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Leadership Newsletters:

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Friday, June 27, 2003

 

A leader whose purposes and targets are constantly changing is no leader at all. People require a clear, concise idea of what they are trying to do together. Effective visions engages people's hearts as well as their minds. The vision itself assumes much of the burden of leadership. It becomes a continuing corrective against distraction, confusion, and decay. It is short and visual. Henry Ford wanted "to build a car that anyone could afford to drive." FedEx wants to "absolutely get it their overnight." Kennedy wanted " to put a man on the moon and safely return him to earth within the next ten years." No company vision statement should be more that one or two sentences long. Each vision should be visual and have emotional impact.

James A. Crupi

Thursday, June 26, 2003

 

We lead by being human. We do not lead by being corporate, by being professional or by being institutional.

Paul Hawken
founder, Smith & Hawken

Tuesday, June 24, 2003

 

The sea does not reward those who are too anxious, too greedy, or too impatient. To dig for treasures shows not only impatience and greed, but lack of faith. Patience, patience, patience, is what the sea teaches. Patience and faith. One should lie empty, open, choiceless as a beach – waiting for a gift from the sea.

Anne Morrow Lindbergh
Gift From the Sea

Monday, June 23, 2003

 

We solicit honest criticism more than orders. If you have reason to criticise and you don't criticise us, we therefore never learn that you are not entirely satisfied with a transaction with us, it means an awful loss to us. It may mean the loss of your good will, your trade or your influence for us. A mistake on one order on our part left uncorrected may cost us dozens, yes hundreds of orders; therefore we tell you honestly, anixious as we are for orders, if you have an honest criticism to make and an order to send and we can't have both, we beg of you to send us the criticism and don't send the order. Your criticism may involve money. It may be ten cents or one hundred dollars. It doesn't matter, we want to treat it as a principle, regardless of its importance as measured by dollars. Our policy says, it's got to be made right. In fairness you must be satisfied.

Sears & Roebuck 1908 Catalog