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The American Portrait

The American Portrait

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The American Portrait

Every great country has a rich history littered with hugely influential individuals. Such

individuals, as those in the American Portrait, were interested in creating a society that prospered

in health, education, business, and governance among other fields. To achieve these goals, such

individuals had to poses exemplary qualities attributed to leadership. Julian Ralph (a journalist),

William Lloyd Garrison (an abolitionist), and Thomas O’Donnell (a businessman and

philanthropist) are some of the Americans named in the book who acted as important leaders in

different times and situations. Though the three specialized in different fields, they both stood out

as a result of their influence and leadership qualities.

A good leader can be defined as one who puts the interest of those they serve before their

own. It is the mark of great leaders to offer direction without being consumed by selfish personal

desires and ambition. A good leader, therefore, needs to be a servant of the public; not the other

way round. Some of the great leaders had to make huge sacrifices for the good of the larger

public they serve. Assertiveness is, perhaps, one of the qualities that differentiate great leaders

from the mediocre ones. Great leaders should also set a good example to the populace by being

accountable and take responsibility, show concern, and be incorruptible. These traits, alongside

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humility, are the hallmark of a good leader. The ‘leaders’ who lacked these traits fell out of

public favor because they lost focus of their obligation to those they served.

Leaders are trusted by the people to make decisions that will enhance growth and social

mobility of the entire society. To do this, a good leader needs to understand the needs of those

they are representing. This puts forth another aspect of good leadership; cooperation and

integration. A good leader should not only be able to consult but also work with every other

person with whom they have congruent goals.

While leadership has been attributed to democratically elected or appointed individuals,

its true meaning transpires beyond that. Most of the people in the American Portrait are

individuals who managed to lead from the simple roles they were entrusted within the society. It

is from these roles that they grew to influence a larger course. O’Donnell’s humble beginnings as

a young shovel coal miner saw him rise to a reputable oil magnate. The same applies to Ralph

who held no public office but influenced the society through his works and character. Great

leaders, therefore, did not wait to be thrust to the public limelight to make an impact. Instead,

they took the initiative and did what they assumed was right.

The American Portrait has a catalogue of individuals who can be hailed as the leaders that

shaped their respective fields. However, their influence was greater than the areas of

specialization as it extended to other spheres of the society. For instance, despite being a

journalist, Julian Ralph had significant influence on the social and political aspects of the

American society. This exemplified a great leader who refused to let their influence be limited to

their profession. The role played by these leaders has gone to inspire some of the famous leaders

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Name Institution Instructor Date The American Portrait Every great country has a rich history littered with hugely influential individuals. Such individuals, as those in the American Portrait, were interested in creating a society that prospered in health, education, business, and governance among other fields. To achieve these goals, such individuals had to poses exemplary qualities attributed to leadership. Julian Ralph (a journalist), William Lloyd Garrison (an abolitionist), and Thomas O'Donnell (a businessman and philanthropist) are some of the Americans named in the book who acted as important leaders in different times and situations. Though the three specialized in different fields, they both stood out as a result of their influence and leadership qualities. A good leader can be defined as one who puts the interest of those they serve before their own. It is the mark of great leaders to offer direction without being consumed by selfish personal desires and ambition. A good leader, therefore, needs to be a servant of the public; not the other way round. Some of the great leaders had to make huge sacrifices for the good of the larger public they serve. Assertiveness is, perhaps, one of the qualities that differentiate great leaders from the mediocre ones. Great leaders should also set a good example to the populace by being accountable and take responsibility, show concern, and be incorruptible. These traits, alongside humility, are the hallmark of a good leader. Th ...
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