Life Lessons Learned from Icons from the 80s

Beginning of the End of the Cold War - The Berlin Wall Comes Down

Lesson Learned: Diplomacy can work, and change is possible, even the most unbelievable changes. Sometimes it takes the most different person (Gorby) to make a difference.

The Berlin Wall came down in 1989. "Tear down this wall!" is a famous line from a speech by U.S. President Ronald Reagan in 1987. It called for the General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev, to open up the barrier dividing West and East Berlin since 1961. Gorbachev's transformative policies like Perestroika and Glasnost played a significant role in ending the Cold War.

Challenger Sally Ride - First American Woman in Space

Lesson Learned: Space wasn't the last frontier; equality and women’s rights are. Be the best at what you do, and you will get a chance to change lives.

Sally Kristen Ride, the first American woman in space, showed that gender should not limit one's aspirations. She contributed to space exploration and served on committees investigating space shuttle disasters.

Microsoft Word First Edition Released in 1983 by Bill Gates

Lesson Learned: Tools like Microsoft Word can be transformative. Productivity tools have been instrumental throughout history.

Microsoft Word, released in 1983, revolutionized word processing. Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, later transitioned to philanthropy and founded the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, making significant contributions to various charitable causes.

"Tank Man" - Tiananmen Square Stand-Off with Tanks

Lesson Learned: Sometimes you need to take a stand, being willing to risk everything for the stands you take.

Tank Man, an unidentified Chinese man, stood in front of incoming tanks during the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989. His act of defiance became an iconic symbol of resistance.

These lessons from the 80s remind us of the transformative power of diplomacy, equality, innovation, and standing up for what is right. Each of these events and individuals left an indelible mark on history, shaping the world we live in today.