I’ve always considered myself a strategist. And, a history buff. In fact, one of my degrees is in history. I’ve always believed that you can learn from the actions and results of others, such as, Ulysses S. Grant.
As a business owner and CEO, you’re in charge of vision and strategy. That’s why you have to make it a point to watch the just released miniseries Grant on the History Channel.
General Ulysses S. Grant is considered the savior of our country. He earned that reputation by being the leader who won the Civil War. Grant masterly set his flywheel in motion, using clear intention to win the war.
If you’ve engaged with me for any planning work, you know I hammer home vision, purpose, team, planning and execution with the overarching theme that less is more.
General Grant had a vision of an undivided free country. He had a purpose: to eliminate the inhuman institution of slavery. He put together a team made up of the best commanders available to him and he implemented just two strategies on the battlefield to win the war.
His first strategy was to synchronize the aggressive movements of 5 distinct armies to disrupt supply lines and the ability of the South to move reinforcements of men between fronts.
The second was to keep General Robert E. Lee, the Confederacy’s most respected and effective general, pinned down in Richmond. By executing on these two strategies, he won the war.
That’s not to say he didn’t have his failures along the way. He did. Massive ones that cost lives, time and money. But like a great leader, he learned from his mistakes, fell back on his purpose and with relentless perseverance, continued toward his vision.
See these concepts in action and be inspired. Search out this three-part miniseries.