In 2015, the world gathered to the lying-in-state of the great leader of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew. The air was dampened with the tears of Singaporeans, as their founding father was being mourned; a week-long event.

Before 1959 when LKY assumed office as the first Prime Minister of Singapore, the state was a groping colony of the British empire. And after thirty-one years of his ironclad leadership, Singapore transitioned from a Third World to a First World country.

Leaders like Lee Kuan Yew, make one think that some leaders have a Midas Touch; making everything beautiful. But when you review the lifelong career of Mr. Lee, you’ll find it gutted by real life battles, incredible challenges and difficult-to-pull stakeholders.

No one has a Midas Touch. You must do the long hard work of getting your job done if you must succeed as a leader. The resolution not to quit is the only streak that makes the best leaders better. Cheers my friend.