Some people fight for what they believe. Morton Blackwell built an army.
In an age of shortcuts and overnight fame, Morton took a different path—one that would take decades to reveal its full impact. He believed that if you want to change a country, you start by training people who know how to win. Not just fight. Not just argue. But actually win.
That conviction led him to found the Leadership Institute in 1979, a nonprofit dedicated to equipping conservative activists with the skills, strategies, and tools to influence public policy at every level. Over 320,000 people have come through its programs—and many of them are leading, organizing, and shaping culture today.
But Morton’s story isn’t about politics. It’s about purpose. And it’s a case study in what it means to Go Big!—not for fame or applause, but for something that lasts.
Read to Lead. Then Learn How to Win.
Morton often says one of his core principles is “Read to lead.” You start by building a foundation. You learn your values. You sharpen your philosophy. But once you know what you believe, the next step is just as important: study how to win.
As he puts it, “You don’t have time in life to make every mistake yourself. Learn from others. Study the tools. Master the skills.”
It’s a refreshing dose of humility and realism. Passion is good. Conviction matters. But preparation wins. The most effective leaders don’t just know what’s right—they know how to organize, how to communicate, how to build coalitions, and how to lead.
In other words, Going Big! isn’t just about belief—it’s about strategy.
Start Small. Stay Focused. Think Generationally.
When Morton left a position in the Reagan White House to pursue the Leadership Institute full-time, it wasn’t glamorous. The organization’s annual revenue was less than his White House salary. There was no guarantee of success. He and his wife, Helen, took the risk anyway.
Why? Because they believed that long-term change doesn’t come from the top down. It comes from the bottom up. From training young people. From identifying future leaders. From building a movement that would outlast trends and political cycles.
And he was right. Forty-five years later, Leadership Institute graduates hold office, run campaigns, shape media, and lead organizations across the country and beyond. But Morton never tried to predict exactly who would rise to the top. Instead, he created a system that empowered thousands to grow, to fail, to learn, and eventually to lead.
He didn’t plant trees for shade today. He planted them for the generations to come.
Understand Human Nature. And Lead With Integrity.
One of Morton’s greatest strengths is his understanding of people. His famous “Laws of the Public Policy Process” reflect a lifetime of hard-earned wisdom—not from theory, but from the trenches.
He teaches things like:
Never give a bureaucrat a chance to say no.
Don’t get mad—except on purpose.
You can’t beat somebody with nobody.
You have your word and your friends. Go back on either and you’re dead.
These aren’t clichés. They’re anchors. They’re the kind of truths that only come from observing, serving, mentoring, and staying in the fight for decades.
Morton’s example shows us that character matters just as much as competence. And when you put those two things together, you earn something more powerful than success: you earn trust.
Going Big! Means Going Long
If there’s one lesson from Morton’s life, it’s that big impact requires long-term thinking. It’s easy to get caught up in urgency. Easy to chase short wins. But those who truly change the world are willing to invest deeply in people and stick around to see the results.
Morton didn’t just launch programs. He built relationships. He mentored leaders. He followed up. He showed up. Year after year. Leader after leader.
He believed in doing the work no one sees, so others could do the work everyone notices.
And if that’s not Going Big!, what is?
Your Turn to Go Big!
So what does Morton Blackwell’s story mean for the rest of us?
It means that if you want to lead, you start by learning. It means you take the long view, even when the path is uncertain. It means you invest in others, even when it’s inconvenient. And it means that you keep your word, especially when no one’s watching.
Because the kind of leaders the world needs don’t just believe—they build. They grow. They train. They Go Big!—with purpose, with patience, and with conviction.
So whatever your mission is, whatever your dream, whatever that next step may be—don’t wait for permission. Start building.
And don’t just go fast. Go Big!
