We have just finished the commencement season with many graduates listening to many speeches offering sage advice for their futures.
Several years ago I gave such a speech and used words attributed to Winston Churchill saying “Change is the master key.”
My understanding of those words was literal as I personally changed my path over a dozen times before starting Valu-Line – the Long Distance Company in 1981 at age 35.
Point being: if your job or life situation isn’t working for you do not be afraid to make a change. Life is too short to not enjoy what we do.
Funny thing – though – when Googling “Change is the master key,” I can’t find it attributed to Churchill or anyone!
What I have found are some interesting quotes from the former highly respected British statesman.
Churchill did say these things about change and planning:
- There is nothing wrong with change if it is in the right direction.
- To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often.
- Plans are worthless, but planning is everything.
On courage and success he said:
- It is not enough that we do our best; sometimes we must do what is required.
- Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.
- Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.
- Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.
Churchill was not a fan of socialism having said!
- Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery.
He was also an optimist:
- The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees opportunity in every difficulty.
Churchill had a wonderful sense of humor:
- Tact is the ability to tell someone to go to hell in such a way they look forward to the trip.
- If you are going through hell, keep going.
- You can always count on Americans to do the right thing – after they’ve tried everything else.
And maybe Winston Churchill’s most prolific quotation:
- We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give. I think that’s worth repeating: Churchill said, We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give.
History treats Churchill with great respect and his words illustrate he is deserving.
I’m Steve Sauder
