On Harry Truman.

I recently wrapped up David McCullough’s [RIP!] biography on Harry Truman, an American president who does not get nearly enough love today.

The decisions that Truman wrestled with in the Oval Office (1945-1953) were challenging, to say the least. For example:

• Deciding to drop atomic bombs on Japanese civilians.

• Recognizing the formation of Israel.

• Navigating the Korean War for Americans who were exhausted from conflict.

• Containing the Soviet Union at the onset of the Cold War.

An autodidact, he also lived in a manner that's worth emulating:

Harry focused on the skills and activities that energized him.

In the process of fighting bravely during World War I, Harry learned that not only could he lead and inspire courage in men, but he also enjoyed doing so more than anything he had ever done before.

Additionally, he loved politics because he wanted to help people and because it came naturally to him (“there he struck his gait”).

So, Harry became “a great joiner" of organizations such as the Masons and the County Farm Bureau where he evolved into a sophisticated leader.

Many years later, as the newly-elected President, he attended the high-stakes Potsdam Conference with Churchill and Stalin to plot the future of post-war Europe.

Remarked one aid during the conference: “Watch the President … he can take it. He has a natural self-possession … an ease with people … the way he moved through the conference with the poise of a leader of much great importance.”

Harry held his own amongst those leaders because he had spent decades improving a craft that enabled him to do what he loved most.

Harry did things.

Regardless of whether he succeeded or failed, Harry would get into something else right away.

He maintained an “air of quiet confidence in himself” and knew that moving forward without all of the necessary information was much better than sitting around waiting:

“I’m here to make decisions, and whether they prove right or wrong I’m going to make them.”

Churchill observed that Harry always moved forward:

“He takes no notice of delicate ground … he just plants his foot down firmly upon it.”

I find it essential to remind myself that the discomfort from doing a new thing, or the potential repercussion from doing that new thing poorly, is usually very minimal (or non-existent) - especially if I simply dive in and get to work.

Harry relished the dreary work.

His “diligence was noteworthy: he arrived at the Capital by 7am, well before every other Senator, and concerned himself with details of a kind others would never have bothered with. His patience, even with the dreariest assignments, seemed infinite.”

For example: even though most Senators ignored the Library of Congress, Harry scoured it - checking out dozens of volumes to solve a single issue.

Harry recognized that there is an immense opportunity to gain credibility and the trust of others by doing the work that most people ignore.

But more importantly, he knew that going the extra mile made him happy:

"[Harry] strived for something and never let loose until he got there. I think no matter what job he held he put all he had into it. He enjoyed it and did the best he knew how."

Harry: "You can’t have anything worthwhile without difficulties."

After embarking on a promising banking career in his 20s, Harry learned that his dad had gone broke due to some bad wheat bets.

Harry's response? Quitting a job he enjoyed, joining his dad in a partnership (thus becoming liable for outstanding debts), and moving from Kansas City to his family farm where he would reside for years.

This curveball certainly delayed Harry's dreams, as he wouldn't find his real work (politics) until nearly 40.

Nevertheless, he grew from this experience - helping those closest to him when they needed it most and developing a life-long passion for farming that might've never emerged if he hadn't moved home as an adult.

Years later, at age 50, Harry was unexpectedly chosen by the major Kansas City boss to run for Senate. Two weeks before, his only sure thing was a minor county office pension.

His story demonstrates so well that both good and bad surprises will drastically change the course of our lives.

All you can really do is refuse to let the bad surprises get in your way for long, and consistently work hard so that you're prepared to pounce on the good surprises when they inevitably come.

Finally, below is another quote from the book (Robert E. Lee's advice to his son) that's worth noting.

“You must be frank with the world; frankness is the child of honesty and courage. Say just what you mean to do on every occasion, and take it for granted you meant to do right … Never do anything wrong to make a friend or keep one; the man who requires you to do so, is dearly purchased at a sacrifice. Deal kindly, but firmly with all of your classmates; you will find it the policy which wears best. Above all, do not appear to others what you are not.”