I recently watched the movie, Young George Washington, and one scene completely changed how I think about leadership.
Imagine, for a moment, you’re with him on his first high-risk mission to confront a large French army occupying the Ohio Valley.
It’s October 31, 1753.
He’s only 21 years old.
Snow crunches beneath your boots as George Washington leaves Williamsburg.
Thirty-five days later, he arrives and finds French soldiers en masse occupying and building forts.
The risks were extraordinary.
- Only a handful of companions.
- Deep in French-controlled territory.
- Make an ultimatum with no armed support.
- No guarantee of diplomatic immunity.
- Winter wilderness with frozen rivers.
- Depend on Native allies with shaky loyalties.
- No room for the smallest error
It was a mission requiring remarkable courage, composure, and judgment.
What happens next reveals some of the greatest leadership lessons of George Washington’s life.
