Yesterday my former boss, Malcolm Turnbull, became Prime Minister of Australia.
In what has become the norm in Australian politics and in true Malcolm style he challenged the former PM in a leadership ballot and beat the job out of him.
Not one to run from a fight, and in fact a man who has picked many fights in his business and political career, it’s a fitting tribute to a brilliant man who will be a brilliant Prime Minister.
An atypical politician, Malcolm speaks his mind and is driven by strong ideology.
He first gained prominence as a barrister in 1986 when at age 32, representing former MI5 agent Peter Wright, he took on the British government…and won!
He then started his own investment banking practice, making some lucrative investments and doing a number of prominent deals, including taking over Goldman Sachs Australia (becoming a pre-IPO partner).
Quite a coup! But Malcolm was just warming up for his next takeover.
In 1993 he took on a near-unwinnable pursuit, driving the Australian Republican Movement, which ultimately failed to win a referendum in 1999.
Not one to be deterred by setbacks, having thrown his hat in the ring and lost his first election in 1981, in 2004 he came back for more.
Winning his first hotly contested election and then being uncontested in his next, Turnbull quickly ascended the Liberal party.
Four years later he was elected party leader, only to soon be challenged and defeated by the same man he just throttled to become Prime Minister.
A fitting outcome!
There is much to be derived from Malcolm’s story.
His grit and determination. His perseverance. Coming back from defeat. His will to keep evolving and taking on new challenges.
A prominent barrister. Check. A partner at Goldman Sachs. Check. North of a hundred million bucks in the bank. Check.
Many people would stop there, but to take over a country you must keep DREAMING BIGGER.