April 9 is National Winston Churchill Day, commemorating the day in 1963 when Winston Churchill became an honorary citizen of the United States. He was a savvy military strategist, defending Great Britain against the Nazis in World War II and a beacon of hope in the nation’s darkest hour, giving some of the most inspirational speeches of the time.
Churchill also had a speech impediment — a lisp. According to the International Churchill Society, he even sought support from a speech specialist in 1897 who recommended practice and persistence to form the correct pronunciation of words. Over the years, Churchill was determined to overcome his lisp, rehearsing phrases such as, “the Spanish ships I cannot see for they are not in sight.” Later, after a famed political speech, Churchill announced, “My impediment is no hindrance.”
Winston Churchill is an inspiring example of overcoming difficulty — including ADHD — to achieve greatness. We celebrate National Winston Churchill Day with five quotes from Winston Churchill and their modern applications to life.
“Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.”
Failure is a necessary facet of growth and a stop on the journey to success. We can learn a lot from our failures and mistakes when we see them as moments to learn and try again. Life is full of hiccups and speedbumps — and we love helping our clients find ways around theirs.
“Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.”
It’s easy to let your attitude obscure the full situation. For instance, many people have a certain attitude about ADHD, focusing only on this condition’s negative traits, such as inattention or poor time management. But did you know ADHD is associated with many positive qualities, too? That simple shift in attitude can bring more compassion and understanding toward others or yourself.
“A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on.”
This is unfortunately true — and we’ve seen it first-hand with rampant misconceptions and misunderstanding about ADHD, dyslexia and related learning conditions. These incorrect assumptions include that girls can’t have ADHD or that dyslexia is related to intelligence. These are flat-out wrong, and we work to disprove harmful stereotypes and regularly publish education and insights on our blog.
“A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.”
Yes, living with ADHD, dyslexia or similar conditions can make everyday tasks frustrating. But you’re also given a unique perspective on the world and a different way of doing things — it’s part of what makes you stand out from the crowd. We’ve seen our clients embrace their differences, win writing awards and thrive even in the toughest situations.
“All great things are simple and many can be expressed in a single word: freedom, justice, honor, duty, mercy, hope.”
Hope is key to overcoming challenges. Just as Winston Churchill knew keeping the British hopeful through the war was crucial for the Nazis’ defeat, it is important for those with dyslexia, ADHD and other learning challenges to remain hopeful. Learning about their superpowers helps, as does having positive role models to follow. Seeing our resilient and committed clients persevere and progress is inspiring.
What’s possible in your future? Let’s find out together…contact us today.