Good quotes 2015

(Describing a poor archery bow.)
"A knot-riddled branch broken from a cross-grained tree by a blind idiot in the middle of the night."
Robert Jordan in The Fires of Heaven


"You can't have the fruits without the roots."
--Stephen Covey in The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People


"Trust generates commitment; commitment fosters teamwork; and teamwork delivers results."
--Jon Gordon in Soup


"Art Share should always have at least one broken door knob because the last dollar should go to an artist."
--Rick Robinson at "Above the Streets"


"Jashinski’s work insists we do not overlook the everyday beauty that surrounds us, and for him, this beauty lies in life’s imperfections."
--Noah Jashinski, photographer, for Art Share LA exhibit


“If you want to make a documentary you should automatically go to the fiction, and if you want to nourish your fiction you have to come back to reality.”
--Jean-Luc Godard

Leadership Poem: searching for talent, Robert Morgan

There are a few lines in Robert Morgan's poem, "The Grain of Sound," that connect closely to the challenge of finding good leaders.

A banjo maker in the mountains, 
when looking our for wood to carve an instrument, 
will walk among the trees and knock on trucks. He'll hit 
the bark and listen for a note. 
A hickory make the brightest sound, 
the popular has a mellow ease. 
But only straightest grain 
will keep the purity of tone, the sought- 
for depth that make the licks sparkle.

This poems touches on two key aspects of leadership development.

Walk Among the Trees:  Leaders interested in developing other people need to get to know potential leads.  Talk to a wide range of people in the organization.  Connect with colleges and non-profits where untapped leaders can be found.

Only the Straightest Grains will Keep the Purity of Tone:  There are a few character traits that all leaders should have.  Stephen Covey lists integrity, maturity, and abundance mentality.  Without integrity, no matter what other strengths, the potential leader will be flawed.


"The Grain of Sound," by Robert Morgan, as found in Good Poems, edited by Garrison Keillor (New York, Penguin Press, 2002).

Character Outweighs Statements--Emerson

In discussing the importance of character Principle-Centered Leadership, Stephen Covey uses a great quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson

"What you are shouts so loud in my ears I cannot hear what you say."

This is so true.  Many followers become skeptical about their leaders because of the character traits they exhibit.

The statement "lead by example" is over used.  It is useful, however, for leaders to self-examine their character and their actions.  When you ask your team to push for a goal, are you pushing with them and supporting them.  Do you have the same high standard of ethics in the office and at home as you expect your team members to have.

Discipline is important

"Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment."
Jim Rohn

Discipline is a very important quality for leaders and managers. Quite often, good leaders have numerous interests and desires.  The want to help everyone and solve every problem, both big and small.  Discipline is needed to stay on track and make progress on the core tasks.

In his foreword to the biography** by Zack Greenburg, Steve Forbes compares Jay-Z to other business leaders such as Steve Jobs, Warren Buffett and Bill Gates and their discipline. "Passion:  the knack for imagining what doesn't exist; and the iron-willed self-discipline to make that come into existence."  In his book Principle-Centered Leadership, Stephen Covey talks about how a good education should emphasize the development of self-discipline.



**Zack O'Malley Greenburg, Empire State of Mind:  How Jay-Z Went From Street Corner to Corner Office (Portfolio/Penguin, 2012).

Leadership: George on Mindfulness--Harvard Business

Recently Bill George had an article at the Harvard Business Review (hbr.org) entitled "Mindfulness Helps You Become a Better Leader".  He talks about some of the work they are doing at Harvard Business School as well his courses in Authentic Leadership.

"We are challenging students to think hard about their definition of success and what's important in their lives. Instead of viewing success as reaching a certain position or achieving a certain net worth, we encourage these future leaders to see success as making a positive difference in the lives of their colleagues, their organizations, their families, and society as a whole"

George emphasizes that leaders should routinely clarify their values and priorities.  Important to this process is a daily practice such as meditation, journaling, prayer, or reflecting while walking, hiking or jogging.  This connects to Stephen Covey's concept of "Sharpening the Saw."

There are many small things that you can do every day to help put your values in practice and impact colleagues, family members, and friends.  Go out of your way to say a sincere "thank you" or "good job".  Spend a little extra time with someone close to you.  Ask one more open-ended question and then just listen. 


URL for article:  http://blogs.hbr.org/hbsfaculty/2012/10/mindfulness-helps-you-become-a.html

Approaching Resolutions: Who and Where--Covey

In Principle-Centered Leadership, Stephen Covey emphasizes resolutions and how to approach them.  He starts by highlighting the two common mistakes with resolutions.

First, we don't have a clear knowledge of who we are.

Second, we don't have a clear picture of where we want to go

Covey talks about the power of others in breaking bad habits and moving towards a goal.  Having someone to keep you accountable helps keep you responsible.  "Accountability partners" are uses in many coaching situations.  They could be your mentor, your managers, your workout buddy, your AA sponsor, your Weight Watchers group, or a family member.  In leadership, accountability to others is key.

Covey on Deming: 14 Points

In Principle-Centered Leadership, Stephen Covey looks at W. Edward Deming's 14 Points connected to Total Quality.

1.) Create constancy of purpose towards improvement of product and service, with the aim to be competitive, to stay in business, and to provide jobs
2.) Adopt the new philosophy
3.) Cease dependence on inspection
4.) End the practice of awarding business on the basis of price tag alone.
5.) Improve constantly and forever the system of production and service
6.) Institute job training
7.) Teach and institute leadership
8.) Drive out fear
9.) Break down barriers between departments
10.) Eliminate slogans
11.) Eliminate numerical goals and quotas
12.) Remove barriers that rob hourly works, as well as management, of their right to pride of workmanship.
13.) Institute a vigorous program of education and self-improvement for everyone
14.) Institute an action plan