#MaverickMonday - President John F. Kennedy

MAVERICK: Someone who bucks the current trend to stand up for a greater belief or cause. They are our living, breathing GameChangers.

Last month, on Tuesday November 22nd, we marked the fifty-third anniversary of President Kennedy’s assassination. He was our 35th President, only presiding for about 1000 days from January 1961 - November 1963, but his wisdom, charisma, and image are still embedded within the heart and soul of America - especially an America today longing for unifying leadership. 53 years to an amazing leader - he is our #MaverickMonday.

John Fitzgerald Kennedy, known to his friends and family as ‘Jack’, was elected President at the age of 43, making him the youngest person ever elected to LEAD the free world. In the Democratic Party Primary, Kennedy ran against Pat Brown (55), Lyndon Johnson (52), and Adlai Stevenson (60) - all well above his fresh 43 years. Kennedy’s age made him a #GameChanger. When the United States voted between him and Nixon in the Presidential election - they chose to go with the young, energetic GameChanger!! On top of that, Kennedy faced a lot of stigma for being Roman Catholic, but powered through that to still establish history and win the Presidency!

I’ve always been a Kennedy fan, but was really surprised to learn many in the history circle do not label him as a good or successful president. Usually those standards are based on legislative achievements, and that’s okay - I’ll be the first to admit that Kennedy was not able to get a lot passed except for a tax cut here or there and getting the Peace Corps created. BUT us in the leadership circle are still fascinated with Kennedy’s leadership ability, as he is still one of the most recognizable/beloved American presidents around the world.

We talk about the two dynamics of being a GameChanging leader in our Building Leaders workshop, and to understand Kennedy’s success as a leader, we’ll fill you in! A leader’s twin dynamics are 1) accomplishment and 2) empowerment. We can’t speak for the unknown and do not know what Kennedy could’ve accomplished in finishing his term or in getting another, but we can talk about his push of EMPOWERMENT.

Empowerment

President Kennedy inspired and empowered a generation coming of age to, among other things, “Ask not what [their] country can do for [them], but what [they] can do for their country.” This chilling quote has been repeated several times from grade school teachers, high school teachers, even television news anchors. President Kennedy had a sizable impact on millions of Americans in 1961. He spoke of a New Frontier for the American people to embark on and blaze their trail. This came true with his call for action on getting to the moon before the decade was up - and the mission was finally fulfilled in 1969! Hey if he wasn’t able to accomplish his goals, at least he empowered a nation to do so in his place, right?

Accomplishment

His courage in the face of nuclear war during the Cuban Missile Crisis really proved his strength of character for the nation. At the brink of total destruction, President Kennedy held his ground and showed that a young 43-year-old, who had just been elected President, definitely had the cajones to hang with the big players of the world.

He was prepared! His cabinet appointments were known as the “Best and the Brightest" the country had to offer. Team Building is a fundamental part of a leadership that Kennedy already understood.

But from all this what are our main takeaways? 1) Kennedy’s presidency proves our reverse Twin Dynamics of Leadership: Accomplishment and Empowerment. Although he wasn't able to accomplish much during his time, he set the course to changing the world by empowering others to do so. 2) A commitment to your values and standing up for something like Kennedy did in the Cuban Missile Crisis are evident of true leadership character. 3) It doesn't matter your age or religion - if you have the courage to practice what your preach and confidence in your ability to lead, you can get past plenty of obstacles and be that #GameChanger!