The Broadway musical Hamilton has me thinking about some of the vital lessons we can learn from a group of individuals who were so committed to their paths that against all odds they won.

THREE QUALITIES

The founders of our country were:

1. Open to learning: They may have started out farmers and non-military townspeople, but they grew and learned. George Washington didn’t “get lucky” and fall into his success. He took the time to study his situation with a positive mindset and focused on solutions.

2. Willing to be challenged: They surrounded themselves with smart people who debated and cajoled them into being better people.

3. Multi-level thinkers: The Founding Fathers demonstrated an ability to see their situation on many levels. They planned their local battles and saw how they fit into the larger scene. They shaped their careers and a country.

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOUR SUCCESS

While there are many lessons we can take from this, I want to bring it down to three proactive steps you can begin taking today:

1. Become a student. While you certainly can take a class or start a new degree, here I’m just talking about researching a topic that fits with your end game. Right now make a concrete, specific commitment. There is always something more to learn.

2. Meet new people. You don’t have to turn your back on your current friends, but join a group, attend an event, or connect online with people you know are smarter, more educated, and more experienced than you are right at this moment.

3. Change your perspective. Write down your end game and then consider the daily game (i.e. the decisions and actions you take on a daily basis). How do these two elements come together?

There is an exciting new world every day ready for you. So what are you doing about it?