The Education of an Idealist

Key takeaways:

- Obama, despite being among the most important people in the world, still took time to look after the people around him, reaching out with notes of encouragement or sympathy, following up and celebrating their victories. Good leadership requires this.
- Changing your views does not mean you have flip flopped. It happens when you learn and grow. Samantha started her career heavily critical of US foreign policy. As she learned more about the intricate details involved in the decisions, she could better appreciate why the answers that felt so clear when she was younger were not necessarily the right answers. Those in power were not weak or unconcerned, but they had other things to consider. This is not an excuse to do nothing or to maintain status quo, however. We, as a society, need both ‘idealists' and those who will balance all considerations. Listen to both. Somewhere in that tension, the ‘best' answer resides.
- One person can make a difference.
- It is easy to feel defeated when up against the big problem. Focus on the problem you can solve.