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President George Washington went down in history as being a genius military strategist who valiantly lead the Colonists as they defeated the British Army. What is not so well known is how he did it. General Washington had only the bare minimum of supplies and was working with a small (and relatively poorly trained) army. Washington knew this. He was well aware of his weaknesses and knew that any offensive would most likely end in the unnecessary death of his soldiers, the defeat of the Colonists, and a British victory. Instead of attack, Washington demonstrated elegant retreat. Having a realistic assessment of the situation, he realized that the time had not yet come (nor would it come) for an offense based victory; however through perpetual retreat deeper into the countryside Washington knew that eventually the British would simply give up and in this way he would be victorious. This is exactly what happened. Washington won the revolutionary war through the strategy and practice of active retreat while waiting for his enemy to tire and fall. This same strategy was successfully employed by the Russians against Napoleon. In our lives when active striving is not helping us reach our goals we may want to consider a strategy of active and elegant retreat.
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Sunday, August 31, 2008
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Learning from Karl's Pain
Karl Meltzer set out on August 5, 2008 to run the 2,174 mile Appalachian Trail in 47 days. Although do to serious pain in his leg he will not set the record he was hoping to set this time around, he is never the less running and plan's on finishing the trail despite a week of excruciating leg pain. In the blog he posted yesterday, Karl writes, "The pain was so severe that I sat on the side of the trail almost crying, thinking about my next move. After 5 minutes, I started moving again and the pain subsided. And then all of a sudden I could run again..." Karl's words contain several great lessons. Sometimes we are in pain, sometimes the pain is excruciating. At such times about the only thing we are able to do is sit on the side of our proverbial life's trails, plan our next move, cry, and wait out the pain. Plans are wonderful, they keep us moving forward. Tears are wonderful, they clean the soul. Patience is wonderful, it builds character. There are times when the pain seems as if it will never go away and then the next moment its gone...And we can run again. So next time we are in pain and the pain seems to be without end it would be wise of us to remember what Karl did and...Sit...Plan...Cry...Wait...And when the pain goes away start running again.
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Friday, August 22, 2008
Keep on Hiking
As I write this blog the 2008 Summer Olympics are taking place in Beijing. The worlds best athletes compete against one another in displays of fierce concentration, determination, and physical prowess. Meanwhile, in the hills of Vermont there is an super athlete who is competing against himself in a heroic display of determination and perseverance. His name is Karl Meltzer. Starting on August 5, 2008 Karl set out to complete the 2,174 mile Appalachian Trail in 47 days, thereby breaking the record. Unfortunately do to excruciating trench foot Karl was forced to take a few days off the trail. This time around he will not break the record. However, what he is accomplishing is certainly record breaking of other sorts. Karl could have just as easily gone back to his home in Salt Lake City engaged in a five star pity party, but instead Karl is determined to finish the Appalachian Trail regardless of any record. Karl Meltzer is more than an athlete, he is a man of integrity. As I was hiking with my three year old son yesterday he slipped and fell. I helped him back up and said to him, "There's nothing wrong with falling, but there is something wrong with not getting back up after the fall." My son began repeating these words so as to commit them to memory. Karl Meltzer is teaching us that there is nothing wrong with falling but there is something wrong with not getting back up after the fall. For this teaching we owe Karl a debt of gratitude. Keep on hiking Karl!!!
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Sunday, August 17, 2008
Be Your Own Best Friend
“I am not bound to win, but I am bound to work at winning. I am not bound to succeed, but I am bound to get up, no matter how many times I fall.” (Abraham Lincoln)
He walked the walk.
Age 22 – He failed in business.
Age 23 – He ran for the Legislature and was defeated.
Age 24 – He failed in business - again.
Age 25 – He was finally elected to the Legislature.
But then…
Age 29 – He was defeated for Speaker of the House
Age 34 – He was defeated for Congress.
Age 39 – He lost another bid for Congress.
Age 46 - He was defeated for the Senate.
Age 47 – He was defeated for Vice President.
Age 49 – He was again defeated for the senate.
But then…
Age 51 – He was elected president of the United States.
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