Every July 4, I think about John Hart.
Not many people know his name. He wasn’t famous, wealthy, or even formally educated.
He was a farmer, a father of thirteen, and a small-town judge in New Jersey.
He was my sixth great-grandfather.
In 1776, John Hart signed the Declaration of Independence alongside notable figures such as Jefferson and Adams. He wasn’t one of the eloquent voices shaping the vision of a new nation. However, he believed in the cause and risked everything for it.
He DID lose almost everything.
After signing, he fled as British troops raided his farm. He lived in the woods and slept in barns and caves while his wife lay dying at home. He returned only briefly before he, too, passed away. He never saw the freedom he helped fight for.
There were no parades for him. No monuments. But his life still holds lessons for today.
Leadership that changes things does not need a grand speech or a big title.
It’s doing things, not because they make us look better, but because we are working for something bigger than ourselves. It's being humble. It's owning who we are and leading with that authenticity. It's saying the thing that others will not say, because it needs to be said. It's taking bold action, even when it’s super scary.
I see that spirit in my clients:
- The founder who chooses his team over his ego.
- The leadership team that needs to name the elephant in the room and does so.
- The woman stepping into the role that will stretch her in every way possible, knowing that she will grow into it.
These people are not signing declarations. But they are making them.
This July 4, I’m thinking about John Hart. Little-known, under-celebrated, and deeply courageous.
And I’m thinking about all who lead humbly yet courageously every day.
