bring momentum to a grinding halt. Very few individuals personify dedication and patience like Nelson Mandela, South Africa’s first democratically elected President. Mandela would become the South Africa’s first black president in 1994 after the country’s first democratic elections. Despite his debilitating condition, Hawking became arguably the most well-known theoretical physicist since Albert Einstein. All Rights Reserved. These are just some of the reasons that make Winston Churchill truly special. By the age of 15, he had already started a business with his friend Paul Allen. Never, never, never, never – in nothing, great or small, large or petty – never give in, except to convictions of honor and good sense. One year later, Mandela was elected leader of the African National Congress after it was also unbanned by de Klerk. His ability to keep a positive attitude and provoke creative thought experiments were at the centre of his genius. Whereas some leaders are truly inspirational and well-respected because of their natural flair to innovate, empower and influence others to act in meaningful ways and ultimately change the world. What inspired Mother Teresa’s tireless drive to help others? Very few people are as synonymous with their industry as what Bill Gates is with information technology (IT). Over the years Gandhi would become a leading figure in the liberation movement. Much has been written about Hawking and his thought-provoking theories on the universe. He defined transformational leadership as a process where "leaders and their followers raise one another to higher levels of morality and motivation." A leader should set a good example to ensure his people to grow and achieve their goals effectively. Here are six strategies to help drive engagement and inspire your employees. This was the platform that catapulted her to critical acclaim and global recognition. Following years of successful civil rights activism, MLK and 61 other activists founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in 1957. She is … Nearly 50 years after his death, his legacy is stronger than ever. Mother Teresa managed to broker a temporary cease-fire between the Israeli army and Palestinian guerrillas to rescue 37 children trapped in a front-line hospital. Although it’s impossible to pinpoint exactly the nature of Einstein’s brilliance, he had all of the characteristics of a genius. By 1986, Oprah had her own nationally syndicated television program, Oprah Winfrey Show. The eldest of 4 children, Stephen was born in England during the Second World War. Churchill’s inspirational leadership style is especially notable when you consider his bitter struggle with depression – the so-called “black dog” of his existence. He not only directed peaceful demonstrations against the deeply racist South African government, he went on to claim the Nobel Prize in 1993 for helping to end apartheid. It took Churchill a staggering 40 years to finally become Prime Minister. Gandhi was born in India in 1869, a country that was then part of the British Empire. By age 26, Einstein had obtained his PhD. He has received worldwide acclaim not only for his work, but for his determination in overcoming a severe disability. Just two years later, the company went global. That said, Abraham was incredibly talented. Lifehack CEO’s Guide To a Super Productive Home Workstation, 5 Types of Leadership Styles (And Which Is Best for You). The same year he published 4 important papers on topics ranging from the nature of light to mass-energy equivalence. By the time Gates and Allen decided to incorporate Microsoft in 1981, the company already had 128 employees and generated $16 million in revenue. His refusal to compromise on the issue of slavery and instrumental role in leading the north to victory during the Civil War made him the target of Confederate plotters and sympathizers. Motivational leaders are self-motivated. He would spend the next 9 years fighting for Indian rights in the country before returning home to fight for Indian liberation. Diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) at the age of 21, he would spend most of his life severely disabled to the point where he controls his communication device through movement of his cheek muscles. Teresa then moved into the slums where she faced hunger, poverty and homelessness. MLK would continue his activism until his assassination on April 4, 1968. 9 Ways to Take Back Your Power, Practical Journaling Tips For Beginners To Kickstart, How to Learn at Work in the Most Effective Way Possible, this Ultimate Guide to Prioritizing Your Work And Life, Examining the Relationship Between Workplace Satisfaction and Productivity, 8 Simple Relaxation Techniques To Help Reduce Stress In Your Busy Life. This segment of her show not only promoted literacy, it helped unknown authors become recognized for their work. It wasn’t until the age of 13 that Bill saw his first computer at school. Empathy, for example, helps leaders … Valued at over $3 billion, Oprah has come a long way from the rural in Mississippi, where she was born. If you’re interested in honing your leadership skills so you too can become a respected and more influential leader – we have a special treat for you: As soon as you activate your FREE TRIAL membership you’ll get instant access to practical training based on the latest trends and research so you can quickly upgrade your leadership skills and break free from any bad habits or beliefs that are currently keeping you “stuck.”. What makes a leader inspirational? That all began to change in his junior year, when he took a Bible class and renewed his faith. Never yield to force. His youth was perhaps uncharacteristic of the Gandhi the history books remember. Leaders inspire motivation through the team environments they create. So the list below isn’t exhaustive by any means. While largely ignored at first, these papers would eventually make a tremendous contribution to the scientific community, including the famous E= MC2 equation for mass energy equivalence. Deep Work: Which Time Management Method Should You Use To Supercharge Your Productivity? I have fought it all during my life; I fight it now, and will do so until the end of my days.”. When he was originally diagnosed with ALS, he was given only two years to live. His life was filled with memorable quotes that leaders to this day use for inspiration. Mandela was neither a politician nor an opportunist, but a man deeply committed to improving the lives of his people and applying the same message of freedom and equality to all nations. It was never going to be an easy feat, was it? Oprah’s battles didn’t begin with her race or gender. For that reason, he is one of the most celebrated people in modern history. Never give in. By 1948, he had earned a degree from Morehouse College before moving on to the Crozer Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania. By 2013, Bill Gates had personally donated $28 billion to the foundation, a testament to his generosity and moral character. Mahatma Gandhi left his mark on the world in more ways than one. 12 Inspirational Leaders You Should Be Following on Twitter 1. A fledgling law career in India would eventually send the 24-year-old Gandhi to South Africa. But if you just want to breeze through some insightful, fun and focused videos, these nine will do the trick. Mandela died on December 5, 2013, at the age of 95. Her real journey began in 1929 when she arrived in India where she became a nun and taught at a convent in Eastern Calcutta for several decades. The ability to inspire people to reach great heights of performance and success is a skill that leaders need. 7 Actionable Ways To Help You Get Back on Track, 10 Leadership Lessons From Inspiring Leaders In History, How to Break Bad Habits: I Broke 3 Bad Habits in 2 Months, How to Work Under Pressure so You Won’t Burn Yourself Out, How to Cope with Stress When You’re Overwhelmed by Responsibilities, Why Leisure Is the New Productivity and How to Reclaim Your Leisure Time, What Is a Routine? A new community soon formed around Mother Teresa opening hospices, clinics and orphanages throughout India. His willingness to stand alone on issues he believed in made him one of the most beloved and memorable leaders in modern history. “I hate race discrimination most intensely and in all its manifestations. Each of these brief (most of them are under 3 minutes) leadership videos succeeds at capturing an essence of leadership … These papers also contained the seeds of Einstein’s Theory of Relativity, one of the most revolutionary ideas in history. FREE Inspiring Leadership Cards Quotes Deck. Some leaders became great because of how they persevered with a dream in spite of their circumstances, only to go on and achieve such extraordinary things that they continue to be revered long after their deaths. Never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.”, Now you know why they called Winston Churchill “The Bulldog.”. After years of struggle and multiple arrests, Gandhi’s “Quit India” movement in 1942 paved the way for Britain’s eventual withdrawal from the country. In 2016, the Catholic Church recognized Mother Teresa as a saint and canonized her as St. Teresa of Calcutta for her heroic virtue. His head was a little bigger and he hardly spoke a word, which led at least one housekeeper to label him “retarded.” Little did she know, this “retarded” boy would eventually go on to reshape the world through his ideas. Inspirational leaders recognize the need to pick their moments carefully to reinforce a performance culture in a way that can also be inspiring. Stephen Hawking probably had every reason to give up on life. His ex-wife Jane Hawking attributed his outlook on the world to a combination of determination and stubbornness. Don’t miss the below 14-day FREE leadership training program: “I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” – Martin Luther King Jr. It is a composition designed with the objective to motivational … It wasn’t until February 11, 1990 that the now 72-year old prisoner was released under South Africa’s new President, Frederik Williem de Klerk, who helped broker the deal to end apartheid. After an arranged marriage at the age of 13, Gandhi rebelled against his deeply religious upbringing by smoking, eating meat and even stealing. He actually paid to use it, and when his money ran out, he hacked into the computer to use it for free. Today, Microsoft generates nearly $100 billion annually in revenue and employs 120,000 people worldwide. Motivational leaders know how to create a sense of self-worth in their teams by making them feel good about the work they do. 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