1 Important Thing All Businesses Can Learn From The American Revolution- Valutrics
Most Americans will know the incredible story of Paul Revere. For the rest of the world, it may be the first time. But whether you know this story or not, there is an important message there (often missed) for all business people who intend to make their connections extraordinary and build a DREAM TEAM Network.
Just prior to the outbreak of the American revolution in 1775, a young boy in a livery stable in Boston heard two British soldiers saying that there would be “hell to pay tomorrow”. In desperation, he went to the most influential/trusted person he knew. He told silversmith Revere.
He listened and compared this to his own finding of troop gatherings and arms movement in the bay. He became convinced they were coming to arrest Samuel Adams and John Hancock, the colonial leaders.
Revere decided to ride and warn the colonial communities and headed off in the direction of Lexington.
He rode hard, telling all community leaders to assemble troops and spread the word “The British are coming!” These communities then sent riders out in all directions and his network was activated.
As a result, when the British began their march towards Lexington on the morning of the nineteenth their force was met with organized armed resistance.
In Concord that same day, the British Forces were met and defeated. From this point, the American Revolution started and the rest is history.
One could say it was the sensational news that carried and caused the reaction. However, this is not necessarily true.
If we look at William Dawes a tanner and fellow revolutionary who rode in the opposite direction with the same message and intent. The local militia was not alerted, there were no riders sent out and the local communities were caught unawares.
The message was the same. The difference was the two men carrying it.
Revere was a connected individual who, not only was respected and extremely active in the community but was an influencer, even a “salesman”.
To activate not only the first level of connections but the following levels to get your word of mouth to spread virally, you need special people, people that can make things happen, motivate people and even activate people that you do not have direct access to.
Revere was an extraordinary man which is why history remembers him, while Dawes is forgotten, even though his intentions were the same.
Small business owners particularly rely on contacts for advice, various resources, marketing, and referrals. When funds are limited and time is precious the ability to leverage relationships is often the key to survival. Search for extraordinary partners, connectors and influencers if you want extraordinary results or, even better, become the center of influence yourself by contributing to the lives of others,
Search for extraordinary partners, connectors, and influencers if you want extraordinary results or, even better, become the center of influence yourself by contributing to the lives of others, give and help, it all comes back.
We all know someone in our world who, knows everyone, can get anything and it seems easy. This is not an overnight skill or resource. It takes time and commitment to building networks like this, but once we have them we can get results more quickly, with less effort , often for free and more importantly is the saving of our most precious commodity – time.
Are you a ‘Revere’ or are you a ‘Dawes’?