courtesy: Shoshana Brackett
I finally reached home coming out in absolute awe of this apparently affable general. It was only a godly intervention and call that made me walk to it.
It only struck me later that holy shit, this was a four-star U.S army general I was dealing with. He needn’t have been a Secretary of State or a National Security Advisor to be that punctual.
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What a personality, I thought to myself. I was indeed expressive of my appreciation for him. It came out naturally I realized. Such was his impact in those 45 minutes of crisp, smooth, clear, peppy, humorous talk. I feel when people reach summits others could only dream of, they tend towards simplicity in all aspects of life. Simplicity becomes their tool so much so that mere mortals are baffled. Is it so easy being this simple? Was being simple this simple?
While the address abounded in some regulars like “Terrorists can never change the nature of who we are”, it was also peppered with the following which really made it worthwhile.
“I think one of the things the next president has to do is restoring a sense of confidence ... and restore the confidence that the rest of the world should have in us because we’re basically the same America we’ve always been but we’ve lost some standing in the world in recent years.”
“And we have to regain that I think by listening to others and hearing what others have to say to us in the world. ... The first priority is reach out to the world and listen ... and be very, very realistic about what we’re able to achieve and understand we can’t achieve without friends.”
“We have been a land of immigrants. Let us welcome more people into it. Yes, after some jolts we have received, we are a little circumspect and will do everything that will not jeopardize the security of our nation. But that should never stop talented and deserving individuals from coming here. They pay full fare (grins), they learn, they teach, they contribute to our growth. Then they go back, contribute to their economies. I think that is good because that is the only way to drive, keep them away from terrorism.”
Powell addressed as a keynote speaker in the 2008 HD Leadership Summit organized by the business school.
“The essence of all leadership is follower-ship. ... The job of a leader is to inspire ... so they are self-motivated.”
“Talk to enemies. It’s easy to talk to friends.”
Was Colin hinting at the circle of life when he recounted on how he was the most powerful and influential diplomat in this world, next in power only to the U.S president one day, and the following day he was a normal man walking down the road?
Then he went to narrate a heartwarming tale that was met with respectful, sober applause.
“I still walk up to the hot dog store in Park Avenue, New York, which I frequented even I was the Secretary of State. Only this time I wasn’t one. I enter the shop, order mine, and when it is time to pay up, the man across the counter refuses.”
and continued Colin Powell in a much mellowed tone as if almost orchestrated to elicit that sympathy,
“Aren’t you General Powell?”
“Yes!”
“I cannot charge you Sir. Only I know how this nation welcomed me when I was nothing and only I know where I came from. This nation has paid me enough Sir. I cannot charge you.”
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Will he be the same person who I had only seen on television and was definitely awe inducing? Will he make it on time? I have heard of their discipline, punctuality and all that jazz. Will the most powerful diplomat in the world do it? Will he set an example? Or is it that even they are like us, human?!
No sooner than I entered the coliseum flashing my pass, than he started his address.
8.00 PM sharp
It only struck me later that holy shit, this was a four-star U.S army general I was dealing with. He needn’t have been a Secretary of State or a National Security Advisor to be that punctual.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What a personality, I thought to myself. I was indeed expressive of my appreciation for him. It came out naturally I realized. Such was his impact in those 45 minutes of crisp, smooth, clear, peppy, humorous talk. I feel when people reach summits others could only dream of, they tend towards simplicity in all aspects of life. Simplicity becomes their tool so much so that mere mortals are baffled. Is it so easy being this simple? Was being simple this simple?
While the address abounded in some regulars like “Terrorists can never change the nature of who we are”, it was also peppered with the following which really made it worthwhile.
“I think one of the things the next president has to do is restoring a sense of confidence ... and restore the confidence that the rest of the world should have in us because we’re basically the same America we’ve always been but we’ve lost some standing in the world in recent years.”
“And we have to regain that I think by listening to others and hearing what others have to say to us in the world. ... The first priority is reach out to the world and listen ... and be very, very realistic about what we’re able to achieve and understand we can’t achieve without friends.”
“We have been a land of immigrants. Let us welcome more people into it. Yes, after some jolts we have received, we are a little circumspect and will do everything that will not jeopardize the security of our nation. But that should never stop talented and deserving individuals from coming here. They pay full fare (grins), they learn, they teach, they contribute to our growth. Then they go back, contribute to their economies. I think that is good because that is the only way to drive, keep them away from terrorism.”
Powell addressed as a keynote speaker in the 2008 HD Leadership Summit organized by the business school.
“The essence of all leadership is follower-ship. ... The job of a leader is to inspire ... so they are self-motivated.”
“Talk to enemies. It’s easy to talk to friends.”
Was Colin hinting at the circle of life when he recounted on how he was the most powerful and influential diplomat in this world, next in power only to the U.S president one day, and the following day he was a normal man walking down the road?
Then he went to narrate a heartwarming tale that was met with respectful, sober applause.
“I still walk up to the hot dog store in Park Avenue, New York, which I frequented even I was the Secretary of State. Only this time I wasn’t one. I enter the shop, order mine, and when it is time to pay up, the man across the counter refuses.”
and continued Colin Powell in a much mellowed tone as if almost orchestrated to elicit that sympathy,
“Aren’t you General Powell?”
“Yes!”
“I cannot charge you Sir. Only I know how this nation welcomed me when I was nothing and only I know where I came from. This nation has paid me enough Sir. I cannot charge you.”
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Will he be the same person who I had only seen on television and was definitely awe inducing? Will he make it on time? I have heard of their discipline, punctuality and all that jazz. Will the most powerful diplomat in the world do it? Will he set an example? Or is it that even they are like us, human?!
No sooner than I entered the coliseum flashing my pass, than he started his address.
8.00 PM sharp
