Tomorrow is Christmas. I hope you have a merry one, but for those who do not, I offer you a ray of hope.
We are a nation born from a pivotal battle fought on Christmas — the Battle of Trenton (25-26 December 1776).
I believe the Battle of Trenton (there were actually two) was the pivotal battle of the American Revolution.
If our attack had been repulsed, we would not exist.
The other day China celebrated the 70th anniversary of the founding of the “modern” China meaning Communist China.
That made me think about the founding father of China — Mao Zedong.
It also made me think about the founding fathers of the United States. First amongst them was this guy:
Both of these guys were citizen-soldiers who had a hook into agriculture. Our two nations have a different character which I attribute to the difference in our founding stories and our founding fathers.
The Declaration of Independence of the United States of America was authored by a Virginian, Thomas Jefferson, and the “Committee of Five” in 17 days. It captures the essence of the Revolution that was now no longer to be a “rebellion” but a fight to the death or victory. It demands a reading.
Big Red Car here on a slightly gloomy President’s Day in the ATX. Ahh, it is still sweet. You can just begin to see the advent of spring.
So, today is President’s Day and one of the Presidents being honored is George Washington, our first President and Father of our Country.
With the passage of time, it becomes more and more evident what an extraordinary man he was and what extraordinary work he did. [Can you name a single politician today who could hold this guy’s horse? I can’t.]
Training again, Big Red Car? Really?
OK, dear reader, we will have one last crack at training for the CEO. Promise.
Today, we discuss Baron von Steuben. You know the Baron, right? Drillmaster of Valley Forge, no?
Get this book by Paul Lockhart. Great read. Been around for some time and it is a great book to inspire a CEO.
Big Red Car here. The Boss is in Cashiers, NC enjoying the rain.
Nice road trip with a delightful Cajun dinner in Monroe, Louisiana. The spiciest Cajun food ever but the mud bugs, jambalaya, crawfish etouffe — cher, that it the real deal.
So today we talk about diplomacy and what happens when it fails.
Enemy advancing, retreat
Enemy entrenched, harass
Enemy exhausted, attack
Enemy retreat, pursue
Who said that, beloved reader and what does it mean? First commenter to get it right gets a $50 gift certificate to Red Lobster. Continue reading
Well, The Boss has been reading all about George Washington (for about the fifth time that the Big Red Car is aware of) and is reading Douglas Southall Freeman’s seven volume history of Washington for at least the second time.
Freeman is the author of the definitive works on Washington and Robert E Lee.
Big Red Car here. Nice sunny day, cold, here in the ATX.
The Boss was up before dawn and had his breakfast and was hard at work on a new deal he is working on. An exciting new startup business. Which brought me to the notion of leadership and, in particular, leadership in a crisis
I have often heard The Boss speak of his admiration for George Washington and his leadership — crisis leadership — in the Battle of Trenton. Continue reading
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