Lesson from Churchill on the power of research and writing to inform, inspire and lead

I am enjoying a biography of Winston Churchill (Churchill Walking With Destiny by Andrew Roberts).

Churchill received the Nobel Literature prize "for his mastery of historical and biographical description as well as for brilliant oratory in defending exalted human values".

While I had read Churchill's 5 book history of the Second World War, I was not aware of just how prolific a writer he was nor that he earned most of his income by writing books (mostly non-fiction histories and biographies) as well as articles in newspapers and magazines. Roberts also says Churchill had an uncanny ability to accurately memorize long tracts of text, poems, and of course his own and other people's speeches. This man's productivity and energy were amazing and clearly he deserved that Nobel prize!

I've always had this text book image of Churchill as an effective and inspiring wartime leader who rallied the free world to defeat the Axis powers. Churchill's entire pre-Prime Minister lifetime of work prepared him for this role. Before he became Prime Minister in 1940, Churchill had what would be even for most people a very full military and political career. Through these experiences he came to know or met with many of his contemporary leaders in the British Empire and elsewhere.

Much of Churchill's strategic and tactical insights as to how wartime events might unfold and what other leaders were thinking and how they might act was critically informed by the extensive research and analysis he undertook as a writer of histories, biographies and political commentary. This work exposed and informed Churchill to great and flawed philosophies and ideas, great and notorious leaders, and forced him to critically examine and effectively explain pivotal historical events. His well developed reading, research and writing skills as well as the experience of delivering hundreds of speeches to often hostile audiences in the House of Commons and elsewhere

helped him define his unique language and speaking style and observe the power that well crafted arguments and well turned phrases can have to inform, persuade and influence people.

Retired and Re-calibrating

I left Verizon at the end of 2018 and relocated to the Sun Coast of Florida from Northern California. Not only does the balmy climate take some getting used to, but the actual practice of retiring for me also requires some acclimation. I'd heard two generic guidelines from other retired folks; there's so much to do that nothing gets done; or alternatively one needs something to keep oneself occupied to provide a purpose for the second or third act of life. I'm working in both of those directions but measuring progress is not easy. Without a boss and senior leaders setting objectives and demanding deliverable work on tight timelines I have to create, monitor and measure my own goals and achievements. I no longer have a great team of energetic and creative people to help me out for the things I want to accomplish. I'm quickly realizing all of my weaknesses or skills that I let go to seed as I managed people who were more talented than me. It's fun re-calibrating, and I seem to have plenty of people who are interested and willing to help me through the process. I'm still engaged with startup companies and communities but also figuring out the startup of me. Stay tuned.