Former President Ronald Reagan led a remarkable life, a fact that is true regardless of your political affiliation. Born in rural Illinois and graduating from college in the throes of the Great Depression, Reagan made a name for himself in multiple professions, like radio, acting, and politics.
Ronald Reagan’s life contains lessons for the younger generations of Americans to learn from, and this list details five of those lessons that can be pulled from the biography of the 40th president of the United States.
1. Don’t micromanage
When Mallie Jane Kim of U.S. News and World Report asked Margot Morrell, author of Reagan's Journey: Lessons from a Remarkable Career, about Reagan's leadership methods, Morrell stressed that Reagan didn’t micromanage others. Instead, he let people do what they were best at. This is part of the reason Reagan was so successful on his campaigns and his presidency.
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2. Remember to laugh
Reagan survived an assassination attempt during his presidency. In 1981, while Reagan was being rushed to emergency surgery to save his life, he said to his surgeons, “I hope you are all Republicans.” Having a sense of humor is important in life, especially in a world increasingly obsessed with the negative.
3. Be concise
Reagan was one of the greatest communicators to ever hold public office. In an age when everyone seems to be so careful about what they say and how they say it, having the ability to be concise and direct in your communications will be a valuable life skill. In fact, Reagan himself once said, “I’ve always believed that a lot of the trouble in the world would disappear if we were talking to each other instead of about each other.”
4. Have vision
Reagan once said, “America is too great for small dreams.” Younger Americans would do well to remember that they live in a country where dreams are possible to achieve, and that through hard work and dedication, you can live your dreams.
5. Admit when you’re wrong
During Reagan’s presidency, 240 American soldiers were killed in an attack in Lebanon. The soldiers were there on the pretense of intervention. After the soldiers died, Reagan realized that the presence of soldiers there was a mistake and withdrew the American presence from Lebanon. Admitting when you’re wrong is an incredibly valuable trait and one that Reagan was great at.
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