Memorial Weekend is starting. My marketing mentor Jim Connoly wrote a blog this Friday morning about the importance to keep on as it relates to marketing. It gave me the inspiration for this blog about the need for leaders with the courage to lead on. I want to share the memory of one of the great moments in USA history, when a great leader had that kind of courage.
It was the winter of 1776. General George Washington and the american army had been driven out of New York by the British and forced to retreat to the West bank of the Delaware during the late summer of 1776. In that harsh winter the American cause was at a very low ebb. Nevertheless, General Washington kept leading his men on. He resolved to attack the Hessian position at Trenton, New Jersey, on Christmas night.
Washington had some 2,400 men from Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut and New York. That cold dark night the Delaware river was running with flowing ice. To make matters worst, at about 11pm a heavy snow and sleet storm fell on them. Washington’s force did not reach the east bank until around 3am. His soldiers were tired, badly clothed and many did not have shoes.
Notwithstanding the harsh conditions, Washington kept leading onward, and his men kept marching on 9 more miles to Trenton. Some of the men leaving traces of their blood on the snow from the cuts on their naked feet. The result was a resounding victory that turned the tide of the American Revolution. Ever since, Washington’s army crossing the Delaware in the freezing conditions has become an important national image for the United States. We owe them a big debt of gratitude.
In difficult times, we need leaders that can dare to lead on!
Do you dare to lead on?
- Are you experiencing a “cold spell” in your business? It's time to formulate a winning strategy. Dare to lead on!
- Do you find the realities of the marketplace are at odds with the reality of your organization? It's time to engage in a realistic analysis and alignment. Dare to lead on!
- Is the organization walking away from it’s most cherished values in order to make more money? It's time to explore values and mission. Then to reinforce them in the daily operation of the company. Dare to lead on!
- Is your workforce discouraged due to ongoing difficulties in getting ahead of the competition? It's time to encourage innovation, reward perseverance, and excellence. Dare to lead on!
- Is everybody tired and dispirited? It's time to galvanize them into action with a bold plan and vision. Dare to lead on to a resounding victory!
This Memorial Weekend voice your gratitude to the memory of all the men and women that have sacrificed for the ideals of our country. Take inspiration from them and find a more excellent and innovative way to do business.
Be a leader that dares to lead on!
Happy Memorial Weekend!
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Photos by: Marion Doss