10 Things I Learned from Hillary Clinton's Exit Speech

Today . . . I am reflecting back on Hillary Clinton's exit speech.
No agony of defeat for her, that's for sure!

Instead, what we saw was a gracious, confident, strong woman who doesn't take no for failure.

Here are the top 10 things I learned from her speech. These are things that every entrepreneurial woman should keep in mind when the going gets tough:

1. If there's an elephant in the room, talk about it right from the start.
   "Well, this isn’t exactly the party I’d planned, but I sure like the company."
   
   
2. Be liberal with your gratitude and appreciation.
   "I want to start today by saying how grateful I am to all of you – to everyone who poured your hearts and your hopes into this campaign . . . ."
   
   
3. Reaffirm your commitment.
   "And I will continue to stand strong with you, every time, every place, and every way that I can. The dreams we share are worth fighting for."
   
   
4. Remind people of why you do what you do.
   "I entered this race because I have an old-fashioned conviction: that public service is about helping people solve their problems and live their dreams."
   
   
5. Let people know what's next
   "The way to continue our fight now – to accomplish the goals for which we stand – is to take our energy, our passion, our strength and do all we can to help elect Barack Obama the next President of the United States."
6. Unify, not divide.
   "The Democratic Party is a family, and it’s now time to restore the ties that bind us together and to come together around the ideals we share, the values we cherish, and the country we love."
   
   
7. Know what motivates and inspires you.
   "I ran as a daughter who benefited from opportunities my mother never dreamed of. I ran as a mother who worries about my daughter’s future and a mother who wants to lead all children to brighter tomorrows. "
   
   
8. Dare to be you.
   "Always aim high, work hard, and care deeply about what you believe in. When you stumble, keep faith. When you’re knocked down, get right back up. And never listen to anyone who says you can’t or shouldn’t go on."
   
   
9. Keep things in perspective.
   "As we gather here today in this historic magnificent building, the 50th woman to leave this Earth is orbiting overhead. If we can blast 50 women into space, we will someday launch a woman into the White House."
   
   
10. Keep moving forward.
    "So I want to say to my supporters, when you hear people saying – or think to yourself – “if only” or “what if,” I say, “please don’t go there.” Every moment wasted looking back keeps us from moving forward."
    
    

What was the highlight of Senator Clinton's exit speech for you? Add to the list. Tell me what inspired you the most.

Susan L. Reid
The original Accidental Pren-her™

Author of Discovering Your Inner Samurai: The Entrepreneurial Woman's Journey to Business Success

Comments

[Dana's Energy Drawings at Nine Tomatoes]

Thanks for distilling Hillary's words into a positive list of things to keep in mind every day as an entrepreneur. Ties in nicely to your next post about Maria Shriver. (I'm either a day behind or pshychic :)))

[The Original Accidental Pren-her]

Thanks for stopping by, Dana. There are gemstones to be found everywhere . . . if only we have eyes to see and ears to listen. Both Hillary and Maria display their passion and power in thought provoking ways. Much to learn from both women, wouldn't you say?

[Ron Meledandri]

You made some very good points that I had not considered. Those are points that every entrepreneur needs to remember. There are many ways of turning a negative into a positive and there are many ways of delivering your message.

[The Original Accidental Pren-her]

Thank you, Ron. Indeed, there are many ways of turning a negative into a positive . . . if only one looks.