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“Whatever you are, be a good one.” – Abraham Lincoln It’s pretty common to hear leaders talk about their desire for excellence.  They’ll talk about delivering excellent products to their [...]

“The bitterest tears shed over graves are for words left unsaid and deeds left undone.” – Harriet Beecher Stowe Quite often, my conversation with leaders involve decisions they’ve just made, or [...]

“Man is made by his belief.  As he believes, so he is.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Here’s an obvious statement:  there are a lot of things in our lives and careers that we have absolutely no [...]

“It takes something more than intelligence to act intelligently.” – Fyodor Dostoevsky One of the things that leaders are most proud of is their work ethic.  If you talk to most leaders long [...]

“Strategic planning is worthless – unless there is first a strategic vision.” – John Naisbitt Last week in this space the conversation was around the idea that at some point everybody has to stop [...]

“Drive thy business or it will drive thee.” – Benjamin Franklin A few weeks ago, someone forwarded to me a survey that had been taken of business leaders around the globe.  These leaders were [...]

“Concentrate all your thoughts upon the work at hand.  The sun’s rays do not burn until brought into a focus.” – Alexander Graham Bell Today’s topic isn’t new, but it never gets old either.  [...]

“If you want to achieve excellence, you can get there today.  As of this second, quit doing less-than-excellent work.” – Thomas Watson One thing I hear almost every organization talk about is [...]

“What must be done eventually should be done immediately.” – Jeremy Foley I’ve had a few meetings lately with leaders where someone in the room said something like “Well, at some point we should [...]

“The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it.” – Flannery O’Connor Wishful thinking.  Everyone criticizes it, everyone bad mouths it, and everyone does it.  We want things to [...]