So I got into this kick about George Washington recently, especially his early years before he became the big founding father guy. Found some dusty biographies at the library and binge-read like three of them back-to-back. Crazy how nobody talks much about his scrappy teenage phase.
First Realization: The Honesty Cherry Tree Thing? Probably Fake
Dove straight into the famous “I cannot tell a lie” cherry tree story. Turns out historians basically agree it’s folklore cooked up after Washington died. What actually stuck out was his insane record-keeping habit. Kid started journals at 16 tracking everything from crop rotations to military drills. Wrote down every screw-up too – like that time he accidentally sparked the French and Indian War by ambushing French soldiers near Pittsburgh. Man owned his messes publicly. Made me grab a notebook next morning to start logging my own blunders.
Actual Practical Takeaway: Rules for Living
Washington handwrote 110 life principles at 14 after copying some old French etiquette book. Sounds lame but hear me out:
- Stop talking when people sneeze – basically means read the damn room. I practiced this during my team meeting yesterday. Didn’t interrupt Dave’s presentation even though his slides made my eyes bleed.
- Be considerate with fireplaces – modern translation? Don’t hog resources. Shared the last office Keurig pod instead of slurping it alone.
- When walking alone, don’t whistle – dude was paranoid about seeming unserious. I stopped scrolling TikTok during elevator rides with my boss.
The Mindset Shift
Biggest shocker? Young Washington failed CONSTANTLY. Got rejected by the British navy at 15. Got demoted from militia leadership. Even bombed at farming early on. His journals show zero self-pity though – just “planted wheat wrong today → ask farmer Johnson technique.” Started applying this by reframing my gym fails. Instead of “I suck at pull-ups” I wrote “Shoulder angle incorrect → find YouTube tutorial.” Feels less personal when it’s just data.
Tried embracing his silence trick too. Dude was famous for shutting up in meetings until he’d gathered all intel. At yesterday’s budget planning, I waited 15 excruciating minutes before speaking. Ended up catching three flaws nobody noticed because I wasn’t busy formulating my own argument.
Honestly expected boring history crap. Got tactical life hacks instead. Who knew?
