--- title: Phil Gude on the Optimistic Leadership of George VI and Elizabeth II description: they retained by word and deed a profound optimism that solutions can and will be found by mankind image: https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/Screen%20Shot%202022-09-14%20at%205.17.55%20am.png --- ###### [Check out Our latest insights on Optimism](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog) [![Centre for Optimism_Logo](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/Centre%20for%20Optimism_Logo.svg)](https://www.centreforoptimism.com?hsLang=en) - [Home](https://www.centreforoptimism.com) - [Subscribe](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/subscribe) - [Why Optimism?](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/whyoptimism) - [What is Optimism?](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/whatisoptimism) - [The Optimism Principle](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/theoptimismprinciple) - [Need Optimism?](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/services-and-workshops) - [The Optimism Workshop](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/workshop) - [Victor Perton - That Optimism Man](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/victorperton) - [Magnetic Optimism for Organisations](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/magnetic-optimism-workshops) ![Close Icon (3)](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/Close%20Icon%20(3).svg) ![Search (2)](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/Search%20(2).svg) ###### [Leadership](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/leadership) , ###### [Queen Elizabeth](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/queen-elizabeth) , ###### [Determined Optimism](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/determined-optimism) , ###### [exhibited optimism](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/exhibited-optimism) # Phil Gude on the Optimistic Leadership of George VI and Elizabeth II The Honourable Phil Gude shared with me this beautiful piece of wisdom and insight, "I have had the pleasure of living under the ever-watchful cover of two Kings and our sovereign lady Queen Elizabeth. Her late father served his country and the British Commonwealth through some of the World's darkest days and nights. Even in ill health, George VI always exhibited optimism in his thoughts and optimism that his people would succeed in overcoming the oppressor. I was in sixth-grade primary school when he passed. Our now late Queen inherited his positive spirit in spades. She saw us through the recovery from WW2. Queen Elizabeth maintained her optimism that a better world would be built no matter what conflict she confronted, including complicated family matters. There have been many international conflicts and wars during her realm affecting those of us within the British Commonwealth of Nations: Through wars, famine, fire and floods, she maintained in the most dignified way a stoic assurance that any obstacle encountered in life would or could be overcome. That was something my late father instilled in me too. Yet, at the same time, they retained by word and deed a profound optimism that solutions can and will be found by mankind. Our challenge is to accept the opportunity; how fantastic is that? Always making the very best of every situation empowered Queen Elizabeth to be just, fair, loving and, above all, forever optimistic. I respect and thank her for always being true to her beliefs, encouraging those least able to fend for themselves and for her belief and trust in future generations to make the world a better place for everyone. A new King is now among us; his opportunity awaits us all. RIP our Queen for all ages." Read More: [Queen Elizabeth's Infectiously Optimistic Leadership](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/queenelizabeth?hsLang=en) So too, John Reynolds generously shared his thinking with me, "Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth has been an uplifting and dedicated presence in my life. Her Leadership has been a positive, possibility driven force in the world. The future that she has created during her lifetime has been a great motivator for me. I have had the fortune to carry that with me throughout my business career and harnessed it to create myself as a positive and optimistic leader. We can use this moment in history to inspire us to leap into a positive and optimistic future for Australia." Read More: [Queen Elizabeth's Infectiously Optimistic Leadership](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/queenelizabeth?hsLang=en)   [Written by Victor Perton](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/author/victor-perton) ##### Keep up to date with the latest from Centre for Optimism ##### We appreciate any contribution you can make to help us spread optimism with the world [![Give Today](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/21889975/daed54ec-1173-4b99-9390-e69152e87436.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/21889975/daed54ec-1173-4b99-9390-e69152e87436) #### Here are some similar articles ###### [Leadership](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/leadership) , ###### [Persistent Optimism](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/persistent-optimism) , ###### [Resilience](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/resilience) #### [Chris Penk on the Nature of Optimism](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/penk?hsLang=en) [Read Article](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/penk?hsLang=en) ###### [Leadership](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/leadership) , ###### [Happiness](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/happiness) , ###### [Success](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/success) #### [Binod Atreya: Optimism is a Mindset that Leads to Success in our Lives](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/binod?hsLang=en) [Read Article](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/binod?hsLang=en) ###### [migrants](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/migrants) , ###### [Australia](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/australia) , ###### [Leadership](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/leadership) #### [Leadership with Heart: Agostino Giramondo’s Case for Optimism](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/agostino?hsLang=en) [Read Article](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/agostino?hsLang=en) ## Connect With Us ##### We love to connect with everyone who is ready to open up and share their optimisim. - [![Facebook 2](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/Center%20of%20Optimism%20Assets/Facebook%202.svg)](https://www.facebook.com/optimistsvoices/) - [![instagram (6)](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/instagram%20(6).svg)](https://www.instagram.com/centreforoptimism/?hl=en) - [![linked in 2](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/linked%20in%202.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/centreforoptimism/) - [![youtube (3)](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/youtube%20(3).svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFd4GnToz3WLasQSfsz_z8w) - [![twitter](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/twitter.svg)](https://twitter.com/Centre4Optimism) #### Keep up to date with the latest from The Centre for Optimism ##### Contact Us Call Us: [+61 417 217 241](tel:+61%20417%20217%20241) (Australia) PO Box 5081, Garden City, Victoria 3207, Australia ##### [The Centre for Optimism](https://www.centreforoptimism.com?hsLang=en) - [Why Optimism?](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/whyoptimism) - [What is Optimism?](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/whatisoptimism) - Why be Optimistic? 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