The Lazarus Lesson: Comebacks Are Real

A note to young leaders.

If you’ve ever been written off as a loser or a has-been, remember the story of Mr 18%.

In 1988, John Howard – then Opposition Leader – was mocked on the cover of The Bulletin magazine under the headline: “Mr 18%. Why on earth does this man bother?”

The jibe referred to a devastating Roy Morgan poll: Howard’s preferred PM rating had slumped to a pitiful 18%, compared to Bob Hawke’s towering 69%. The article portrayed Howard as a plodding, bumbling “nerd” clinging stubbornly to power despite dismal odds.

The “Mr 18%” label stuck.

A few months later, Howard was unceremoniously dumped by his party. When asked if he’d ever return to the leadership, he shook his head and quipped: “That would be like Lazarus with a triple bypass.” He retreated to the backbench – bruised, belittled and inclined to quit politics.

But when John Hewson lost the “unlosable” election in 1993 and his successor Alexander Downer faltered in 1995, Howard was re-elected as Opposition Leader – unopposed. No one else wanted the job. The Liberals were seen as unelectable, and Labor as invincible.

But life and politics rarely follow a script.

In March 1996, Howard led the Coalition to a landslide victory, becoming Australia’s 25th Prime Minister. Many predicted he’d last a single term. Instead, he served for eleven years – becoming the second-longest-serving PM in Australian history, behind only his political idol, Sir Robert Menzies.

From a washed-up loser destined to never be PM, to eclipsing Bob Hawke’s legendary reign – it remains, to this day, Australia’s greatest political comeback.

So if the passion still burns, and you’re prepared to be patient, let Howard’s story remind you: Lazarus can indeed rise again – even with a triple bypass.