Into the Unknown: Leadership Lessons from Lewis and Clark's Daring Westward Expedition

Today's leadership adventures unfold in the rugged terrain of business, and who better than Lewis and Clark to lead us through its toughest challenges?

If life is an adventure, no one will ever live it more fully than Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. Commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson to explore the rumored Northwest Passage, Lewis and Clark instead discovered a seemingly endless land whose very existence foretold a future America infinitely different from what had been imagined. May 2004 marks the beginning of a two-and-a-half year bicentennial celebration of their incredible journey and its significance to the history of America.

Against staggering odds, these unique men inspired such absolute loyalty in each other and in their group that they are still widely regarded as the most successful leadership team in American history. Their story resonates with business leaders of our time because they had to:

• Think strategically
• Make tough and timely decisions
• Surround themselves with good people
• Manage resources
• Motivate the team
• Deal with different cultures
• Assimilate information from many sources
• Balance long-term goals against short-term realities
• Learn from their mistakes
• Try new approaches

Most importantly, they had to persevere and change course in the face of adversity. Their lessons will inspire business leaders to take their teams to new adventures of great discovery. 

Uldrich is a consultant, speaker, and the author of The Next Big Thing is Really Small