Alexander Hamilton: a United States founding father, the face on your 10 dollar bill, and a revolutionary Broadway musical -- revolutionary due to taking place during America's Revolutionary War, and also for its innovative approach to bringing Alexander Hamilton's story to the Broadway stage.

By combining rap and hip hop on a show tune stage, director, writer, and actor, Lin-Manuel Miranda bridged a gap between Broadway and popular culture. Featuring a culturally diverse cast and themes focusing on the significance of immigrants and presence of slavery further set this new musical apart from anything done before. However, these departures from the norm have been well-received as "Hamilton" has taken home Tonys, Pulitzer Prizes, and Grammy's and its popularity has made tickets unable to accommodate all its adoring fans.

The soundtrack that narrates the life and career of Alexander Hamilton, but there's more to this story than a brief history review, catchy lyrics, and addictive beats. Additionally, "Hamilton" teaches us to...

1. Work hard.

"The ten-dollar Founding Father without a father got a lot farther by working a lot harder by being a lot smarter by being a self-starter." - Laurens, "Alexander Hamilton"

Hamilton came to America as an abandoned orphan, basically nothing to a mid-eighteenth century world. When he came to America, he seized every opportunity, including his part in the Revolutionary War, which changed hierarchy and provided social mobility. However, his effort didn’t stop there. He continued writing and advocating for his “new” country.

2. Be ambitious.

"And there's a million things I haven't done, but just you wait." - Hamilton, "Aaron Burr, Sir"

Hamilton was a self-made man and never settled for anything less than what he saw as the best for himself.

3. Take a stand for your beliefs.

"If you stand for nothing, Burr, what’ll you fall for?” - Hamilton, “Aaron Burr, Sir”

Aaron Burr, the cool-headed counterpart to Hamilton and his rash actions and loud opinions, often comes off as a coward as he refuses to share his opinions out of self-preservation. Hamilton's life, as told by this musical, demonstrates a life ruled by passion for a cause, something that he saw worthy to die for.

4. Seize every opportunity.

“I’m just like my country, I’m young, scrappy and hungry, and I’m not throwing away my shot!” - Hamilton, “My Shot”

Hamilton saw everything as an opportunity and took advantage of every one, which shows the importance of chasing after what has meaning and gives purpose in life.

5. Surround yourself with people who challenge you.

“I’m looking for a mind at work!” - Angelica, “The Schuyler Sisters”

In a world where women’s political opinions were not welcomed, this was an unexpected ideal to find in a socialite woman such as Angelica Schuyler. However, she proves the importance and excitement in finding someone with the same interests and intellectual abilities.

6. Speak the truth.

“Burr, I’d rather be divisive than indecisive, drop the niceties.” - Hamilton, “Farmer Refuted”

In a world where there is mistrust around politicians and suspicion surrounding their schemes and corruption, it would be welcomed to have someone so outright with what they believe. The lack of political correctness indicates they believe in something more than themselves.

7. Understand good leadership.

“What comes next? You’ve been freed. Do you know how hard it is to lead?…Oceans rise. Empires fall. It’s much harder when it’s all your call.” - King George, “What Comes Next”

America was created on an ideal of freedom, an abstract concept much easier to use as a platform than actually putting into implementation. It takes leaders dedicated to going above and beyond to bring something that complex into fruition. This is an approach that sets leaders apart.

8. Utilize the power of words.

“Why do you write like you’re running out of time? Write day and night like you’re running out of time? Every day you fight, like you’re running out of time.” - Aaron Burr, “Non-Stop”"

Winning was easy, young man, governing is harder." - Washington, "Cabinet Battle #1"

Hamilton's words changed popular opinion held by the public, shaped policy, and formed America. Freedom of speech and the press are ideals protected by America, using them to make a difference.

9. Follow through.

“Winning was easy young man, governing is harder.” - Washington, “Cabinet Battle #1”

There is more to life than winning. The creation of the United States of America was a battle in itself, but molding it into the nation it became was a whole different task that took going above and beyond to ensure the project's success.

10. Realize your legacy outlives you.

“Legacy. What is a legacy? It’s planting seeds in a garden you never get to see.” - Hamilton, “The World Was Wide Enough”

So how are you going to live a life worthy of leaving a legacy?

“Who lives, who dies, who tells your story?”

- Washington and Company, “Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story”