What Would George Washington Tell Us About Leadership?
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When I "asked him" about Core Values, I understood why he was our First President. 🇺🇸 Hello Reader, Happy Fourth of July! To celebrate America's 250th Anniversary, a client recently created something absolutely fascinating. It's an AI version of George Washington at ConstantLife.ai, trained on his writings, speeches, and as much of his history as possible. You can actually have a conversation with him. I’ll admit… I was maybe a bit skeptical. Then my young son and I tried the test version. A few days later, my son Johnny walked into my office and asked, “Dad… can I talk to George again?” That made me smile. Because the conversation wasn’t interesting simply because it used AI. It was interesting because it reminded me that while technology changes, human nature doesn’t. People have always wrestled with fear. They’ve always faced difficult decisions. They’ve always had to choose between doing what is easy and doing what is right. When I asked “George” what his core values were, this was his response: “My core values are deeply rooted in the principles of duty, integrity, and the pursuit of unity. I have always believed in the importance of self-government and the responsibilities it entails. Civic virtue, the rule of law, and the preservation of our Union have been guiding principles throughout my life. I have endeavored to conduct myself with honesty and to place the needs of the Republic above personal ambition.” Whether those words came from a man who lived 250 years ago or from an AI trained on his writings isn’t really the point. The point is that core values still matter. Humility is a strength. Integrity matters. Leadership is almost never about being fearless. Being fearless usually just gets you into trouble faster. Leadership is about feeling the fear… and moving forward anyway. That’s courage. Those words also reminded me of my late father. He wasn’t George Washington, but he was one of the most deeply integrous men I’ve ever known. Years ago, his company put him in an impossible position. He could either compromise his integrity to make the company happy or do what he believed was right. He chose integrity. It cost him... a lot. When I asked him about it, he looked at me and said, “Son, I have to look at myself in the mirror, and I always want to respect who I see when I do that.” I’ve never forgotten those words. This Week’s Leadership ChallengeTake five quiet minutes today and ask yourself: What are the values you want people to remember you for? Not the accomplishments. Not the titles. Not the résumé. The values. Because, in the end, those are what people experience every time you walk into a room… and every time you leave the room. Happy Independence Day my fellow Americans! And to my friends around the world, thank you for allowing me to learn from you, work with you, and share this remarkable journey of leadership and communication together. Here’s to leading with courage, communicating with integrity, and bringing more of the awesome inside you out into the world. I am wishing you a Happy Fourth of July weekend! – John From the Archive - Live Like a Leader PODCAST! ​LISTEN NOW 🔊​ ​
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​John K. Bates
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