Victory Lessons From Brazil’s First Female President: Dilma Rousseff

Transcend The Pain

Dilma Rousseff was a guerrilla, imprisoned for 3 years in the 1970s.  She was involved with the armed struggle against Brazil’s military dictatorship.  She was subjected to regular torture during the time.  You have to allow your pain to motivate you towards your goals.  When you are tempted to backslide, think about a painful experience in your life.  President Rousseff was shocked with electricity and she was also suspended from a rod by her hands and feet. 

Victory Over Pain

President Rousseff was accused of helping a guerrilla leader escape, an allegation she denies to this day.  While she was in prison, they beat her and broke her jaw.  She still suffers from these actions today yet she did not allow these horrible occurrences impact her negatively instead President Rousseff fed off her pain in order to reach her goals.  She has accomplished the unimaginable and continues to make history.

Resilience

In October 2014, Brazil re-elected President Dilma Rousseff.  Originally, President Rousseff planned her campaign against Eduardo Campos.  In Campos’ 2014 campaign, he criticized President Rousseff and the Workers’ Party.  President Rousseff had rebuttals planned, and formulated a thorough strategy centered on attacking Campos.  Campos then passed away in a plane crash.  Despite being opponents, there is no doubt that the death of Campos left Rousseff with bitter feelings towards the race.  President Rousseff is too tough to allow any set of circumstances to overwhelm her.  Instead, she was able to recover from the tragic loss, she re-strategized and was ultimately able to defeat Marina Silva and Aecio Neves.

It Is Not A Problem, It Is An Opportunity
Brazil’s economy is not doing well.  This year, the country’s projected GNP growth is 0.3%.  This is due to inflation and the fact that public accounts have not been adjusted, weakening the confidence of international investors.  Many blame President Rousseff for Brazil’s current economic state.  They argue that she has intervened far too much and has created a mess.  Those who are uncertain of challenges would not want the task of leading Brazil at a time when the country’s economy is struggling.  President Rouseff on the other hand accepts challenges like these.  She understands that it is not a problem instead it is an opportunity.  A chance for her to implement her talents and skills, and lead Brazil to Victory.