Winston Churchill's Tips for Success
Winston Churchill lived 90 years and spent 55 of those years in government.
He served in the military, fought in battles,wrote articles and books, painted over 500 paintings, and led the United Kingdom to an Allied victory in World War II.
Churchill accomplished more in one quarter of his life than most of us will accomplish in all our years.
If we’re strategic, deliberate, and maybe a little bit lucky, we will use the lessons shared by history’s great figures to maximize our accomplishments.
As Isaac Newton once said, “If I have seen further than others, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants.”
I use books as ladders to climb onto the shoulders of giants. Specifically, I’ve learned and written about:
Respect, hard work, and not complaining from Arthur Ashe
Perseverance and priorities, as well as efficiency and the power of marginal improvements from John D Rockefeller
After reading Paul Johnson’s short (200 page) biography of Winston Churchill, I’m also adding old Winnie to the list.
Here are some of my favorite lessons learned from the dynamic and masterful Winston Churchill.
Conservation of energy
When asked to what he attributed his success, Churchill replied, “Conservation of energy. Never stand up when you can sit down, and never sit down when you can lie down.”
He was known to have "working mornings" where he would spend the morning in bed taking phone calls or dictating to secretaries.
Churchill was also known to take short naps when he could spare the time. And he enjoyed leisure activities like painting.
Most of us can’t take naps during the day or dictate to our secretaries from bed (thanks a lot #MeToo movement). But we can make energy conservation a priority which will help us operate at maximum output.
First, you can arrange your schedule in a way that guarantees you eight hours of sleep every night. This might mean removing something – Netflix, laundry, video games, scrolling Instagram, etc.
Not everyone needs eight hours, but you should find the amount that works for you and schedule it in. It’s amazing how much better you feel when you consistently get the right amount of sleep.
If you screw up one night, don’t worry. As Jim Collins discusses with Tim Ferris, you need about 70 hours within a ten day cycle.
Once you've mastered your sleep, find a leisure activity you enjoy. Use it to unwind and re-charge your batteries. Working non-stop with little sleep and no fun is counterproductive.
Find the right balance. Conserve your energy.
Control your own destiny
Churchill once said, “All my life, I have earned my own living, so that I have always had a bottle of champagne for myself and another for a friend.”
Accounts of Churchill indicate he was not particularly good with his money, but he earned it nonetheless.
Churchill served as an officer in the British army. But officer wasn’t the only title he took to the battlefield. He also had a contract with the Daily Telegraph to report as a war correspondent.
While this put him in a precarious position– having to report objectively on events decided by men to whom he reported – it was a brilliant strategic move. Not only was Churchill paid for his contributions to periodicals, but he used his notes and shorter pieces to write books later in life.
Churchill effectively developed a skill and used it create an additional source of income.
Throughout his life, Churchill made a lot of money from his writing. According to the International Churchill Society, he published over 40 books, hundreds of articles, and was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1953.
How does this apply to me?
The best way for us to control our own destinies is to have a plan and cultivate marketable skill sets.
This process starts in college. Pick a major (or guide your kids to pick a major) that leads to a career. College isn’t about training for a hobby – it’s about learning a skill set that allows you to provide for yourself and your family. Don’t take the decision lightly.
Early in your career, work hard, advance quickly, and grow your salary by any means necessary. Don’t allow your expenses to grow in proportion to your salary. Save ruthlessly so you’ll always have a bottle of champagne for yourself and a friend.
My biggest feelings of confidence and security come from knowing that if I lost my job, I’ll be fine – for a while. Work hard until you feel the same way.
Aside from your career development, build a skill set that can make you money on the side. Churchill leveraged his writing prowess to double down on his military assignments.
What skill can you learn to help you do the same?
In the age of the internet, you have no excuse. You can learn almost anything online, and most of it is free – or at least very cheap. Don’t know where to start? Try one of these:
Oral communication
Written communication
Programming
Oral communication
If you can talk to people confidently and with charisma, you’ve got an edge. If you can deliver a presentation clearly and in a way that’s interesting, you’re a superstar. This is a valuable skill in many jobs, and it’s one you can develop even if you don’t have an end goal in mind.
Find a Toastmasters group near you and get to work.
Written communication
Writing skills are equally important and probably easier to develop. Pick up a book on writing (I suggest this one) – then practice every day.
Start with a daily journal. Read a lot of books and summarize your thoughts on them. Good writing is a product of frequent reading.
When you feel confident, start a blog and post on a regular schedule. Getting feedback from the world on what you write is important for improvement.
Like speaking, writing is valuable in many contexts. Develop the skill before you need it.
Coding
Coding might be the hardest skill to learn of the three I mentioned, but there will always be a demand for your services. Go to a website like Udemy or Treehouse and start taking their courses.
Build some things that make your life easier, then start building things for other people. Practice your craft, then sell it.
If you can combine coding with oral and written communication skills, you will write you own ticket.
You can learn all the above while working full time and without a defined end goal. If you do, you’ll be ready when the opportunity presents itself.
You will control your own destiny.
Positive actions reach beyond the expected outcomes
On April 27, 1941, Winston Churchill gave a speech acknowledging the support being provided by the United States. Of course, this was before the US had entered the war.
He concluded the speech with several lines from an Arthur Clough poem:
And not by eastern windows only,
When daylight comes, comes in the light,
In front the sun climbs slow, how slowly,
But westward, look, the land is bright!
When the sun rises in the east, it doesn’t simply illuminate what is directly under it. The sun is a powerful positive force, and its light spills to the north, south, and west, lighting all sides of the house.
Much like the sun, the power of positive actions cross borders in your life and provide positive outcomes in unexpected areas.
Maybe you started meditating to reduce stress and anxiety. But after several months, you notice you’re having better conversations with your wife. The meditation increased your focus.
Maybe you started exercising to lose weight and look better. But after getting into a consistent routine, you notice you’re sleeping better too. The workouts drain your extra energy and make your body crave sleep.
Arthur Clough used a clever metaphor in his poem, and Churchill shared it with the world. Churchill was talking about the power of positive actions during one of history’s darkest times.
If it worked then, it will work to improve your life too.
One small positive action at a time, consistently executed every day will snowball and shine light on your whole life.
And just like that, by sitting atop Churchill’s shoulders, we’re able to see further than others.
