A Model of Perserverance

"Perseverance and spirit have done wonders in all ages." General George Washington

Imagine being thrown into a job for which you've never received any training. Next, think about immediately becoming  the CEO of the company. Oh, just to make it interesting, consider how you would perform if you were freezing cold, malnourished, and people were literally shooting at you.

Such is George Washington's story.

Years ago I read David McCullough's Pulitzer Prize Winning book, 1776, and I've never looked at George Washington the same since.

If you've never been a "non-fiction" reader, I challenge you to give this book a try - for no other reason than that it will make your work challenges look like child's play.

Washington's tale is no dry, textbook story of dates and dry prose; it's a compelling yarn where Washington leads despite being critically short of resources and in a situation way beyond his experience.

So many times leadership is about perseverance, and, if you're like me, it's easy to get discouraged when the battles get tough.

What circumstances make you want to buckle down?  What makes you want to quit?

• Opposition
• Self-Doubt
• Lack of direction
• Inadequate resources
• Pain
• Fatigue
• Lack of support
• Unclear vision

Quitting can be enormously appealing, but when you quit,  you don't know what hangs in the balance. Washington couldn't possibly have seen the reality of what America would be. You don't know what YOU can do if you dig deep and hang in.

You can do wondrous things if you persevere.

Happy Birthday General.