Hate him or love him, there’s a lot that can be learned from President Barack Obama. So while the media (Fox News especially) is working overtime to get you to focus on his low approval ratings, what you should be focusing on are the valuable life lessons that can be gleaned from observing his behavior. Here are five lessons in particular that could prove to be especially helpful if adopted by the black community.
–dewayne rogers
1. You Can Achieve Anything
From his humble beginnings, to his election as the 44th president of the United States, it’s clear that when you put your mind to something, dreams can and will come true.
2. Marriage and Family Are Sacred
President Obama is setting a great example of how our next generation of families should conduct themselves. With a clear focus on the health of his marriage and the well-being of his two daughters, Obama is making it cool to be a great husband and father.
3. Never Lose Sight of Who You Are
Despite daily criticism, President Obama continues to stand strong in his convictions. This strong sense of self allows him to resist the urge to be a people pleaser. It’s a trait that many of us would be wise to adopt.
4. Be Slow to Speak
The Shirley Sherrod fiasco taught us all a valuable lesson about the importance of being slow to speak. It’s a quality that President Obama has possessed since day one, and one that detractors have pointed to as a sign of indecisiveness. Au contraire — it’s called thinking before you speak.
5. Knowledge Really Is Power
For all of his charisma and eloquence, President Obama has used education as the primary vessel to propel his success. And even as the majority of his time is spent tackling the severe financial issues currently plaguing this country, he always finds the time to stress the importance of education to young people. Obama understands how far education has taken him, and where it can lead those who will come after him.
