"The Longer you look back, the farther you can look forward”

The Longer you look back, the farther you can look forward

Did you know that Lee Iacocca was “dismissed” at Ford Motor Company after serving as President? Did you know that Lee Iacocca was asked to be the President of Chrysler after that? Did you know after helping to rebuild Chrysler Lee Iacocca’s replacement cashed in and sold the company?

Lee Iacocca who many think to be one of the great leaders of all time in the American Auto Industry could serve as a platform for future leaders. I think we could apply his platform of leadership across many industries. 

The best way to learn about leadership and business is to look at what has already happened. They say history repeats itself over and over, so why not learn from it. Why don’t we concentrate more on what happened to us in the past? Well…..because there is always the one person who will tell you not to live in the past. I ask why not.

On December 20, 1803, the biggest land deal in history took place when the United States led by Thomas Jefferson purchased 831,321 square miles of land from France.  The Louisiana Purchase cost the United States fifteen million dollars and more than doubled the size of the United States.

As a business owner what can we take from the real estate transaction completed by one of our founding fathers?  His business was to expand the United States territory.  Decisions had to be made, risk had to be taken, and the impact would involve many.  The outcome was unknown but the plan was in place.

Two years after Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, the 13th Amendment was created.  This Amendment  to the Constitution abolished slavery throughout the entire United States and not just areas under Union control.

Abraham Lincoln had a plan, a goal, and a strategy to abolish slavery.  His business was to free all people, and he believed in his business.  His decision involved risk, lives, and an impact that is felt today.  Robert F Kennedy, once said, "Each time a man stands up for an ideal or acts to improve the lot of others or strikes out against an injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope...Those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance."

Do we as business owners believe in our business?  Do we take pride in our work?  Are we willing to put a plan in place, stride for a goal, and work HARD to get there?  Will our hard work add value to others?  We are in the "New" economy, reevaluate, not reinvent.

History is History, and we should strive to learn from what great leaders have done before us.  When we opt to look forward before looking back we forego the opportunity to capitalize on the most valuable resource, HISTORY.