A Coaching Session with George Washington
To celebrate the Fourth of July, a wee-bit of eavesdropping on the Founding Father and his imaginary executive coach.
George Washington: Thank you for your patience. The chronic squabble went long…again.
Coach: Let me guess, Hamilton and Jefferson?
GW: Precisely. Those two are oil and water. One says, “Yay,” the other says “Nay.” One says, “Colonies,” the other says, “Federalism.” I say, Balderdash to it all.
Coach: This issue between these two has not resolved itself since we started working together.
GW: I cannot tell a lie. It has not.
Coach: Is this where you’d like to focus our time today?
GW: Not directly. I want to go back to that thing you mentioned in our last session. That ladder thing.
Coach: Ah, the “Life Progress Ladder.”
GW: You and your theories and frameworks, I should introduce you to Mr Webster but I digress, yes. That one.
Coach: Well in terms of your life, you are at that interesting juncture between “Success” and “Freedom.” The next step above Success is true Freedom. The point in your life when you can do what you want.
GW: That’s it. I want to capitalize on all this success: you know, extracting from the British, uniting the colonies and serving these last two terms as President. But…I’m done. Kaput. I’m ready to move onto the next chapter.
Coach: Good, good. And are you developing a vision for this next chapter?
GW: Well, if returning to Mount Vernon and experimenting with crop rotations is a “vision” then so be it. By the way, I hear there is some sort of new-fangled vegetable called, Asparagus. It apparently makes your water smell funny.
Coach: Indeed. So what’s holding you back?
GW: What isn’t?! My cabinet thinks President is a lifetime position.
Coach: And it’s not, is it?
GW: I’m like, “What part of defeating the British and the utter rejection of their whole royal system do you not understand, people?!” We are not Kings here in America!
Coach: I see. And I can feel your frustration.
GW: Listen, I think Adams gets it. Of course, he’d like to be President. I don’t know about those other two. Hamilton, especially. He seems to want me to be President for life so he can Federalize everything!
Coach: So your cabinet is holding you back?
GW: I think so.
Coach: I sense a little hesitation.
GW: No…just…well…
Coach: Yes…
GW: I’m just nervous that we won’t have a peaceful transfer of power. I can see a whole bunch of rabble-rousers storming Federal Hall!
Coach: Would you like to brainstorm ideas to prevent that?
GW: No, no, no. I have a council working on that. I want to go back to that Freedom notion.
Coach: Yes…
GW: Do you really think I can give up all this Presidential pomp and circumstance?
Coach: Do you want to?
GW: Lord knows I want to. You know, Jefferson penned something I always loved.
Coach: What’s that?
GW: “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.” I love that whole “Pursuit of Happiness” thing!
Coach: Well, maybe that’s your idea for Freedom. It’s time for you to “pursue your happy.”
GW: By golly, you’re right! Let the Continental Congress sort the country…this old soldier is gonna experiment with hemp!
Coach: Sounds like a plan.
GW: Huzzah! Huzzah! Huzzah!
Coach: By the way, I’m doing a lot more Team Coaching, Mr President. Would you be interested in a workshop with your cabinet?
GW: Oooh, yes! Let me brief the lads and let’s schedule something for after the 4th.
Huzzah!