Timeless wisdom from the founding generation—with a modern twist
Two hundred and fifty years ago, a group of extraordinary people built something even more remarkable: a system of American government that has stood the test of time.
And to think, they did it all without MBAs or consultants!
As we commemorate America’s 250th birthday and reflect on this country’s remarkable story, I’ve been struck by how relevant the words of our founders still are now – not just as patriotic quotes, but as genuine leadership guidance for anyone trying to build something great today.
In fact, several have reminded me of big ideas that I’ve heard shared on my podcast by some of today’s great leaders – people like Jamie Dimon, Rory McIlroy, Irina Novoselsky, and more.
So here are five quotes from the founding generation, paired with surprisingly similar insights that show just how enduring our founders’ wisdom really is.
“Experience is a severe preceptor, but it teaches useful truths, and however harsh, is always honest.”
–John Jay
John Jay, the first Chief Justice of the United States, understood something that every leader eventually learns the hard way: failure is one of the most reliable teachers you’ll ever have. You just have to be willing to listen to it.
Elite golfer Rory McIlroy echoes this beautifully. He’s spoken openly about reframing failure not as something to recover from, but as something to learn from. As he told me in our episode of How Leaders Lead: “You certainly learn more in your failures than you do in your wins. If I have a bad week, I reflect on it. I think about what I could do better, and then I get back to work.”
If you can process your experience honestly and then take action based on what you learn, you can grow from your setbacks instead of feeling defined by them.
“The greater part of our happiness or misery depends upon our dispositions, and not upon our circumstances. We carry the seeds of the one or the other about with us, in our minds, wheresoever we go.”
–Martha Washington
Martha Washington recognized that the mindset you carry into any situation matters far more than the situation itself. Two hundred and fifty years later, that insight is just as relevant for anyone in a leadership role.
Steve Squeri, Chairman and CEO of American Express, knows how vital a leader’s disposition is. As he points out, “How the CEO sets the tone is how the tone goes for the entire company.” For that reason, he strives to be just as even-keeled in good circumstances as he is in tough ones. It’s how he stays focused on solving the right problems.
Leaders affect everyone around them. And your disposition (whether good or bad!) comes with you to every meeting, every conversation, and even every relationship you’re in.
That makes your mindset one of the most powerful tools you have. It sets the tone not just for your day but for your whole team and business. It can be a real difference maker in tough situations. And it’s entirely within your control.
“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.”
–Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin was describing something that the best leaders and educators have always known: real learning—and real ownership—only happen when people are given the chance to do the thing themselves.
But too often, we hold someone back from a bigger role because the idea of relinquishing control feels risky. So we play it safe and do it ourselves.
Irina Novoselsky, CEO of CareerBuilder, argues that if you already know someone’s character and values, putting them in the role is actually the least risky decision you can make. As she said: “Go give them the job. Go give them the chance, even if they’ve never done it.”
Find ways to give the people on your team real ownership and responsibility, even when it feels a little scary. Ultimately, you’ll have a more confident team that’s capable of solving real problems–-and plenty of leaders ready to step up as your company grows.
“We have too many high sounding words and too few actions that correspond with them.”
–Abigail Adams
Abigail Adams was sharp, direct, and ahead of her time in almost every way, as you can see in her letters advising her husband John Adams throughout his career. And here, she’s calling out something that hasn’t changed much in 250 years: there’s often a gap between what we say and what we actually do.
Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase, has made essentially the same point his entire career.
As he told me: “First-rate execution with second-rate strategy beats first-rate strategy with second-rate execution.” He knows how easily strategy can become an excuse—a way for people to sound smart in meetings without actually doing the work—and he has absolutely no patience for it.
Words and plans are only as good as what gets done. Get your strategy right, of course, but ultimately, great leaders and businesses have a bias toward action. They know how to roll their sleeves up and get to work.
“On matters of style, swim with the current; on matters of principle, stand like a rock.”
–Thomas Jefferson
In this quote, Thomas Jefferson was drawing a crucial distinction that every leader faces: knowing when to be flexible and when to be immovable. Getting that wrong in either direction is costly. If you’re too rigid on style, you can’t adapt; get too flexible on principle, and you can lose yourself entirely.
It’s a helpful insight to bring into the business world, too. In fact, Dan Cathy, former CEO of Chick-fil-A, has his own version of this. He says to “marry the mission, but date the methods.”
His point is that virtually everything about how you operate should be open to change and improvement—the menu, the technology, the process. But the core mission has to be non-negotiable.
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The language in some of these founder quotes might feel a little old-fashioned, but their wisdom is anything but. They’re fresh reminders to learn from failure, mind our mindset, invest in our people, execute relentlessly, and never compromise on the mission.
It’s timeless wisdom, rediscovered by every generation that’s willing to do the hard work.
The founders certainly did the hard work. The leaders you heard from here have done it, too.
Now it’s your turn. Go out and use this wisdom to build something that will last!
Which of these quotes or insights resonates most with you? Drop a comment and let me know—and Happy 250th Birthday, America! 🇺🇸