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Could the
Founding Fathers Save General Motors?
idea in the form
of a fable about a man who dreams that Benjamin Franklin is his personal
guide to business success.
"When I wrote the book, I had no idea how timely it
would be," said author GinaMaria Jerome. "I could never have
imagined that America would undergo such enormous change, and businesses
would be failing at the rate they are today."
In the book Jarrod Willingsbee,
a man whose business is declining fast, dreams he travels back in time to
1787 when the U.S. Constitution was being heavily debated during one very
hot summer in Philadelphia. In his dream, Willingsbee
gets leadership advice from the likes of Franklin, Alexander Hamilton,
and even George Washington. The framers of the Constitution teach Willingsbee seven principles about sharing a vision,
engaging those around him, and being a revolutionary - lessons Willingsbee sees as ways to turnaround his own
beleaguered business.
Though an interesting twist, the concept is
hardly new. Business leaders have sought influential ideas from Abraham
Lincoln, Franklin Roosevelt, and Thomas Jefferson. What makes Jerome's
concept unique is relating the creation of a fledging nation to reviving
a withering business.
"Through their words and their deeds, the
Founding Fathers of the United States not only created the greatest
nation in the world," wrote Jerome, founder of The Leadership Guild,
"they passed along the secrets of their formidable leadership
skills." Many believe these management principles are universal and
can be readily applied to business, especially when it comes to sharing
an idea and putting it into action.
"The American Dream reminds us that the
Founding Fathers brought their vision to life," commented leadership
coach Dr. Patrick Williams.
The book is also well-timed in light of the new
president, Barack Obama, who frequently talks about restoring the
American dream.
The book is also well-timed in light of the
recent presidential election.
"Whenever there's a new leader at the helm,"
said Jerome, a leadership coach, "it gives us time to reflect about
what we might do differently, how we can change and make things better.
My dream would be for this book to give leaders renewed hope, because if
any country can rebound from a crisis, we can."
The book, The American Dream: A Tale of Leadership from the Founding
Fathers, can be ordered at iUniverse
(www.iuniverse.com).
The Leadership Guild is committed to helping companies find solutions
that develop strong leaders, elevate professional development, boost
performance, and improve organizational management. Learn more at their
website, www.leadershipguild.com.
Copyright
© 2009. All Rights Reserved.
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