As we get ready to celebrate the independence of this great country of ours I decided to look into one of the recognized leaders of American history - Paul Revere. A silversmith by trade he became a very successful businessman after the revolution.
But Paul became known as the guy who rode on a horse throughout the suburbs of Boston to warn 
people that the British were planning an attack. However, as it turns out, Revere wasn't the only one riding a horse to warn others. William Dawes went on a similar mission but is not nearly as known as Paul Revere. As I was reading The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell, he writes that the reason Revere is known for the Midnight Ride is because he was more successful. People listened to Revere because of his "connections" to the citizens, his relationships, and viewed him as someone with integrity and honesty. Although not much is known about William Dawes, Gladwell suggests that Revere was know as someone known to the people with a history, while Dawes was another stranger.
It's interesting that in business so much depends on integrity, honesty, and genuine connections with people. People with whom Revere interacted made a decision to trust him based on their previous interactions and his reputation. Good thing Revere had all these attributes - we may have lost an important battle with the Brits. Paul Revere's legacy is that he was celebrated person who risked life and limb to warn Samuel Adams and John Hancock about a pending attack. Of course he wasn't celebrated during his lifetime. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem called Paul Revere's Ride is what made Revere famous after his death.
Well, enough of history. Have a happy 4th of July and enjoy the spirit of American independence.
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