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The new HBO miniseries John Adams depicts the Founding Fathers and their journey towards the development of a new nation. There are lessons to be taken from the founding of our nation that can be applied to anyone who wants to be brand leader. 
1. Start with a Vision. The men who signed the Declaration of Independence had a conviction about what they were creating and kept that high goal always before them through all the challenges they faced. What is your vision? What are you trying to create?
2. Improvise. Executive Producer Tom Hanks is quoted in an interview about how he was struck by how young these men were, how very much they were “winging it”, changing to meet the demands of each day. Is your organization flexible enough to allow for change? Do you encourage failure as a better option than not trying at all?
3. Craft Your Message Carefully. As they developed the laws of the new nation, they thought about exactly what they wanted to be known for. Thomas Jefferson toiled over every word in the Declaration of Independence. Laboring over the copy in your branding statement is not a waste of time.
4. Embrace Radical Thinking. The Founding Fathers were innovators, building something that had never existed before. Think “outside the box” of your own category. Dare to be different and you will undoubtedly succeed.
5. Be consistent. From the early 1770’s through the end of the Revolutionary War, the Founding Fathers communicated consistently, railing against the tyrannies of England and espousing the ideals of freedom and liberty.
6. Be Driven by the People. Throughout the creation process, these men constantly went back to their own local governments to seek counsel and gain approvals for what they were representing. Don’t forget to constantly go back to check in with your constituents--your consumers, your shareholders, your employees--to gain guidance and stay on track.
You may not be building a new nation, but you can impact your customers’ lives in very tangible ways. Brand leadership is messy, just as founding our country was messy.
Be innovative, be visionary, be purposeful, be consistent (but improvise when necessary) and above all, be ever guided by your consumer. You will undoubtedly create something great.
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