The Indestructible Leader
By Susan Steffen-Kraft
The young George Washington learned much from these French-Indian wars. Exposed to the raw realities of life he was learning to give clear concise orders and transcribe them, organize supplies, commanding and dispensing military justice, building forts and dealing with subordinates. All of this would prepare him to become the leader and man he needed to be for the hard road that lay ahead. These lessons in the military would help him when the Revolutionary War began.
Under his leadership, the Revolutionaries succeeded eventually in wresting control from the tyrant King George despite the fact that the Continental army was ill-equipped and outnumbered. The army might have rebelled under anyone else, but General Washington with his moral strength, his presence which was charismatic to say the least, and his political knowledge and maneuvering kept the army intact and under control.
After the war, he was asked to head the Constitutional Convention and his presence was needed there also. He could have become a dictator but choose not to. In fact, he handed military control to the United States Congress which in itself speaks to his high moral character which is sorely lacking today among most of our politicians. It is one of the few times in history that someone declined power when it was practically handed to them on a silver platter and chose to walk away.
His Awards and Honors as follows:
1. Congressional Gold Medal
2. Thanks of Congress
3. General of the Armies of the United States
4. The first President of the United States
Some George Washington quotes on Leadership:
“Associate with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation; for it is better to be alone than in bad company.”
“Be courteous to all, but intimate with few, and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence.”
“Discipline is the soul of an army. It makes small numbers formidable; procures success to the weak, and esteem to all.”
“Friendship is a plant of slow growth and must undergo and withstand the shocks of adversity before it is entitled to the appellation.”
“It is better to be alone than in bad company.”
“It is better to offer no excuse than a bad one.”
“Nothing can be more hurtful to the service, than the neglect of discipline; for that discipline, more than numbers, gives one army the superiority over another.”
“Truth will ultimately prevail where there are pains to bring it to light.”
“We should not look back unless it is to derive useful lessons from past errors, and for the purpose of profiting by dearly bought experience.”
“Worry is the interest paid by those who borrow trouble.”
In his wisdom, he also eschewed party politics. Would today that the wisdom of what he told us was manifested in our politicians of the United States Government! In the video below you will hear his warning.
Under his leadership, the Revolutionaries succeeded eventually in wresting control from the tyrant King George despite the fact that the Continental army was ill-equipped and outnumbered. The army might have rebelled under anyone else, but General Washington with his moral strength, his presence which was charismatic to say the least, and his political knowledge and maneuvering kept the army intact and under control.
After the war, he was asked to head the Constitutional Convention and his presence was needed there also. He could have become a dictator but choose not to. In fact, he handed military control to the United States Congress which in itself speaks to his high moral character which is sorely lacking today among most of our politicians. It is one of the few times in history that someone declined power when it was practically handed to them on a silver platter and chose to walk away.
His Awards and Honors as follows:
1. Congressional Gold Medal
2. Thanks of Congress
3. General of the Armies of the United States
4. The first President of the United States
Some George Washington quotes on Leadership:
“Associate with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation; for it is better to be alone than in bad company.”
“Be courteous to all, but intimate with few, and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence.”
“Discipline is the soul of an army. It makes small numbers formidable; procures success to the weak, and esteem to all.”
“Friendship is a plant of slow growth and must undergo and withstand the shocks of adversity before it is entitled to the appellation.”
“It is better to be alone than in bad company.”
“It is better to offer no excuse than a bad one.”
“Nothing can be more hurtful to the service, than the neglect of discipline; for that discipline, more than numbers, gives one army the superiority over another.”
“Truth will ultimately prevail where there are pains to bring it to light.”
“We should not look back unless it is to derive useful lessons from past errors, and for the purpose of profiting by dearly bought experience.”
“Worry is the interest paid by those who borrow trouble.”
In his wisdom, he also eschewed party politics. Would today that the wisdom of what he told us was manifested in our politicians of the United States Government! In the video below you will hear his warning.
Sources: www.foxnews.com/story/2010/05/10/glenn-beck-founders-fridays-george-washington.html, www.mountvernon.org/george-washington/french-indian-war, http://www.americanfounding.blogspot.com/2008/07/leadership-qualities-of-george.htm, http://gwpapers.virginia.edu/history/articles/george-washington-genius-in-leadership/, The Bulletproof George Washington by David Barton
Washington never acted afraid for sometimes he would take on the British alone. There never seemed to be fear of death or injury. At least on 67 occasions, during the Revolutionary War he said the cause of independence for America would have been disastrous if not for God's direct intervention. Did Mr. Washington believe in God and the help that was given in forming this country; you bet he did! After he was elected to be president he said and I quote, "No people can be bound to acknowledge and adore the invisible hand which conducts the affairs of men more than the people of the United States. Every step by which they have advanced to the character of an independent nation seems to have been distinguished by some token of providential agency." This does not have the tone or ring to it of a non-believer. After a prophecy such as he heard that day he really had to see and know that the hand of God was with him.
Indestructible, indispensable, and a born leader. This sums up who George Washington was. He wanted to be a farmer and surveyed land for his country. It seemed like somebody always needed him and instead of complaining he always answered the call. For him, the most important thing was doing the right thing. That is what made him a leader; a great leader.
In his early 20's he was an aide to Gen. Braddock of the British army. The general was a very proud man who felt he could win against the Indians fighting the style the British always fought in Europe by directly marching against an enemy that hid behind trees and rocks. That did not work out so well at what was called the Battle at the Monongahela. Washington had warned the British that the Indians fought ambush style in true guerrilla warfare. The British were mowed down and were powerless against the attack.
George Washington wrote to his family the next day after the battle and said, "I don't know why I'm still here. It must be the hand of Providence that had preserved me. I've got bullet holes in my hat, through my clothing. I've had two horses shot out from under me."
Despite losing 977 British soldiers, Governor Dinwiddie hailed George Washington as a hero and gave him the ranking of Colonel and that gave him command of 1,200 men in the Virginia regiment.
Fifteen years after the battle, a great old and respected chief approached Washington and a close friend of his who were travelling towards the western territories and exploring uninhabited regions. The chief had heard that George Washington was coming that way and wanted to personally meet Mr. Washington. Near a junction of the Great Kanawha and Ohio river, they met and through an interpreter, the chief spoke to George Washington.
"I am a chief and ruler over my tribes My influence extends to the waters of the great lakes and to the far blue mountains. I have traveled a long weary path to see the young warrior of the great battle. On the day when white man's blood mixed with the streams of our forest I first saw this chief (Washington). I called to my young men and told them "mark yon tall and daring warrior? He is not part of the red-coat tribe and he has the Indian's wisdom and he and his warriors fight as we do. He himself is alone, exposed so quick, let your aim be certain and he will die. Our rifles were leveled, rifles which, but for you, knew not how to miss; twas all in vain for a power mightier far than we shielded you. You were under a special guardianship from the Great Spirit so we stopped firing at you. I am old and shall be soon with my father; but, I must speak a prophecy. Listen! The Great Spirit protects that man (And he pointed to George Washington) and guides his destiny. He will become the chief of nations, and a people yet unborn will hail him as the founder of a mighty empire. I come to pay homage to the man who is a particular favorite of Heaven and who cannot ever die in battle." This I somewhat paraphrased for easier reading, but the idea and most words are there.
In his early 20's he was an aide to Gen. Braddock of the British army. The general was a very proud man who felt he could win against the Indians fighting the style the British always fought in Europe by directly marching against an enemy that hid behind trees and rocks. That did not work out so well at what was called the Battle at the Monongahela. Washington had warned the British that the Indians fought ambush style in true guerrilla warfare. The British were mowed down and were powerless against the attack.
George Washington wrote to his family the next day after the battle and said, "I don't know why I'm still here. It must be the hand of Providence that had preserved me. I've got bullet holes in my hat, through my clothing. I've had two horses shot out from under me."
Despite losing 977 British soldiers, Governor Dinwiddie hailed George Washington as a hero and gave him the ranking of Colonel and that gave him command of 1,200 men in the Virginia regiment.
Fifteen years after the battle, a great old and respected chief approached Washington and a close friend of his who were travelling towards the western territories and exploring uninhabited regions. The chief had heard that George Washington was coming that way and wanted to personally meet Mr. Washington. Near a junction of the Great Kanawha and Ohio river, they met and through an interpreter, the chief spoke to George Washington.
"I am a chief and ruler over my tribes My influence extends to the waters of the great lakes and to the far blue mountains. I have traveled a long weary path to see the young warrior of the great battle. On the day when white man's blood mixed with the streams of our forest I first saw this chief (Washington). I called to my young men and told them "mark yon tall and daring warrior? He is not part of the red-coat tribe and he has the Indian's wisdom and he and his warriors fight as we do. He himself is alone, exposed so quick, let your aim be certain and he will die. Our rifles were leveled, rifles which, but for you, knew not how to miss; twas all in vain for a power mightier far than we shielded you. You were under a special guardianship from the Great Spirit so we stopped firing at you. I am old and shall be soon with my father; but, I must speak a prophecy. Listen! The Great Spirit protects that man (And he pointed to George Washington) and guides his destiny. He will become the chief of nations, and a people yet unborn will hail him as the founder of a mighty empire. I come to pay homage to the man who is a particular favorite of Heaven and who cannot ever die in battle." This I somewhat paraphrased for easier reading, but the idea and most words are there.
Dr. Glenn A. Phelps wrote a book entitled George Washington and American Constitutionalism. He speaks of Mr. Washington's vision for the future of an American constitutional republic that was on a continental scale. This would be according to the hand that Providence would allow. People looked up to him because his views and leadership were already established. He believed that Congress was to be the main authority responsible for creating domestic policies and laws. The President was to be the caretaker of the policies and enforcer of those laws. He believed that developing foreign policy and that included treaties, were to be the President's responsibility. Thus, he observed the role and authority of Congress while standing by the role and authority of the President. His genius was in the use of the power he had.
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