[October 15, 2017] If you have never heard of Joshua Chamberlain, then you are missing out on the story of one of the most famous officers of the U.S. Civil War. Prior to the war, Chamberlain was a college Professor in Modern Languages; speaking at least ten languages.1 His path to leadership success during the war and after was non-traditional but typical of leaders of distinction.
“There are three kinds of men. The one that learns by reading. The few who learn by observation. The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence for themselves.” – Will Rogers, American cowboy, humorist, newspaper columnist, and social commentator
There is a false impression that the path to fame and fortune is through a prestigious education and knowing the right people. While that certainly helps one achieve their dreams, those things are not a determining factor, nor are they predictive of how satisfied and successful we are with our lives.
Rags to riches, accidental leaders, groomed for greatness, and such stories tell of the many paths people take to reach their full potential. With each person I have ever met, their story to reach their own dreams in life have taken unpredictable twists and turns, seemingly endless obstacles, and folks they met along the way that helped teach, mentor, and coach them through tough times. Being successful has no single path, plan, or vision that works for everyone.
A lifelong friend of mine started out his life living in a small hut outside a small town in northeastern Louisiana. He was poor and not interested in formal education. But he was interested in hunting (especially ducks and other water fowl) where he developed a handheld device that would imitate a duck call. After many years, he had put together a successful company manufacturing this device and made himself and his family very rich. His son, a Harvard MBA, works for his dad, my friend, in the company.
I’m frequently asked what path I took to becoming a U.S. Army flag officer and one of the few Engineer Generals. My answer is always the same; it was unplanned as well as unexpected. A combination of hard work, resilience to failure, and plain luck made the difference. I was not a West Point graduate, nor was I selected to the best military schools but through an unusual path, I was fortunate to be given the chance to work at a senior level.
Joshua Chamberlain, whose 20th Maine Regiment, is best remembered for the action at Little Round Top, Gettysburg where his unit repelled a Confederate attempt to turn the Union flank. He received the Medal of Honor for action that day, July 2nd, 1863.
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- I recommend you stop and read about Joshua Chamberlain so to appreciate a truly practiced leader; https://www.buybooksontheweb.com/product.aspx?ISBN=9781495807381