George Washington's Leadership Lessons: What the Father of Our Country Can Teach Us About Effective Leadership and Character

  • 3h 5m
  • James C. Rees, Stephen Spignesi
  • John Wiley & Sons (US)
  • 2007

From James Rees, Executive Director of Mount Vernon, comes an enlightening guide to the leadership wisdom of America's first great leader. George Washington was more than just an inspiring battlefield commander; he was critical to the founding and success of the United States of America. His leadership, his vision, and his courage united a war-torn country and set the United States on the path to greatness. Washington's historic contribution to this nation—his leadership and his character—are as relevant and valuable today as they have ever been.

This book reveals Washington's character, his leadership, his vision, and most surprising of all, his business skills and acumen. Most people aren't aware that Washington, while all of the above, was also a successful businessman and visionary entrepreneur.

Exhibiting qualities sorely lacking in so many of our political and business leaders today, Washington remained steadfastly honest and ethical, following guiding principles that would benefit leaders around the world. George Washington's Leadership Lessons reveals a man of true character, worthy of emulation not just in the realm of politics and war, but in all leadership positions.

About the Authors

James C. Rees has been the executive director of Historic Mount Vernon, the nation's most popular historic home with more than a million annual visitors, since 1994. He has served in several other positions at Mount Vernon since his arrival there in 1983. He previously worked on the nationwide properties program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, as public relations director for The College of William and Mary and the Virginia Shakespeare Festival, and as a cub reporter for the Daily Press newspaper in Tidewater, Virginia. He holds an undergraduate degree from The College of William and Mary and a master's degree from George Washington University. He has served as the president of the Virginia Association of Museums and president of the Friends of the Potomac River. He is the author of numerous books and publications and has appeared on a variety of television programs, including the Today show and CBS Sunday Morning.

Stephen J. Spignesi is a New York Times best-selling author who writes about historical biography, popular culture, television, film, American and world history, and contemporary fiction. Spignesi's three dozen books have been translated into several languages, and he has also written for many magazines and contributed chapters and essays to a wide range of books. He has appeared on CNN, MSNBC, Fox News Channel, and other TV and radio outlets, including the 1998 E! documentary The Kennedys: Power, Seduction, and Hollywood, and the episode on Stephen King that aired on A&E's Biography in January 2000. Stephen's 1997 book JFK Jr. was a New York Times best seller. His authorized Complete Stephen King Encyclopedia was a 1991 Bram Stoker Award nominee.

In addition to writing, Stephen also lectures on a variety of popular culture and historical subjects and teaches writing in the Connecticut area. He is a graduate of the University of New Haven.

In this Book

  • A Leader has Vision
  • A Leader is Honest
  • A Leader has Ambition
  • A Leader is Courageous
  • A Leader has Self-Control
  • A Leader Takes Personal Responsibility
  • A Leader is Determined
  • A Leader has a Strong Work Ethic
  • A Leader Uses Good Judgment
  • A Leader Learns from Mistakes
  • A Leader is Humble
  • A Leader Does the Research and Development
  • A Leader Values Presentation
  • A Leader Exceeds Expectations
  • A Leader Has Heartfelt Faith
  • The Rules of Civility
  • George Washington, Entrepreneur
  • Selected Bibliography
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