Over the years in the community building industry, I have seen my business partner and leadership expert, Claude Hamilton, exemplify the statement; It’s not only what you tell me, but what you show me. Albert Schweitzer says, “Example is not the main thing in influencing others; it’s the only thing.” Claude’s example as a husband, Father, and business leader have been invaluable in my life.
Claude has many loyal business partners and friends because he loves and serves them unconditionally. I remember the first time I met Claude 10 years ago; by his posture alone I could tell he was someone who was going somewhere. Everywhere he went, people were looking to get time with him and introduce their newest business partners to him. He seemed to be a magnet that attracted everyone that was hungry to learn leadership and business building principles. If you are ever blessed to spend time with Claude, you will quickly realize that his powerful vision and unstoppable work ethic inspire others to act boldly. Many times I have heard him say, “The spines of the weak are stiffened in the presence of the bold.” Claude Hamilton is BOLD!
You can get a glimpse of Claude’s knowledge and wisdom in his new book TOUGHEN UP! Through personal experience in both his military and business life, Claude outlines eight strengths that are essential for real toughness in leadership. Claude reveals these principles, and their importance to toughness, through his real life struggles; from military basic training to financial stresses. Overcoming his struggles and striving for excellence in each of the eight strengths is what makes Claude the great leader he is today.
Part one of TOUGHEN UP outlines the first three strengths:
- Attitude
- Courage
- Character
The following excerpts from the first three chapters are just a glimpse of the wisdom that is etched into the pages of TOUGHEN UP!
- Attitude
“Attitude makes all the difference. The tougher things are, the more opportunity we have to analyze our attitude and choose the right posture. Those early rejections defined me because they made me take stock of what I really wanted and decide whether to fight for what our family needed or give in and just let life happen to us”.
- Courage
“…if you do the right thing in small matters, you’re going to be a lot more likely to do the right thing when it’s hard. We build courage every time we do the right thing, even something seemingly simple as listening to audios and reading important books. In fact, these things are actually high. Find a great leader with success in your field, and you’re almost certain to find that he or she listens to audios and reads – a lot”.
- Character
“…when I say someone is ‘a man of character’ or ‘he has character,’ I mean he has integrity, loyalty, and strength. I mean he will stand for the right things, even when it is hard. I mean he is honest and dedicated. I mean I can trust him to do the right thing”.
“I learned as a military diver that a person’s real character is seen when he faces adversity. Paul Newman once noted, ‘A man with no enemies is a man with no character’.”
Anyone, in any profession, at any stage of their life will benefit from the knowledge they gain from reading TOUGHEN UP! The principles are universal and the values are timeless. I encourage everyone to read this book then pass it on to someone else they care about who they want to see succeed in any area of their life.
God Bless,
Wayne MacNamara 