Weeks after being elected president, Abraham Lincoln soon had a country at war to lead and a nation to reunite. In today’s parlance, he might be thought of as a “turnaround CEO” attempting to save a failing country.
George Washington, on the other hand might be thought of as a start-up genius.
Historian Richard Brookhiser writes “America’s greatest leader was its first. George Washington ran two start-ups, the army and the presidency, and chaired the most important committee meeting in history, the Constitutional Convention. His agribusiness and real estate portfolio made him rich. Men followed him into battle; women longed to dance with him; famous men, some of them smarter or better spoken, did what he told them to do”
Mr. Brookhiser’s short article on Washington offers what might be called “The 7 Habits of a Highly Effective Founding Father.” Take a few minutes to learn more about “George Washington, Founding CEO.”
If you want a thorough and deep biography of Washington, I highly recommend Ron Chernow’s Pulitzer Prizer winning “Washington, A Life.” (Mr. Chernow’s bio of Alexander Hamilton was the inspiration for the blockbuster musical).
