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The Marshall Effect (Part 2)
Bob Weinstein is a journalist who covers technology, project management, the workplace and career development.
George C. Marshall Jr. was born on Dec. 31, 1880, the youngest child of George C. Marshall Sr. and Laura Bradford. While the Marshalls traced their roots to Virginia and Kentucky, the family lived in Uniontown, Pa., where George Sr. owned a successful coal business.
During his teen years, Marshall was overshadowed by his sister Marie and, especially, his brother Stuart, both of whom were exceptional students. A mischievous child, Marshall was a disappointment to his father. He showed no interest in school and did poorly in every subject but history. His teachers said he didn’t apply himself, which accounted for his ranking at the bottom of his class.
According to “The Life of Marshall” by Allen Luo, Marshall’s miserable childhood proved to be a foundation for achieving greatness. Marshall’s father was a stern disciplinarian, and George received the brunt of his father’s anger and was regularly beaten with a whip. Initially, Marshall’s father had hoped that both sons would go on to build impressive military careers. This largely stemmed from his regrets that he hadn’t seen much military action during the Civil War. Early on, it was clear to him that only his older son had the makings of an officer and would pursue a military education.
A critical turning point for young Marshall was when he overheard a…
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"Life is but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard of no more. It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing." - William Shakespeare |