Old Hickory…

Andrew Jackson was our 7th President.  His Dad died the year he was born and his Mom died after retrieving Andrew and his cousin from a British Prison Camp during our Revolutionary War.  He fought as a thirteen year old in that war and as a General in the War of 1812.  He won the popular election in 1824 but did NOT have the necessary Electoral College majority.  Soooo the contest would end up being decided by the House of Representatives.  There…

He would lose.  

He would fall.

 John Quincy Adams, as a result, would become our 6th President.  Jackson’s Builder’s Journey was anything but “up and to the right.”  Jackson’s Journey, just like yours and mine, was taken in “fits and starts” and was marked mostly by it’s fallings.  Great lives, surprisingly, eventually “fall forward.”  Who knew…

Jackson’s favorite book was authored by a woman, Jane Porter and was titled, The Scottish Chiefs.  Jackson was of Scots/Irish heritage and very much identified with the books main character, a guy called Wallace.   Yes, the William Wallace of the movie you most likely know…

BRAVEHEART.

Our 7th President, much like the humans that came before and those that came after, was a conflicted character.  He accomplished much while here and also missed the mark.  His “shoot in his eyes” was on the mark.  His shots toward the Indians, missed by a mile.  He is worth studying and learning from.  I highly recommend my current read by Jon Meacham titled American Lion as well as Andrew Jackson, by E.W. Brands.  They offer similar yet distinct perspectives on “Old Hickory.”

Here’s an excerpt from page 14 of  American Lion that I really love.  This is the last communication, according to Jackson, from Elisabeth Jackson to her son Andrew.  He was 14 when she died.  Here it is.  I’ve added some italics for empahsis..

“Andrew, if I should not see you again, I wish you to remember and treasure up some things I have already said to you: in this world you will have to make your own way.  To do that you must have friends.  You can make friends by being honest, and you can keep them by being steadfast.  You must keep in mind that friends worth having will in the long run expect as much from you as they give you.  To forget and obligation or be ungrateful for a kindness is a base crime – not merely a fault or sin, but an actual crime.  Men guilty of it sooner or later must suffer the penalty.  In personal conduct be always polite but never obsequious.  None will respect you more than you respect yourself.  Avoid quarrels as long as you can without yielding to imposition.  But sustain your manhood always.  Never bring a suit in law for assault and battery or for defamation.  The law affords no remedy for such outrages that can satisfy the feelings of a true man.  Never wound the feelings of others.  Never brook wanton outrage upon your own feelings.  If you ever have to vindicate your feelings or defend you honor, do it calmly.  If angry at first, wait till your wrath cools before you proceed.”

Men and Women like Elisabeth are behind, beside, and before every great, transformational leader.  

Who is beside you, building with you?

Whose council do you seek?

Who founded your team before you?

Who are you building up to lead behind you?

Who are you building to take your team beyond you?

Are you able to esteem yourself and see yourself in proper perspective?

Are you building a strong CORE and, simultaneously, allowing your truth tellers to illuminate your blind spots?

Tell me more…