On Malcolm Turnbull and why Persistence is the key

I had the pleasure of meeting The Honourable Malcolm Turnbull, Prime Minister, on the 8th of March for an International Women’s Day event.

It got me thinking… what does it take to get the top job in Australia?

Australia has a long list of accomplished Prime Ministers, and Mr Turnbull is no exception.

Barrister, Rhodes Scholar, Author, Investment Banker, Director and Politician are among some of his more notable titles prior to taking on the big seat. But what is it about him and other extraordinary achievers that set them apart?

Turnbull may have given us the answer long before he even became a politician:

"The fact of the matter is that nothing is achieved in this world, particularly politically, other than with persistence, and persistence involves repetition, and it involves argument and re-argument”

This was part of Turnbull’s closing submissions in the famous “Spycatcher Trial”, in which he successfully represented a former MI5 official in an action bought by the British Government in an attempt to prevent the publication of a tell-all book. It was a highly publicised case and, other than becoming the PM of Australia, perhaps the highlight of Malcolm’s career.

Speaking with Mr Turnbull during the course of the afternoon, I learnt why persistence may just be the key.

Mistakes

Everyone makes them.

Persistent people make them learn, get up and try again.

Turnbull lost his first candidacy for pre-selection in 1981 when Peter Coleman beat him for the seat of Wentworth. It took him a few years, but he got up again and, in 2004, became the Liberal Member for Wentworth. Following a traditional political path, he was eventually elected leader of the opposition in 2008. But barely one year later, he lost the leadership to Abbott in a political spill. Despite announcing he would retire from politics, he got up again and, in 2015, ousted Abbott to take the top job.

2. Make the difficult calls

Persistence often demands that you make difficult and unpopular decisions.

During his leadership while in opposition, and despite significant disagreement from his colleagues’ Turnbull instructed his party to support the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme. His support for the CPRS led to unrest within the party and arguably was the impetus for the spill motion that led to his loss of leadership in 2009.

It was undoubtedly a difficult call for Turnbull to make, and clearly not without consequences, but he made it.

3. Be prepared to lead even when no one is following

Achievements are often made easier by those who support us, catch us when we falter and follow your lead though the way may be difficult.

Great achievers, however, will beat down a path and lead the way even without followers.

Malcolm Turnbull finished his closing submission in the Spycatcher Case with the statement:

“You see every person who has ultimately changed the course of history has started off being unpopular”.

4. Fight even though you may have already lost

The Spycatcher Case was predominantly about free speech. In his closing submissions, Mr Turnbull said the question was never about whether the speech was true, or honest, or right. He said, “The interest is in the debate”.

Just as with free speech, the value of success is not in the success itself but in the fight. The challenges and obstacles it took to get there, the punches delivered and received.

To win the fight, you have to step into the ring.

To win the championship, you have to step into the ring persistently.

What Should I Do Next?

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* This blog is for general guidance only. Legal advice should be sought before taking action in relation to any specific issues.