Washington Lessons In Leadership

From James Rees, Executive Director of Mount Vernon, comes anenlightening guide to the leadership wisdom of America's first great leader. George Washington was more than just an inspiring battlefield commander; he was critical to the founding and success of the United States ofAmerica. His leadership, his vision, and his courage united a war-torncountry and set the United States on the path to greatness. Washington's historic contribution to this nation--his leadership and his character--are as relevant and valuable today as they have ever been. This book reveals Washington's character, his leadership, his vision, and most surprising of all, his business skills and acumen. Most people aren't awarethat Washington, while all of the above, was also a successful businessman and visionary entrepreneur. Exhibiting qualities sorely lacking in so many of our political and business leaders today, Washington remained steadfastly honest and ethical,following guiding principles that would benefit leaders around the world. George Washington's Leadership Lessons reveals a man of true character,worthy of emulation not just in the realm of politics and war, but in allleadership positions.

A compelling look at the military career, lessons, and legacy of America's first general and first president. Before he became "the Father of our Country," George Washington was the Father of the American Army. He took troops that had no experience, no tradition, and no training, and fought a protracted war against the best, most disciplined force in the world—the British Army. Deftly handling the political realm, he left his mark with a vision of the Revolution as a war of attrition and his offensives which were as brilliant as they were unpredictable. In Washington, award-winning author Gerald M. Carbone argues that it is this sort of fearless but not reckless, spontaneous but calculated offensive that Washington should be remembered for—as a leader not of infallibility but of greatness.

FIRST IN WAR, FIRST IN PEACE, FIRST IN LEADERSHIP. Richard Brookhiser's revolutionary biography, Founding Father , took George Washington off the dollar bill and made him live. Now, with his trademark wit and precision, Brookhiser expertly examines the details of Washington's life that fullscale biographies sweep over, to instruct us in true leadership. George Washington on Leadership is a textbook look at Washington's three spectacularly successful careers as an executive: general, president, and tycoon. Brookhiser explains how Washington maximized his strengths and overcame his flaws, and inspires us to do likewise. It shows how one man's struggles and successes 200 years ago can be a model for leaders today. Washington oversaw two startups-the army and the presidency. He chaired the most important meeting in American history-the Constitutional Convention. Washington rose from being a third son who was a major in the militia, to one of the most famous men in the world. At every stage in his career, he had to deal with changing circumstances, from tobacco prices to geopolitics, and with wildly different classes of men, from frontiersmen to aristocrats. Washington's example is so crucial because of the many firsts he is responsible for.

George Washington influenced every phase of the Revolutionary War, from beginning to end. His offenses were as brilliant as they were unpredictable. Carbone argues that Washington should be remembered for his fearless, but not reckless, leadership abilities.

George Washington is most famous for leading America to victory during the American Revolution and for being the first president of the United States. One does not have those successes without being a great leader. In Washington on Leadership, learn firsthand from the father of our country about the skill, tactics, and techniques that go into great leadership. Such brilliant wisdom Washington has offered includes: “Associate with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation; for it is better to be alone than in bad company.” “To be prepared for war is one of the most effective means of preserving peace.” “It is better to offer no excuse than a bad one.” Whether discussing military tactics, life lessons, or knowledge from his forty-plus years of service for our country, George Washington is certainly a person that everyone should look up to as the basis for how to lead and as an expert on the finer points of taking control for the greater good.

“A leadership book written by a real leader! . . . eminently useful for those ‘in command’ of organizations of any kind. A stimulating five-star work” (Ralph Peters, New York Times–bestselling author). This book tells the dramatic story of seven defining leadership moments from the American Revolution, as well as providing case studies that can improve your leadership at home, business, in your community, in the military, or in government. Leadership is not about position, it is about influence. You can be a leader no matter what your rank or position. It is not about power, it is about selflessness. You cannot be a good leader unless you can also be a good follower. Good leaders don’t shine, they reflect. Lessons like these are the core of this book. The stories in this book are about leaders who were challenged at all corners, adapted, improvised and overcame. The tales of leaders like Samuel Adams, Patrick Henry, Henry Knox, Benjamin Franklin, and George Washington, to name a few, are stories you will want to know and tell. These leaders knew how to push teams to succeed under the toughest conditions. These stories will come alive on the pages of this book to fuel your leadership fire and make you a better leader in any endeavor. Learn how they secured our liberty so you can transform today into a better tomorrow. “John Antal has captured seven timeless stories that will raise your leadership awareness and make you a better leader in peace or war, at home, at work or in your community.” —Steven Pressfield, bestselling author of 36 Righteous Men

Conventional wisdom holds that a CEO's performance is measured in the financial results that he or she achieves during his or her career. However, a review of a decade of high-profile firings and research in search of an explanation as to why proves that financial performance is not the major reason CEOs are fired. In fact, over 75 percent of the failings can be explained as issues of poor business communication and personal leadership style. Contrary to conventional wisdom, these are issues of a person's character, not his or her company's financial performance per se! Ingeniously dissecting the career of General George Washington, as a CEO, author Bill D'Arienzo creates a parallel that all readers, whether in business or not, will find poignant in By George! Lessons in Leadership from George Washington, CEO. '...a crisp and compelling style, this brief book focuses on Washington's character and personnel skills...derives principles that today's CEOs would do well to apply.' -Jeffry H. Morrison, The Political Philosophy of George Washington (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2009)

Considered one of the nation's most competitive and prestigious fellowships, the White House Fellowship program has produced an impressive roster of American leaders. The men and women of this select group spend an entire year working alongside top decision makers inside the nexus of global power. Each one emerges with life-changing thoughts and views about the nature of leadership and the qualities of great leaders. Now, former Fellow Charles P. Garcia opens the door to this distinguished program, revealing insights to achieve extraordinary leadership, which you can apply in any endeavor. Leadership Lessons of the White House Fellows is a profound education on the timeless tenets of successful leadership. Filled with entertaining and insightful stories gleaned from interviews with more than 200 former Fellows, this fast-paced book takes you behind the scenes of every presidential administration from Lyndon B. Johnson to George W. Bush, where America's best and brightest learned their most valuable lessons. You'll hear from such figures as: Former Chairman of the NYSE Marshall Carter Levi Strauss CO Robert D. Haas U.S. Army General Wesley Clark Pulitzer Prize-winning author Doris Kearns Goodwin CNN Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta Former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell Stanford Business School Dean Robert Joss Former Chief Judge, 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Deanell Reece Tacha Each interviewee conveys invaluable advice that can be applied by anyone, in any field--from business and government to nonprofit and education. Leadership Lessons of the White House Fellows takes you where no reader has gone before. Apply the lessons of the White House Fellows, and your people will instantly take note of the newly inspired leader in their presence.