A Hot Melbourne Christmas with Hitler

Hitler playing Charlie Chaplin

Ahh just another day in paradise; nothing to do but hide from the fierce sunshine (37C!) and read about Hitler. What’s not to like, ammarite?!

It’s lovely being back amongst the friendliest city in the world, the sunshine pouring through the windows, a welcome calm before more toupee-tilting winds and an inevitable thunderstorm precisely when I venture out for my afternoon stroll. I can hear birds chirping and chatting away in the trees, cicadas causing a ruckus, the low-hum of an airplane luring passengers to dream destinations. It’s an idyllic setting, and one I’ve found by sheer good fortune of house-sitting for dear friends. So far, the house just sits . . . tis pretty light work!

Having abandoned Australia twelve months ago with a swift fork-you at the end of an extremely strict and damaging pandemic, I now find myself back amongst the throng of restaurants and cafes, enjoying the warm embrace (sweaty, in this climate) of friends I have missed immensely. I’ve supped cold drinks aplenty and dined considerably in the markedly changed city; some businesses survived the turmoil, some did not, infrastructure had a welcome cash-injection, and avocados tumbled in price whilst simultaneously the cost of said fruit on toast leapt to new highs. Funny world, eh?

And now, the controversial bit: Hitler, the enigma! As you may have guessed over the many blog-posts, I’m fascinated with leadership, yet I shift uncomfortably even writing about der Führer, and for bloody good reason. Sure, by many (i.e. everyone bar the unhinged Ye) he is considered a mass-murdering evil bastard that single-handedly united a fractious country to turn all their ire against the Jewish population, but on the other side . . . look, does the world lack leadership? Yes! Do we have a burgeoning population? Yes! Do we need innovative solutions? Yes! Are these solutions going to be liked by everyone? Course not, tough choices always have their dissenters, right?! All I’m saying is, we have to be open-minded. OK, am not really saying that! But Hitler does pique the interest from a leadership perspective: everything he stood for was horrid (bar vegetarianism), yet from humble beginnings he captured the hearts and minds of millions of people through oratory brilliance and crowd psychology. Academic essays on leadership cite inspiration and influencing as key skills, both of which Hitler asserted in vast quantities, along with drug-addiction and a vast amount of horrendousness. Additionally, JFK called Hitler the stuff of legends, so if you’ve ever looking for a ringing endorsement from one of the “nastiest Presidents in American history” . . .

I’ve never studied leadership in an academic setting, but do wonder if they’d have the balls to cite Hitler in the classroom. Apparently so, to quote the coachestrainingblog.com, “the “Hitler Problem” is just one of those intellectual discussions on transformation and leadership that can be fun and enlightening.” “Fun” eh? Markedly uncomfortable requiring a severe degree of dispassion is probably how I’d put it! So that’s me, studying Hitler and enjoying the sunshine. Look out for my ‘Hitler: All Bad?’ leadership book sometime never. As the afternoon wanes, time for some light exercise and a walk in the gorgeous sunshine whilst simultaneously avoiding the inner voices plotting the destruction of all mankind. Paradise, I tell you, paradise!

---

It's been a wonderful old year: time spent with family; seeing old friends; making new ones and exploring once again. Next up perhaps the Caribbean . . . you know, because of my fervent love for the sun and all that. Hope you had a wonderful Christmas and Boxing Day, wishing you the very best for the New Year!