Throughout time, we have read and watched documentaries of iconic figures who changed the world for the better. Whether they inspired us by fighting back against the masses for something they believed in, or by pushing the limits within their field to fight unjust systems, in some way, they impacted all of our lives and influenced generations and many to come. Today, we will give you five lessons we learned from iconic female figures, and yes, they are incredible!
Great Dreams Begins With A Dreamer
Harried Tubman, who was born into slavery, was an American abolitionist and political activist who used the network of antislavery activists and safe houses known as the Underground Railroad to rescue about 70 enslaved people, including family and friends. During the American Civil War, she served in the Union Army as an armed scout and spy. Tubman later became an activist in the women’s suffrage movement.
Tubman taught us that there is a way to achieve the unthinkable once we realize that dreams are not a non-existent picture but an art that we can turn into reality. Hard work and dedication will give you the freedom to live on top of the highest mountain- even against all odds. Be patient, stay motivated, and find the greatness within you to change ‘your world’ for the better. Turn your dreams into reality by taking the first step of believing that the change starts with you.
“Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world”– Harriet Tubman
Never Give Up
Frida Kahlo was one of Mexico’s most famous and influential artists who produced about 200 paintings. With her incredible talent, she portrayed her pain and became a world-renowned self-portrait painter. Almost 70 years after her death, she still serves as a role model for generations of artists, people with disabilities, and bisexual women. Kahlo was no stranger to adversity. She had Polio as a child, leaving one of her legs withered and stunted, and on September 17, 1925, Kahlo, who was only 18 years old, was traveling on a bus when the vehicle collided with a streetcar.
Kahlo was impaled by a steel handrail that went into her hip and came out the other side due to the collision. She suffered several serious injuries, including fractures in her spine and pelvis. Tragedy did not make her surrender to sorrow or pain. Frida is the true example of “never give up,” no matter how challenging the circumstances are. If you try, little by little, you can overcome anything. And little by little, things will get better. On your quest for self-improvement, keep this in mind: Sometimes it will feel pointless, but often it’s not. Sometimes you’ll feel like giving up, but it’s worth another shot. In the end, your hard work will be seen by many. You’ll leave a legacy behind as a person who accomplished what they set their mind to someone who never gave up. Those who don’t give up will achieve what they desire!
“I think that, little by little, I’ll be able to solve my problems and survive.”– Frida Kahlo
Be Knowledgeable
Malala Yousafzai is a Pakistani education advocate who demands that girls receive an education. Having survived an assassination attempt by a Taliban gunman in 2012, she then became the youngest person to win the Nobel Peace Prize at the age of 17 in 2014.
Malala’s understanding of her cause should remind us all that we must first have a vision, understand the problems we might face, and have the plan to overcome them. It’s clear that Malala understands the issues that prevent girls from accessing education, and it’s that knowledge that makes people listen to her and support her cause.
“If I win Nobel Peace Prize, it would be a great opportunity for me, but if I don’t get it, it’s not important because my goal is not to get Nobel Peace Prize, my goal is to get peace and my goal is to see the education of every child.”– Malala Yousafzai
(Malala Yousafzai by Simon Davis/DFID. Licensed under CC BY 2.0)
Practice More Creativity
Maya Angelou was Hollywood’s first female black director and the first female inaugural poet in U.S. presidential history, she was an acclaimed American poet, civil rights activist, educator, and autobiographer. She wrote seven autobiographies, essays, and several books of poetry and is credited with over 50 years of plays, movies, and television shows. Angelou was the recipient of dozens of awards and more than 50 honorary degrees. She is a true role model to millions of people and surely for generations to follow. Angelou teaches us that you can never use up all of your creativity. The more you practice, the more your creativity will emerge. She used all of her creativity to create magic, and by that, her legacy will live for generations to follow. We have one question to ask: Are you letting your creativity run wild today?
“You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.”– Maya Angelou
Work-Life Balance Is Crucial
Serena Williams is most famously known for her role in professional tennis and is still today the person who has more Grand Slam singles titles than any woman or man in the open era. Not only is Serena the best tennis player in the world, but outside of that, she has her clothing and jewelry line, and she has been a Goodwill Ambassador of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) since 2006! It may look like she has it all, but the path to success wasn’t always easy. Serena has faced sexism and racism throughout her career. In 2011 she was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, Sjögren’s syndrome, which affects her joints, but that didn’t stop her from managing her disease and playing tennis. Serena also came close to death with the birth of her first daughter, Olympia, in 2017, after an emergency c-section.
Despite these hardships, Serena rose above and is a role model to many. She believes in maintaining a work-life balance, and although it can be a struggle to balance work with parenting, she never backs down and believes it is the challenge that makes it fun! She believes that, even though it’s difficult, it’s crucial to have a work-life balance.
“Overpower. Overtake. Overcome”- Serena Williams
(Serena Williams by Hanson K Joseph. Licensed under CC BY 4.0)
Thank you for reading this article, we hope you enjoyed it. Did you find these lessons helpful? Let us know in the comments. Don’t forget to share the blog entry, and if you want to become a Virtual Assistant at Job Duck, please click HERE to apply to one of our career growth positions.
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The Job Duck Team
