Local Chamber of Commerce's were moved with a lesson from one of the best when it comes to leadership.

General Rick Hillier was in Okotoks Thursday spreading the word of how great leadership can get through tough times whether it's a Afghan war zone or trying survive in the world of business especially with the shape the Alberta economy is in.

Okotoks & District Chamber of Commerce President Andrew Gustafson

President of the Okotoks & District Chamber of Commerce Andrew Gustafson says everybody from the event came away with something they can utilize in their work place.

"Very riveted crowd, he had a great message of leadership a great message that was inspiring and people are leaving here with a lot of optimism and hope for the future," he says.

Hillier was the Chief of Defence Staff with the Canadian Forces from 2005 to 2008 when he retired and spoke of stories of his past experiences as a soldier and the stories of others during Canada's mission in Afghanistan.

Gustafson says despite the problems many are dealing with back home in the business world, those fighting for our freedom have a lot more on their plate.

"Business owners can take away a little bit of perspective on what really 'Are the problems that we're facing today that big of a problem in the grand scheme of things?' Let's look to the future we're going to see our businesses recover and we're going to see great things in the future and let's keep that in mind."

Hillier was named an Officer for the Order of Canada in 2011 and has published two different books since his retirement, 'A Soldier First: Bullets Bureaucrats and the Politics of War' and 'Leadership: 50 Points of Wisdom for Today's Leaders'.

Gustafson says it doesn't matter if it's Afghanistan or Okotoks, good armies and good businesses have great leadership.

"Leadership is leadership, the principles that apply in Afghanistan are principles that apply in a local economy here too so the messages that come from that level we can apply to the local businesses as well."

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