ELECTION DAY: GREAT LESSONS LEARNED FROM JOHN MILLSON
On Election Day at precisely 8:10pm my nephew Parker came
running up to me saying, “Aunt Katie, my mom wants to see you right
away.” I was in the middle of a giant room at the Teutonia Club and
even though it was full of people (contrary to what some publications have
stated) I spotted my sister Jody tucked away in a side corridor talking on her
cell. When I walked over to her she said nothing, she merely handed over
the phone.
The voice on the other end was my dad, John Millson. He was
calling to tell us the news – he did not win the Windsor mayoral
election. He wanted to tell his children himself before they saw it on a
television broadcast.In John’s time of need I managed to conjure up two very profound words of wisdom. The first was “What?” and the second was “No!”. Yes, not one of my finer moments.
In all fairness though, I just couldn’t (or wouldn’t) believe it. In fact, I refused to believe it right up until I saw the tiny little check mark next to Drew Dilkens’ name on the massive screen in the middle of the club.
As a management consultant in the finance industry, I deal with data and facts. So, immediately I started replaying the facts as I knew them in my head. I started with all of the successful debates, rallies, and online polls. I thought about the overwhelming support for John when I ventured door to door. I then moved onto the massive blunders and shameful report cards of the current regime. I thought about the words of the ombudsman, the Ford plant and other campaign mistakes made by the Dilkens camp.
Then I stopped myself.
Thankfully, a Dale Carnegie story popped into my head.
The one about sawing sawdust. If you haven’t heard it before, it goes
like this…
A college profession asked his students: “How many of you
have ever sawed wood? Let’s see your hands.” Most of them had. Then
he inquired: “How many of you have ever sawed sawdust?” No hands
went up.
“Of course you can’t saw sawdust!” The professor
exclaimed. “It’s already sawed!”
And it’s the same with the past. When you start
worrying about things that are over and done with, you’re merely trying to saw
sawdust.
Of course, this is easier said than done. But now that
a few days have passed and I’ve eliminated the wild conspiracy theories out of
my head (well, most of them anyway) I can now positively reflect back on my
experiences of E-Day.
As a mother of an 8-year-old boy, I am always keen to point out
and discuss life lessons with my son as they unfold in the moment. He witnessed
firsthand his beloved Papa John and his supporters in action - and I feel
Monday’s life lessons will remain with him forever.
So during our drive back to Toronto on Tuesday morning, I
asked him what he had learned by watching the Windsor election.
Surprisingly, he equated his new life lessons to the advice that my husband and
I impart on him every day before he leaves for school, namely:
1.
Have Fun
2.
Try Your Hardest
3.
Be a Leader
My son was quick to remark about how his Papa managed to
accomplish all three of these things. I couldn’t agree more.
Therefore, I will now steal shamelessly from my 8-year-old and categorize my
own personal lessons learned from Election Day into those three buckets as
well.
HAVE FUN
During the last 7 weeks I worried endlessly about my
parents. How were they holding up? Were they eating? Were they sleeping?
What event were they at tonight? The list goes on and on.
And, because I live in Toronto, I felt a constant need to
check in on them. I sent an endless number of texts and emails and the
consistent response I received from John was this; “Katie, I am working hard
and I am enjoying every minute of it!”
Believe me, this was not mere lip service from John in order
to stop me from worrying about him. He was genuinely having fun.
From the day he announced his candidacy he was continually
surrounded by family, friends and supporters. Moreover, the election
provided him with the opportunity to meet new faces and connect with
Windsorites that craved change, inspiration and representation.
John is a true extrovert and thrives in the presence of love
and people. In other words, John quite simply was in his element for 7
weeks straight and enjoying every minute of it.
TRY YOUR HARDEST
Millson
Campaign headquarters was a thriving, bustling place. Volunteers fueled
up on giant apple fritters and worked tirelessly day and night. And when the
results came in on Monday night at the club, I heard the same message from all
of them again and again; “If I had to do it all over, I would do no
different.”The opposition’s campaign was the very definition of bullying. Unfortunately when bullying occurs, few people truly speak their minds, and even fewer roll up their sleeves to give time and money to stand up and fight for what they believe in.
“Never
doubt that a small group of thoughtful, concerned citizens can change world.
Indeed it is the only thing that ever has.” —Margaret Mead
John
and his supporters tried their hardest. They did what so many others
didn’t have the courage to do. The actions they took during the last 7
weeks will continue to speak volumes for years to come. Remember that it
is not the cry of a wild duck but his flight that leads the flock to fly and
follow.
BE
A LEADER
Douglas
McArthur once said, “A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the
courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of
others. He does not set out to be a leader, but becomes one by the equality of
his actions and the integrity of his intent.”Sound familiar?
Or perhaps this one also rings true to the citizens of Windsor:
“Lead and inspire people. Don’t try to manage and manipulate people. Inventories can be managed but people must be lead.” —Ross Perot
Or my personal favourite:
“You
don’t lead by hitting people over the head or bullying them —that’s assault,
not leadership.” - Dwight Eisenhower
John
Millson fought for what he believed in. He did it selflessly. He
loves Windsor and will continue to fight for his city. And, unlike some,
he doesn’t need to be a bully or require a desk at City Hall to do it.
In
fact, after we left the Teutonia Club on election night and were drinking scotch,
eating BBQ chips and smoking cigars on the back porch at 2am, John said
something to me that I will never forget. He said, “Even though the
outcome of the election likely would have been the same if I hadn’t run at all,
I am happy I did it. While I wouldn’t wish the feeling I have tonight on
anyone, I would feel one million times worse if I hadn’t done anything at all.”
John,
you define what it means to be a true leader in my eyes.
MY FINAL THOUGHTS
So, what is done is done. Windsor has elected its new
mayor and there is nothing that neither I nor anyone else can do about
it. No need to saw sawdust. But John Millson has taught me, my son,
our family and the community as a whole some important lessons – namely to try
your hardest, be a leader and have fun while doing it. That, my friends, is
winning at life.
.JPG)
