Commit to helping each other, always.

In September of 2022, I turned 44 years old. Age has never really bothered me, except to say that I have always wanted to be at an age where you are taken seriously. That goal post has moved more than I ever could have imagined. When you are 22 and in a room of leaders, you are naturally overwhelmed as the experience level of most people does not rise to more seasoned members in that circle. It is okay, you learn and gain experience as time passes. Until I learned that I am the same age now that George Washington was in 1776.

Age is subjective throughout history but it is a bit surreal to think that by the year George Washington took command of the Continental Army and began fighting the most well-trained army on the planet, the average lifespan for a man was only about 43 years. Most men didn't live that long and he was just getting started.

I am in awe of those who can grasp onto opportunities history thrusts upon them, especially those in times of war and conflict. WWII's Greatest Generation is not the only example where the world has been saved and changed by the A18-49 demo. At the start of the Revolutionary War, Alexander Hamilton was only 21 and the Marquis de Lafayette was only 18. Some of the greatest minds of the day who just happened to be in the right place, with the right people, at the right time were young by today's standards.

Maybe that is it, we need to be more willing to commit to those willing to fight alongside us, the way the founding fathers did. They dedicated their lives, treasure, and sacred honor to each other for the cause of liberty. Is it too much to ask that we commit to helping each other achieve our goals? This is a commitment to my close friends that I have always strived to deliver consistently, sometimes to my detriment but I have never regretted helping others achieve more.

I won't compare any current challenge we face to fighting for freedom from tyranny or ridding the world of a genocidal madman. Their sacrifices allowed future generations to focus on new and wonderful adventures in science, art, and technology. It is time to live up to their example and remember that we can all contribute and move society forward at any age if we take hold of the opportunity and believe that we are serving a higher purpose than ourselves. It also helps to have the right people at your side.

Tim Hennessy spent 25 years in broadcast television, has been an advertising agency owner and a political campaign and grassroots community manager. Currently, the President at Hennessy Strategies. Founded in 2020, Hennessy Strategies is a full-service branding and advertising agency serving a diverse client base of innovative companies, candidate, elected officials, change-making nonprofits, and entrepreneurial start-ups from Southwest Florida.

Learn more about Hennessy Strategies at hennessystrategies.com.