Forward!: The Leadership Principles of Ulysses S. Grant

Author Eric Metaxas has given Craig von Buseck’s previous work glowing commendations: “Hats off to Craig von Buseck for his tremendous research and work!” Through quality research, Forward! offers wonderfully practical principles gleaned from modern leadership theory and from one of American history’s most misunderstood yet resilient figures.

Today’s leaders face intense pressure, not only to perform by exceeding goals, but to adapt quickly to a changing culture. While this may happen at a faster pace now, history is filled with leaders who were forced to perform in extremely challenging circumstances, to adapt to a changing culture, all while fighting personal battles.

One of those who continually rose above expectations to meet the demands of the day was the great American general, Ulysses S. Grant.

Many in the 21st Century forget that in his time, Grant was nearly as popular as Abraham Lincoln. His 1885 funeral in Manhattan saw 1.5 million mourners – still the largest in American history. In 1900, Vice President Theodore Roosevelt made a remarkable statement regarding the place of Ulysses S. Grant in the American political pantheon: “…mightiest among the mighty dead loom the three great figures of Washington, Lincoln, and Grant. …these three greatest men have taken their place among the great men of all nations, the great men of all time.”

Walt Whitman agreed. “Out of the hubbub of the war Lincoln and Grant emerge, the towering majestic figures. … I think this is the greatest lesson of our national existence so far.”

Whitman referred to the fact that both Grant and Lincoln emerged not from the eastern establishment, but from humble beginnings in the western frontier. The question we must ask is, what latent character traits in Grant during his early years emerged during the Civil War, enabling him to rise so high so fast? What can we learn from this titan of the 19th Century that could possibly be relevant to leadership in the 21st Century?

In Forward! Dr. Craig von Buseck presents some of today's foremost principles of leadership discovered by experts in academia, industry, and the military and shows how Ulysses S. Grant successfully employed these concepts in the middle of the Nineteenth Century. Citing such leadership experts as Jim Collins, James M. Kouzes, Barry Z. Posner, Stephen R. Covey, Thomas J. Stanley, John C. Maxwell, and others, Dr. von Buseck demonstrates how the principles these people have discovered through research are the same timeless ideas that made Grant a success in America and around the world.

Forward! provides the time-tested principles today’s leaders need to overcome challenging obstacles and rapidly changing events. Based on years of research – of Ulysses S. Grant, an often-misunderstood general, president, and successful author – and also recent scholarship, historian and speaker Dr. Craig von Buseck presents timeless leadership principles to equip people of vision for success in their chosen fields.

From concert stages to college campuses and churches, and from radio to television and webcasts, Dr. Craig von Buseck has been in the public eye for more than 35 years. As a sought-after keynote and conference speaker, Craig has spoken across the United States and overseas. He is a multi-published author and serves as the Managing Editor for InspirationToday.com, the website of Inspiration Ministries in Charlotte, North Carolina. Craig is also a contributing writer for CBN.com, ChristianPost.com, MTL magazine, and Charisma magazine. He holds a Doctor of Ministry and an MA in Religious Journalism from Regent University.

Craig's book I Am Cyrus: Harry S. Truman and the Rebirth of Israel, published by LPC Books, an imprint of Iron Stream Media, is among his latest releases. This exciting biography examines the Zionist Movement and the life of Harry S. Truman and how they came together in a crucial partnership prior to the rebirth of the modern Nation of Israel. Craig's other books include Seven Keys to Hearing God s Voice; Nobody Knows: The Harry T. Burleigh Story and Praying the News, co-written by 700 Club co-host Wendy Griffith.

Craig has extensive speaking experience and travels often to conferences, professional events, and writer training meetings.