Beyond the Cherry Tree

   After a recent meeting of the Wise Guys, Jim Hodges handed me a book he had written  entitled Beyond the Cherry Tree. The Leadership Wisdom of George Washington.. The cover consisted of a glorious painting of George Washington set against a pretty blue background.  The author’s wife Bonnie provided this illustration, as well as those throughout the book.

   My initial reaction was that this was a children’s book meant for our 7-year-old grandchild.  However, on more careful inspection, I realized that I was mistaken. The book represents an insightful analysis of what is meant by leadership. It is a multilayered examination of the moral and ethical values of George Washington, modern leaders of business and ultimately those of Mr. Hodges himself. It consists of multiple simultaneous narratives addressing each of these perspectives.

  

  This book was apparently a response to catastrophic business failures, in particular the debacle at Enron. The author attributes these failures to poor leadership, due mainly to ethical failings. The author chooses to center his analysis around George Washington since Washington was noted for his leadership, and moral principles, and qualities, which must resonate with the author’s own values. As the author points out, Washington’s leadership extended to business, agriculture and scientific farming. That he was ethically pristine is suggested by the story of the cherry tree, wherein Washington confessed to his father that he could not lie; it was he who cut down the cherry tree. The author realizes that the story is probably apocryphal and wishes to go” beyond the cherry tree" in his analysis of Washington’s ethical bonafides. The book is ostensibly a guidebook on how to conduct business based on ethical principles. In so doing, Hodges suggests that ethical behavior leads to improved profitability as well as improved human relationships.

   The book consists of 5 chapters each of which deals with a different aspect of leadership. The general strategy is to report the author’s ideas of leadership, intermixed with those of Washington and other individuals, generally representing CEO’s. . The ultimate conclusion is that those who follow ethical principles stand the best chance of success. The first chapter deals with leadership in general and highlights and embraces the views of Washington.  It begins with an actual letter of Washington, written at the beginning of the Revolutionary War to a Colonel   William Woodard, who solicited the General’s advice about how to lead men. In this first person letter he stresses the mechanics of good leadership. In other examples, Washington’s views are reported from secondary sources wherein he stresses the ideas of ethics, compassion and trust.

   The remaining chapters deal with character building, calculating risk, engendering loyalty, and planning for succession. In all cases, the views are essentially those of Mr. Hodges, but resonate with those of Washington. Frequently, the author describes those individuals who did not follow Washington’s leads, and were thus set on a course of failure and national derision.

    Contrary to initial impressions, the book is not really about George Washington but is actually about Jim Hodges and his notions concerning our national collective leadership.  That he chose to center the book on George Washington reflects his bond to the American leader.  He seems to favor male bonding as reflected in his participation in Jollies and the Wise Guys, where he is a valued member.

   As a conclusion, Mr. Hodges explains that his own leadership qualities were achieved by standing on the shoulders of a great mentor. This statement requires some thoughtful analysis. When one stands on the shoulders of others, he sees further than they did. Hodges never claims that his ethical principles were superior to those of Washington.  Rather what the statement does imply is that by standing on the General’s shoulders he was able to apply these principles to a modern world. It is these principles that enlarge one’s vision of leadership in a world crying out for guidance in matters of business, lest we go the way of Enron, and other failed companies consequent to failed leadership.

                                                             

Post by Arthur Banner