5 obstacles JFK overcame that will make your job seem way easier

John F. Kennedy was an inherent American icon, but rather than take his opportunities for granted, he used them to the fullest, making a deep and lasting impact on our country and our world.

On what would be his 98th birthday, let’s take a break from worrying about our own lives and take a look at the obstacles that Mr. Kennedy overcame. I get the feeling it will put things in perspective.

He was in the Navy in WWII

When the boat he commanded was rammed by an enemy ship, he pulled an injured crewman through the water with the man’s lifejacket strap in his teeth. He literally saved a man’s life with his teeth.

This means that when an intense email rams its way into your inbox and you have to pull your co-workers out of the wreckage, be happy that you’re not about to sink in the Pacific with a sweaty life jacket strap in your mouth, because you’re not JFK and you probably wouldn’t make it.

He Won Elections, in the 50s/60s, as a Catholic

I got my job because someone texted my old boss looking for an assistant. She recommended me, I met with and won over two executives and poof…I have a job. JFK had to win over a nation that was predestined to not listen to a word he said, solely based on his religion. But he found the courage to stand up for what he believed in and found a way to make himself heard.

While we live in a society that has progressed a lot since then, we all still face our own adversity, even in the most nurturing workplace. It’s important to stick to our convictions, stay determined with our goals and not let anyone tell us we can’t simply because we can’t.

The Cuban-Freaking-Missile Crisis

Have you ever had to make a decision that hinged on the potential end of the world? Maybe your world or your roommate’s world or the immediate future of your boss, but JFK literally had nukes on his doorstep. The fact that there is still a southern coast of Florida (or a southern coast of anywhere for that matter) means that you can probably figure it out.

The Civil Rights Movement

While it can be difficult to stand up for unpopular beliefs when they directly apply to you, it is much more difficult to stand up for unpopular beliefs that directly affect others. JFK was always a supporter of racial tolerance, integration and harmony, but he was the voice of the nation when this issue truly came to a head.

As much a no-brainer as it may seem today, there was enough racial disparity in the country that there was flatly no one approach that would please everyone. JFK stood up for African Americans, steadfast in his resolve that we all see them as simply: Americans. When times are tough for those around us, it’s easy to keep our head down and let them deal with it, but a truly great co-worker/friend/citizen stands up for what they believe in, even if they stand to gain nothing from it.

He Left Too Soon, But His Legacy Is Eternal

There is nothing light that can be made of the tragic and early departure of John F. Kennedy. He was truly taken from us too soon, with so much left to give and teach the world. Despite his dangerous position, even he could not have expected what transpired, yet he lived and acted as if he was going to leave tomorrow.

I am quite confident all of my readers will have long and prosperous careers and lives, but we should all spend each day striving to make an irreplaceably positive impact on our workplace and our world. That’s what John would’ve wanted and that’s what he did.