Winston Churchill is nearly a leadership cliche.  His defiance in the face of Nazi aggression during World War II is deservingly legendary.  But the "back story" behind Sir Winston's rise (and fall, and rise again) is quite incredible.  His story is one of determination, deliberate personal growth, perseverence, courage, and vision. 

Young Winston Churchill was not a good student, and in his younger years was ranked toward the bottom of his class.  As a boy, he talked with a lisp and also stuttered.  To fix this, he practiced for hours in front of a mirror until his pronunciations were correct.  Most people don't realize, as well, that Churchill was held as a prisoner of war during the Boer War in South Africa. From this predicament let's begin a timeline of accomplishments and defeats in the life of this incredible leader (borrowed from Jeff O'Leary, Footprints in Time):

1899 – While serving as army lieutenant, he is captured, escapes, and temporarily rejoins the army

1900 – elected to Parliament, Conservative Party

1908 – Marries Clementine Hozier

1911-1915 – Serves as First Lord of the Admiralty (similar to Secretary of the Navy in the U.S.)

1915 – Held responsible for the Dardanelles disaster at Gallipoli – 250,000 Allied casualties.  Forced to resign, offered a cabinet post without influence.  At age forty, rejoins the army in France and leads a battalion.  All media and both parties declare Churchill finished.

1917 – Writes proposal on building a tank with caterpillar tracks.  Tank called "Churchill's Folly" until it proves itself in battle and results in his appointment as minister of munitions.

1919 – Appointed to secretary of state for War and Air.

1921 – Rises to cabinet post of Colonial Secretary (similar to Secretary of State in U.S., overseeing Colonial Empire).

1923 – Runs again for Parliamnet as a Liberal.  Loses.

1924 – Runs as an Independent.  Loses.

1924-1929 – Appointed chancellor of the Exchequer (second to the Prime Minister)

1930 – Party out of power following the stock market crash and depression.

        – Churchill retains seat in Parliament

        – Loses nearly all his wealth in the Great Depression and begins writing

1930-1939 – Loses all influence in both parties as he advocates for a stronger military.  A vocal opponent of Neville Chamberlain's appeasement policy with Germany, his warnings fall on deaf ears.  Publishes four books during the decade, but the prevailing wisdom declares he is finished.

1939 – Chamberlain returns from Germany, waving treaty document and proclaiming, "Peace in our time."  Churchill responds, "You were given the choice between war and dishonor.  You have chosen both!"

1939 – Hitler breaks pact with Chamberlain and invades Poland

May 1940 – Chamberlain forced to resign as Prime Minister. 

Summer 1940 – Churchill apointed to first term as Prime Minister.

In 1939 the German Army had 98 divisions available for the invasion of Poland.  Although some were ill-equipped veteren reservists, they still had 1.5 million well-trained men available for action.  It also had 9 panzer divisions.  Each one had 328 tanks . . . When the German Army mounted its Western Offensive in 1940, it had had 2.5 million men and 2500 tanks . . . The German Army continued to grow and in June 1941 had 3 million men (including 200,000 from its allies) . . . available for Operation Barbarossa against the Soviet Union.  This included 142 infantry divisions, 17 panzer divisions and 4,000 tanks . . . Despite heavy losses in the Soviet Union and in France following the D-Day landings, the German Army still had 168 infantry divisions and 25 panzer divisions by January 1945.

In January 1942 the United States could field only 37 army divisions, one of which was fully trained, equipped, and battle ready.  From the fall of 1939 to the summer of 1940, tens of millions of Europeans lost their freedom to fascism with frightening speed.

Poland was attacked first and fell to Germany in twenty-seven days.

Germany attacked Finland in November 1939 and forced a peace agreement in March 1940.

Germany invaded Norway and Denmark in April 1940 and at the same time, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands.  Belgium surrendered in May, Norway surrendered in June, and France surrendered after less than thrity days of combat, in spite of its ability to mobilize more than 5 million men.  Hitler entered Paris on June 23, 1940.

In July 1940, the Soviets seized Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and eastern Poland.  Italy occupied British territories in East Africa, while the United States continued to reamain officially neutral, and Germany launched its attack on the last remaining free nation in Europe – Great Britain.  It appeared that Europe and the rest of the world would soon have a German dictator replacing their freely elected governments.  Britain was about to face the darkest days of its history – alone.

Great Britain would stand alone, for a while, but it would not be without leadership.  Into this void stepped a man who had for years warned of the Nazi threat, and who had spent his entire life overcoming obstacles and preparing himself for his great destiny.  Churchill's resolve and determination put a face on courage that rallied a nation to its "finest hour."  As Churchill himself said, "It is a crime to despair.  We must learn to draw from misfortune the means of future strength."

But there is more to the story.

After World War II ended, another power vaccum developed.  The fall of Naziism in Europe brought a land and power-hunger Russia into Eastern Europe.  Communism was quick to bite off large chunks of territory surrendered by the Naziis.  Most of the world was so war-weary and thrilled about the prospect of peace that they were willing to interpret events in Eastern Europe with rose-colored glasses.  But not Churchill.  He vehemently opposed Communist advances, and he vocally warned of its threat.  But the world was ready for peace, and Churchill once again lost power.  Not long after standing firm in Britain's finest hour, the master leader fell from power and was again out of the government.  Only later, did the people realize, once again, that Churchill had been right, and once again made him Prime Minister.  But it was too late.  The Cold War had begun.

Churchill's life is so full of inspiration that any leader can find a lesson from which to gain strength and wisdom.  Time and again Churchill stood for what was right, and it often cost him dearly.  He overcame obstacles and opposition throughout his storied career.  He met foes head on.  He rose from the ashes after every defeat.  He made mistakes, learned from them, and lived to redeem himself.  Sometimes he had a following, sometimes he didn't. 

As O'Leary wrote, "Character is not born – character is formed.  Begin with yourself.  Perhaps your inclination is to cave in when the pressures grow and the obstacles seem impossible to overcome.  You must develop a strategy to reinforce your attitude and spirit at times like these.  Perhaps one way is to realize you aren't the first and only person to ever face insurmountable odds."  If this is true, than Churchill's example ought to suffice!