Elbert Hubbard
A Message to Garcia
Being a Preachment
"A Message to Garcia" by Elbert Hubbard is an essay written in 1899 that champions individual initiative and dedication in the workplace. Using a dramatized account of Lieutenant Andrew S. Rowan's mission to deliver a message from President McKinley to Cuban insurgent leader General García during the Spanish-American War, Hubbard contrasts Rowan's unquestioning determination with the average worker's lack of focus. The essay became wildly popular with business executives and was reprinted millions of times, though Hubbard's version took significant liberties with the actual historical events.