Lessons From the Iron Lady

 

Margaret Thatcher died on April 8th at the age of 87. She was known as the ‘Iron Lady’ and one of the most influential people of the 20th century. She grew up as the daughter of a grocer; the family lived over the store (there was no hot water or an indoor toilet). At home she learned the value of hard work. Thatcher went on to a brief career in chemistry and ultimately to be Britain’s first woman Prime Minister, a post she held for 11 years.

She was an inspiration to me and she left behind important lessons that I’d like to share.

“My policies are based not on some economics theory, but on things I and millions like me were brought up with: an honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay, live within your means, put by a nest egg for a rainy day, pay your bills on time, support the police.”

“Pennies don’t fall from heaven — they have to be earned here on Earth.”
“You may have to fight a battle more than once to win it.”
“Being powerful is like being a lady. If you have to tell people you are, you aren’t.”
“The problem with Socialism is that you eventually run out of other people’s money.”
“Look at a day when you are supremely satisfied at the end. It’s not a day when you lounge around doing nothing; it’s a day you’ve had everything to do and you’ve done it.”
“Any woman who understands the problems of running a home will be nearer to understanding the problems of running a country.”
“There is no liberty unless there is economic liberty.”
“Plan your work for today and every day, and then work your plan.”
“What is success? I think it is a mixture of having a flair for the thing you are doing; knowing that it is not enough, knowing that you have got to have hard work and a certain sense of purpose.”