The Civil War was not going well for the Union. General William Rosecrans was a blunt, outspoken and quarrelsome man albeit a respected civil engineer and a capable military strategist. He was in command of a large portion of the Union Army, and had acquitted himself well, although he had let a large enemy force escape from the grasp of his troops. Rosecrans met in private with his supervising officer, the formidable and aggressive Ulysses S “U.S.” Grant, soon to become Commanding General of all Union forces.
Rosecrans spoke with eloquence and knowledge during the long and detailed strategic session. He made several astute, applicable and acceptable suggestions and anticipated Grant’s approval. Instead, Grant responded with vehemence and dismissed him with a curse comment. Within a short time, Rosecrans was replaced as a commander and re-assigned to a position of far less responsibility.
Later, Grant spoke of his reasoning. He indicated his pleasure with Rosecrans’ well-thought presentation and high-level plans. “My only wonder was that he had not carried them out,” said Grant. He needed a man of action at the helm, not a man of excessive contemplation and delay.
Be a man of action. Plan well and acknowledge that no plan is ever perfect or fool-proof. Arrive at a decision then proceed with its execution. In most cases, understand that it is better to ask forgiveness than to ask permission. Grant, and an aggressive command group of Generals, preserved the Union and won the Civil war in large part because they had a bias for swift action. Be as decisive as Grant, in matters large and small, and you will win your fair share of battles, too.
From October 2010, http://raising-a-man.tumblr.com
Rosecrans spoke with eloquence and knowledge during the long and detailed strategic session. He made several astute, applicable and acceptable suggestions and anticipated Grant’s approval. Instead, Grant responded with vehemence and dismissed him with a curse comment. Within a short time, Rosecrans was replaced as a commander and re-assigned to a position of far less responsibility.
Later, Grant spoke of his reasoning. He indicated his pleasure with Rosecrans’ well-thought presentation and high-level plans. “My only wonder was that he had not carried them out,” said Grant. He needed a man of action at the helm, not a man of excessive contemplation and delay.
Be a man of action. Plan well and acknowledge that no plan is ever perfect or fool-proof. Arrive at a decision then proceed with its execution. In most cases, understand that it is better to ask forgiveness than to ask permission. Grant, and an aggressive command group of Generals, preserved the Union and won the Civil war in large part because they had a bias for swift action. Be as decisive as Grant, in matters large and small, and you will win your fair share of battles, too.
From October 2010, http://raising-a-man.tumblr.com
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