Leadership Words of Wisdom – Cant Stop Leading

The Words of Wisdom below are quotes I saved from the countless books and articles I have read on Leadership. I like to end my memos and emails with one of them, sometimes randomly selecting one and often, matching one to the audience receiving the message or the subject of the message. I credited the author where he/she was identified. Many had no author listed.

Fix responsibility no matter what or you will not be able to put plans in place to accomplish your goals.
People quit people before they quit the Agency.
Develop your action plan before you get into a crisis.
Do what is right even when no one is watching – author unknown
When it comes to leading people, there is no problem that is unique to you.
Even though your responsibilities increase when you become a manager, you lose some of the rights or freedoms you may have enjoyed in the past.
A real leader spends his time fixing the problem instead of fixing blame.
When you write things down you commit to doing them. If you simply tell me what you want to do there is really no commitment in getting it done.
When you depend on another’s perceptions to match your expectations, you are setting yourself up for disappointment.
Take the time to manage your boss the same way you manage your subordinates.
One of the main things for a leader is to eliminate confusion.
Escape from management land regularly and get in touch with your staff.
Your job is not to lower the bottom by adjusting for and accommodating the lowest performing employees. Your job is to raise the top by recognizing and rewarding superstar behaviors.
Doing the right thing is not always easy – in fact sometimes it is real hard – but remember that doing the right thing is always right.
Everything you do matters because your team is watching and depending on you to do the right thing – you are always leading.
Guard your integrity as if it is your most precious leadership possession because that is what it is.
Results improve in proportion to the level of trust earned by the leader.
Results improve when leaders and their followers are held accountable for their actions.
Results improve to the extent that the leader hires and develops talented people.
Results improve when leaders establish a crystal clear vision with a convincing reason to embrace the vision.
Results improve when followers understand their role and are rewarded for their accomplishments.
Results improve when a leader removes obstacles inhibiting followers.
Results improve in proportion to the self-esteem and attitude of the leader.
Results improve to the extent the leader embraces change and makes change positive.
Results improve as followers are allowed to accept responsibility for their actions.
Results improve in proportion to the leader’s ability to confront issues affecting his followers.
Results improve when the leader is a positive role model.
Results improve to the extent that leaders develop themselves and their followers.
There is nothing so unequal as the equal treatment of unequals.
Sometimes when I slow down I go faster.
Everyone has peak performance potential – you just need to know where they are coming from and meet them there.
You can expect more if you inspect more.
When the best leader’s work is done, the people say “we did it ourselves”.
Everyone is a potential high performer – some people just need a little help along the way.
To know and not to use is not yet to know.
One of the main reasons people leave an organization is because management is not meeting their needs.
We will forget and forgive any judgment error that you make but integrity mistakes are forever. – David Cottrell
Keep your promises.
Speak out for what you think is important.
Always err on the side of fairness. – David Cottrell
Do what you say you are going to do.
We ask of you that you accept responsibility for being the very best at your job so that we can be the best at ours.
Everything you do is exaggerated; you are under a magnifying glass.
You are always leading, you can never not lead. – David Cottrell
Trust happens mostly when there is face-to-face, two-way communication…and caring.
If you do not show us you care we conclude that you don’t. Then we reciprocate…we stop caring too.
What you reward, reinforce and train for is what you will receive.
The best time to make a change is when it seems the least necessary.
When you are positive we are more positive. When you are negative we follow your lead.
The longer a problem is allowed to fester within our team, the more energy and emotion it will take to solve.
If you create an environment for learning we will develop and become more skillful.
Leadership cannot be claimed like luggage at the airport. Leadership cannot be inherited even though you may inherit a leadership position.
Leadership must be earned by mastering a defined set of skills, by working with others to achieve common goals, and building trust.
The art of communication is the language of leadership.
I heard what they said. I will believe it when I see it. You can say that again.
One of the most striking differences between a cat and a lie is that a cat only has nine lives – Mark Twain
We judge ourselves based on our intentions…but others judge us based on our actions. And….actions speak louder than words.
Walk the talk and get the results you want.
There are no misunderstandings; there are only failures to communicate.
Knowledge is power and knowledge shared is power multiplied.
I would rather see a sermon than hear one any day.
I would rather you walk with me than merely show me the way.
The eye is a better pupil and more willing than the ear.
Fine counsel is confusing but example is always clear.
The best of all preachers are those who live their creeds.
To see good put in action is what everybody needs.
I soon can learn to do it if you let me see it done.
Lectures that you deliver may be very fine and true but I would rather get my lesson by observing what you do.
I may not understand you and the high advice you give but there is no misunderstanding how you act and how you live.
Nothing is so simple that it cannot be misunderstood.
The first key to greatness is to be in reality what we appear to be – Socrates.
People watch everything you do – you are always leading – everything counts – do the right thing.
I can live for two months on one good compliment – Mark Twain.
Everyone has an invisible sign hanging from their neck saying “make me feel important” – Mary Kay Ash.
Appreciative words are the most powerful force for good on earth – George W. Crane
You are in the right to expect recognition by giving it! It is that simple.
It is literally true that you can succeed best and quickest by helping others to succeed. – Napoleon Hill
Coaching is not an addition to a leader’s job; it is an integral part of it.
Success depends on the support of other people. The only hurdle between you and what you want is the support of others.
If you raise the bottom, the top also rises.
The process of coaching includes staying in touch with everyone on your team.
The best leader is the one who surrounds him or herself with winning people.
Many top performers go to bed hungry at night, that is hungry for recognition from me.
Your job is to create a climate in which people can excel and move into areas of greater responsibility within the agency.
Avoiding a problem does not solve it.
If you want to make an easy job seem mighty hard just keep putting off doing it – Olin Miller
Time flies. It is up to you to be the navigator.
Sometimes I get a feeling that the two biggest problems in America today are making ends meet and making meetings end – Robert Orben
Meetings without specific objectives tend to achieve nothing specific. – David Cottrell, Mark C. Layton
Treat people with respect.
Listen to other’s ideas.
Keep informed about what is going on.
Be considerate of your own time – be considerate of other’s time.
Recognize others for doing a good job.
The best preparation for tomorrow is to do today’s work superbly well – Sir William Osler
It is your responsibility to know and understand your own talents, values and desires.
Life is too short not to be happy, and too long not to do well. – Bryan Dodge, David Cottrell
Focus on finding the right place – the right job – that relies on your talents and your gifts.
The art of communication is not only to say the right thing in the right place, but to leave unsaid the wrong things at the tempting moment – Dorothy Nevell
The more you help others grow the more you will grow.
The key to effective writing is being clear and concise.
Clarity begins with simplification.
People judge how much you care by how attentive you are.
The unraveling process is making molehills out of mountains.
The only difference between a rut and a grave is the depth.
Spending time improving where you are instead of looking where you think you should be is the key to your success.
Don’t miss the next chance. Write your goals down and develop a plan to make them happen.
Many of life’s failures are people who do not realize how close they were to success when they gave up – Thomas Edison
Words to live by are just words unless you live by them – you have to walk the talk.
Values are the goal that is in each of us. They are the real fortune of our agency.
When you make a promise you have to deliver.
We judge ourselves mostly by our intentions but others judge us mostly by our actions.
People hear what we say but they see what we do. Seeing is believing!
Good things happen when you make sure that good things happen!
The rules: start with me – find others who believe – show them how – hold them accountable – do right by those who do right.
If you cannot do it don’t say it. And if you can’t say it don’t play it.
Let everyone hold the trophy.
When you break a promise, more than the promise gets broken.
Even a fortune collects dust if you let it.
Programs usually fail for one of two reasons. Either they are bad ideas to begin with or they are good ideas that are handled poorly.
You earn the right to expect others to do things by doing those things yourself.
Vision without action is meaningless.
It is critical that Managers insure their departments are about what we say our agency is about.
Before you implement decisions check to ensure that they are in accord with organizational values.
Ask for help in solving problems – seek ideas, suggestions and information.
Listen and respond with empathy.
It is far better to forgive and forget than to resent and remember.
I I am only one but still I am one – I cannot do everything but still I can do something – and because I cannot do everything I will not refuse to do the something that I can do – Edward Everett Hale
Kindness is Christianity with its working clothes on.
The moments that stand out in life are the moments when you have done things for others.
To get to love a person we must come in close contact with him – Mother Teresa
Kindness is in our power even when fondness is not – Samuel Johnson
Do what you can with what you have, where you are – Theodore Roosevelt
Involve the people with the knowledge in the decisions.
Plan your work – work your plan – make the most of what you have.
The more staff understands how the Agency works, the more likely they are to accept and support change.
Do right by those who do right.
Set the example – remember that everything counts – set the example.
Well begun is half done.
Those on the go are those in the know!
F For true success ask yourself these four questions: Why? Why not? Why not me? Why not now?
T The only thing that separates successful people from the ones who aren’t is the willingness to work very, very hard.
Success is a journey not a destination. The doing is usually more important than the outcome. Not everyone can be number one.
The elevator to success is out of order. You’ll have to use the stairs…one step at a time.
The only place you find success before work is in the dictionary.
Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.
The road to success is lined with many tempting parking spaces.
Success is more attitude than aptitude.
There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure. – Colin L. Powell
Success is nothing more than a few simple disciplines, practiced every day.
The Lord gave us two ends – one to sit on and one to think with. Success depends on which one we use the most.
Most of the successful people I’ve known are the ones who do more listening than talking.
Success doesn’t come to you – you go to it.
I can’t imagine a person becoming a success who doesn’t give this game of life everything he’s got. – Walter Cronkite
Courage is fear holding on a minute longer. – George S. Patton
M Many of life’s failures are men who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.
To get what we’ve never had, we must do what we’ve never done.
In confrontation between the stream and the rock, the stream always wins…not through strength but by perseverance. – H. Jackson Brown
The only thing that stands between a person and what they want in life is the will to try it and the faith to believe it possible.
It is one of the most beautiful compensations in life…we can never help another without helping ourselves. – Ralph Waldo Emerson
If you will spend an extra hour each day of study in your chosen field, you will be a national expert in that field in five years or less. – Earl Nightingale
Whether you think you can, or think you can’t…you’re right. – Henry Ford
Remember…with awareness comes responsibility…responsibility to act.
Put a smile in the path of a complaint…once daily. Cease to complain.
Listening, not imitation, may be the sincerest form of flattery. – Dr. Joyce Brothers
Begin somewhere. You cannot build a reputation on what you intend to do. – Elizabeth Smith
If you’re doing your very best, you won’t have any time to worry about failure. – H. Jackson Browne
Leave no questioning in anyone’s mind as to where you stand.
The difference between “involvement” and “commitment” is like an eggs-and-ham breakfast: the chicken was “involved” – the pig was “committed”.
The same man cannot be skilled in everything; each has his special excellence. – Euripides
It’s not the hours we put on the job but what we put into the hours that counts. – Sydney Madwed
If you don’t make things happen, then things will happen to you. – Roman Virgil
Much that passes for education is not education at all but ritual. The fact is that we are being educated when we know it least. – David P. Gardner, University President
People will forget what you said. People will even forget what you did. But people will never forget how you made them feel.
We cannot become what we need to be by remaining what we are. – Max DePree
Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift – that’s why it is called the present.
Methodically cultivate relationships – they are your lifeline.
Give your life and wisdom away.
No investment is too small.
Embrace lifelong learning.
Use your downtime as mental uptime – read, listen, learn, visualize.
Use mentors to get valuable answers to tough questions.
Seek out different opinions before they come to you.
Make a positive change every day.
You have your way. I have my way. As for the right way, the correct way, and the only way, it does not exist! – Friedrich Nietzsche
K Knowledge is the best eraser in the world for disharmony, distrust, despair, and the endless deficiencies of man. – Orlando Battista
I Intolerance has been the curse of every age and state. – Samuel Davies
The shoe that fits one person pinches another; there is no recipe for living that suits all cases. – Carl Jung
The real death of America will come when everyone is alike. – James T. Ellison
You never really understand a person until you consider things from his {or her} point of view. – Harper Lee
We need to remember across generations that there is as much to learn as there is to teach. – Gloria Steinem
It takes all sorts to make a world. – English Proverb
Unity, not uniformity, must be our aim. We attain unity only through variety. Differences must be integrated, not annihilated, not absorbed. – Mary Parker Follett
No two people are exactly the same. So, if being different was to equal being wrong, EVERYONE would be wrong — including YOU! – Steve Ventura
Recognize and accept that generational differences naturally influence our ideas, expectations, values, perceptions and behaviors at work.
Acknowledge that everyone wants to be treated with dignity and respect. And, remember that based on their individual experiences and perspectives, those expectations will likely be defined differently by different people.
Give coworkers, customers and suppliers the same “benefit of doubt” that you wish from them. Presume that the people you interact with are motivated by good and noble intentions – unless they prove otherwise.
Accept that you can learn from others’ different life experiences, perspectives and approaches – just as others can learn from yours.
Make an effort to focus on your similarities with others rather than your differences. Find, appreciate and celebrate the common ground you share with those you work with…and work for.
Continually challenge your beliefs, opinions and assumptions about individuals from different generations.
Remember that each individual brings something special {and needed} “to the table”…each person represents a piece that must be present in order for your organizational puzzle to be complete.
Focus on what really matters: productivity, teamwork, customer service and mutual success.
Accept the fact that how you treat, deal with and respond to others is purely and simply a matter of your own choosing.
Guard your integrity as if it’s your most precious leadership possession, because that is what it is.” – David Cottrell
Relationships are built on trust and respect, cemented together with shared experiences. – Valerie Sokolosky
Temper your candor with compassion and understanding. – Dr. Andrew M. Scibelli
The people you hire determine your success. Take your time and make the right choices. – David Cottrell
Before you can become a great leader to others, you must first understand yourself. – Vince Poscente
The most important thing in business (and life) is to decide what is most important. – Lee J. Colan
Keeping good people requires thought and strategies – most of which cost next to nothing. – David Cottrell
Great success is always rooted in great expectations. – Lee J. Colan
Live your life by choices…not by change. – David Cottrell
When it comes to leading people, there is no problem that is unique to you. – David Cottrell
The true measure of your leadership is the ability to look in the mirror and know that you had the courage to do what you felt was the right thing to do. – David Cottrell, Eric Harvey
Use words to change your situation, not to describe it. – Lee J. Colan
Effective team performance begins with effective personal performance. High-achieving leaders start with themselves – Lee J. Colan
Learning never ends for those who want to be successful. – Ken Carnes, David Cottrell
Tackling adversity means moving forward with the knowledge that some questions need action, not answers. – Christopher Novak
Even if you are selling the finest product of its kind, good clients will eventually disappear if a positive customer service relationship is missing. – David Cottrell
Make a clear, unequivocal decision to be the best, and don’t leave yourself any ‘outs’. Tell yourself, ‘I’m going to do it. That’s it. Period.’ – Billy Cox
The more flexible you are in your job often determines how marketable you will be in the future. – Bryan Dodge, David Cottrell
The five ‘Bs’ of e-mail presentations: Be brief, be clear, be simple, be prompt, be careful. – Tony Jeary
Success is rehearsed long before it suddenly appears. – Bryan Dodge, David Cottrell
There is a certain kind of comfort in knowing the truth…even if it is tough to face. – Stephen Krempl
‘B Players’ – the loyal, consistent, dedicated employees – are the foundation of an organization’s productivity. – Teri Kabachnick
Learning to delegate is a good rule, but what you can never delegate is your accountability – Valerie Sokolosky
You control the thermostat for the climate in which you work. – David Cottrell
Spend more time living your legacy instead of worrying about leaving it. – Lee J. Colan
Life should be a fulfilling journey, not just a struggle to survive. – Vince Poscente
Integrity is never being ashamed of your reflection. – David Cottrell
People support what they help create – involve them! – Lee J. Colan
There are few – very few, if any – leaders who have not faced the same issues you are facing. – David Cottrell
Measure everything! – Lorraine Grubbs-West
If you accept responsibility and move forward, there’s a good chance that your team will follow your lead. When that happens, everyone wins. – David Cottrell, Eric Harvey
Values that are visible are viable. – Christopher Novak
Fixating on the problem is not the solution. – Vince Poscente
Ne Sim Oblex – May I never be an obstacle. – David Cottrell, Alice Adams
Inspire your team through emotion. Never underestimate the power of emotion. – Vince Poscente
A cluttered desk does not indicate genius. Au contraire! It signals confusion and creates stress. – David Cottrell, Mark Layton
Customers want to do business with people who are extraordinary at what they do. – David Cottrell
From all that I have seen, at least 90 percent of success derives from having a dream and knowing what you want. – Billy Cox
If you have talents that exist beyond your current position, you’re cheating everyone by not pursuing advancement. – Bryan Dodge, David Cottrell
You can’t multiply power until knowledge is shared. – David Cottrell, Eric Harvey
When managers restrict the flow of information throughout the organization, it has big problems – at every level. – Stephen Krempl
Trustworthiness is the foundation for building understanding, support and acceptance. – David Cottrell, Eric Harvey
If you were to leave today, what would your team say? – Ken Carnes, David Cottrell
Successful leaders relieve stress with excellent preparation, positive affirmations, personal confidence, and total concentration. – David Cottrell
If the 80/20 Principle exists in your business, then the most profitable 1/5 of your business is 16 times more profitable than the remaining 4/5. – Lee J. Colan
Today’s most sought-after job perk is integrity. – David Cottrell
Without conflict there is no growth, and the most challenging conflict is within ourselves. – Vince Poscente
The success of change is largely determined by your attitude about change. – David Cottrell
It’s never too late to change. – David Cottrell
When you invest in a mind, you engage it. – Lee J. Colan
The way we act is the way we teach. – Vince Poscente
It is the sum of kept promises, even small ones, that builds our credibility and effectiveness with colleagues. – Christopher Novak
Introduce your positive thinking to unencumbered potential. – Vince Poscente
Nothing destroys people or organizations more quickly than leaders with egos out of control. – David Cottrell
Coaching begins with creating an environment where people want to be part of a winning team. You have the power to make that happen. – David Cottrell
If you want a place in the sun, expect some blisters. – David Cottrell
The more you think and talk about your goals, the more positive and enthusiastic you become. – Billy Cox
Almost memorize the beginning of your presentation. Nervousness is most intense at the beginning of a presentation. Attack your nerves by having your introduction totally under control. – Tony Jeary, David Cottrell
Nothing is so fatiguing as the eternal hanging on of an uncompleted task. – William James
If you want to make an easy job seem mighty hard, just keep putting off doing it. – Olin Miller
Ulcers are something you get from mountain-climbing over molehills. – David Cottrell, Mark C. Layton
Be like a postage stamp. Stick to one thing until you get there. – Josh Billings
Counting time is not nearly as important as making time count.
By stretching yourself beyond your perceived level of confidence, you accelerate your level of competence. – Michael J. Gelb
You don’t have to achieve success to get started, but you do have to get started to achieve success…then stick to it! – Lee J. Colan
Tomorrow you will become what you choose today. – Lee J. Colan
Your own beliefs have a much greater impact on your results than anyone else’s beliefs. – Lee J. Colan
The things we focus on create a magnet for our lives. Focus on opportunities and doors seem to open. Focus on problems and obstacles are plentiful. – Lee J. Colan
We become what we think about. – Earl Nightingale
Whether said in love or anger, gratitude or envy, your words leave a lasting impression. – Lee J. Colan
One person with a commitment is worth more than 100 people who have only an interest. – Mary Crowley
Use your words to change your situation, not to describe it. – Lee J. Colan
Tell people how you want to feel and it won’t be long before you do. – Lee J. Colan
Act the way you’d like to be and soon you’ll be the way you act. – George W. Crane
We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give. – Winston Churchill
Help is not help until it is given, so turn your intentions to help into acts of help.
When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us. – Helen Keller
When you are in a bad mental state, think of your mind as a bad neighborhood. Don’t go in there alone.
No dream comes true until you wake up and go to work on it.
A life filled with positive attitude is also filled with positive impact. – Lee J. Colan
When you become a ‘victim,’ you give up the right to create your future. – David Cottrell
Don’t let your past consume your future. – David Cottrell
The principal method of communication in most organizations is the observation of other people’s behavior. – David Cottrell, Eric Harvey
Do the right things rather than hammer on doing things exactly right. – Valerie Sokolosky
The comfort zone is the greatest enemy of potential. – David Cottrell
No lie is so small that it doesn’t matter. – David Cottrell
Those who underestimate the intelligence of others tend to overestimate their own. – Lee J. Colan
We live in a world of instant gratification, but we need to fight that pressure and remember that the worthiest goals take time and energy. – Vince Poscente
Integrity is the commitment to do what is right regardless of the circumstances – no hidden agendas, no political games. Do the right thing, period. – Ken Carnes, David Cottrell & Mark Layton
Embrace change because when you stop changing, you stop improving. – David Cottrell, Eric Harvey
The hiring decisions you make are more important than the leadership techniques you demonstrate. – David Cottrell, Eric Harvey
We must adjust our expectations to accept the truth that life – and work – are not always fair and that even in this reality, we must excel. – Christopher Novak
Having the wrong person in a role, or holding on to a poor performer because you don’t want to go through the hassle of hiring someone, will cost you in the end and at the bottom line. – David Reed, David Cottrell
If you are waiting on perfect conditions before doing what needs to be done, you will never get anything done. – David Cottrell
Not only are the lower performers not doing their jobs; they’re probably preventing the top performers from doing their jobs as well. – David Cottrell, Mark Layton
Your ‘nice’ customers can absolutely kill your business. They can be so nice that they never complain and eventually fade without notice into the deadly category of ex-customers. – David Cottrell
When you teach others how to succeed and duplicate themselves, you generate excitement in the organization. – Billy Cox
Often the tiebreaker in the job-selection process is confidence and communication. – Bryan Dodge, David Cottrell
The path to becoming a high-performing leader involves recognizing, naming and then walking through our fears. – Juli Baldwin
Talk is cheap. It’s your actions that are most important – that’s what your team pays attention to. – Stephen Krempl
If you can tear down the walls and understand more of what’s going on in other areas of your organization, it will destroy misconceptions of other departments, and teams can begin supporting each other. – Valerie Sokolosky
Your success should be appreciated and enjoyed – while you do what is necessary to ensure future success. – David Cottrell
A goal with a depth of meaning has an emotional buzz. – Vince Poscente
Your job is not crisis management, and your people should not be firefighters. – David Cottrell
Surrounding yourself with extraordinary talent is not just an important part of your job – it’s critical to your success. – David Cottrell, Eric Harvey
Integrity is the cornerstone of leadership. – David Cottrell
If you want to earn more, you gotta learn more. – David Cox
The longer the problem – any problem – is ignored, the bigger it gets. – David Cottrell
For you to be successful, you and your boss must work together – no matter what. – David Cottrell
Having the courage to say ‘no’ could be your most effective time-management tool. – David Cottrell, Mark Layton
You will become like the five people you associate with the most. This can be either a blessing or a curse. – Billy Cox
Most of the time the determining factor of a manager’s success or failure is how well the strategy was communicated. – David Cottrell, Eric Harvey
There’s nothing wrong with honestly saying, ‘I don’t know.’ – Valerie Sokolosky
Don’t waste your energy solving problems without having the facts. – David Cottrell
You don’t have to be great to get started, but you do have to get started to be great. – Lee J. Colan
It doesn’t take long for morale and productivity to erode and finally disintegrate because of one performer. – David Cottrell, Mark Layton
Hire people who can laugh at themselves. – Lorraine Grubbs-West
You simply cannot ignore performance issues and expect your superstars to stick around for very long. – David Cottrell
If your main thing is always changing, expect nothing but frustrated employees. – David Cottrell, Eric Harvey
When people go to work, they don’t leave their hearts at home. We may live in a high-tech world, but leadership is still a high-touch job. – Lee J. Colan
Organizations thrive when our people can ‘see’ tomorrow as better than today because they are making it better. – Christopher Novak
Successful people create a habit of positive enthusiasm. – David Cottrell
Your greatest liability is the one you are unaware of. – Lee J. Colan
People are watching and listening. Is your video in sync with your audio? – David Cottrell, Mark Layton
Personal commitment is inexpensive to offer but priceless in terms of trust and credibility. – Ken Carnes
One of the key questions you have to ask – and answer – almost immediately is, ‘Would you buy from you?’ – David Cottrell
Your entire life is a continuous process of communicating, persuading and influencing other people. – Billy Cox
If you master all three connection skills…speaking, writing, listening…you will skyrocket in the stack ranking of the upwardly mobile within your organization. – Bryan Dodge, David Cottrell
Practice your presentation so much that you can do it ‘on autopilot.’ That way, even if your brain freezes, your lips can keep moving. – Tony Jeary, David Cottrell
Proactive reflection is the key to continuous improvement. – Ken Carnes, David Cottrell
Don’t stifle your career by limiting your knowledge. – David Cottrell
The best decisions are normally made before you are in a crisis. – David Cottrell
Against all odds, persevere. – Lee J. Colan
People respond positively to people they know, trust and like. – Valerie Sokolosky
If you do not take care of the little things over the long term, you won’t take care of the big things. – Lee J. Colan
It takes courage to pursue employee commitment rather than settling for mere compliance. – David Cottrell, Eric Harvey
The most courageous journey you can take is the journey within. – Vince Poscente
The power within, aligned with the power of the many, is equivalent to a tiny ant guiding a mighty elephant. – Vince Poscente
A leader with focus and direction fills buckets. A leader who creates confusion and inconsistency has a dipper that drains people’s buckets. – David Cottrell
The most effective leaders spend the majority of their time listening to their employees and customers…and acting on their suggestions. – David Cottrell
Fair or not, people judge us on our actions, regardless of our good intentions…we have to walk our talk. – David Cottrell, Eric Harvey
As long as you keep your positive attitude and shoot straight with people, most will work hard for you because they’ll trust you. – Valerie Sokolosky
Turn your opinions into questions. – Vince Poscente
The biggest challenge for business leaders is not creating well-founded principles for leading an excellent company…it is the lack of disciplined application of those principles. – Lee J. Colan
Extraordinary steps produce extraordinary results. – Vince Poscente
Embrace the truths…not what you want to believe, but what is…and re-evaluate regularly. – David Cottrell, Alice Adams
Press on! Your defining moment may arrive just when you feel surrounded by adversity. – David Cottrell
You and your people will be much better served if you spend less time being a ‘boss’ and more time being a COACH. – David Cottrell, Eric Harvey
The reality is that people care less about working for a company and much more about working for a compelling cause. – Lee J. Colan
The best way to earn respect is to help others succeed. – David Cottrell, Mark Layton
People give as good as they get. – Lorraine Grubbs-West
People are not mind readers. Understand exactly what you believe, and communicate those beliefs without hesitation. – David Cottrell
We do more for those who appreciate us. – Lee J. Colan
Perfection paralysis is expensive. Sometimes it is not worth the effort to make things ‘perfect’. – David Cottrell, Mark Layton
Ignoring issues puts your own integrity at risk. – David Cottrell
Customers scrutinize how you treat them after the sale as much as they evaluate you when they are making a decision to buy. – David Cottrell
Your belief dictates your behavior. If you believe you will succeed, you will. If you believe you will fail, then failure is certain. – Billy Cox
One of the best ways to improve speaking skills is to teach others what you know. The more you help others grow, the more you will grow. – Bryan Dodge, David Cottrell
Confusion is a close cousin to boredom – and both could be deadly to your presentation. – Tony Jeary, David Cottrell
What creates success or failure is our decisions, not the conditions. – David Cottrell
Reduce stress…build relationships…build trust. – Stephen Krempl
Involve people in major decisions. Listen to them – they often have the best ideas anyway. – David Cottrell
Good news is never better than the moment it happens. Bad news over time only gets worse. Hit sticky issues straight on. – Valerie Sokolosky
Integrity is the commitment to do what is right regardless of the circumstance. No hidden agendas, no political games – do what is right. – David Cottrell
If you don’t love what you do, you have two choices: You can either change what you’re doing or you can change what you love. – Billy Cox
When you write things down, you commit to doing them. If you simply tell me what you want to do, there is really no commitment to getting it done. – David Cottrell
Communication is not about talking. It’s about sharing. – Christopher Novak
People buy from people, not companies. – Lee J. Colan
Our experiences are much less important than how we choose to think about them. – Lee J. Colan
When you accepted your management position, you also accepted the fact that you can never NOT lead. Your actions follow you everywhere. – Ken Carnes, David Cottrell & Mark Layton
Take a close look at successful people…you will find them doing things that others don’t like to do. – David Cottrell
Once you have a field that’s producing, don’t abandon it. – Ken Carnes
The definition of profit is reward to risk. – David Cottrell
The leadership you display and the decisions that you make contribute more to your success than all other factors combined. – David Cottrell
A blurred company vision yields diffused employee efforts. – Lee J. Colan
Make fear your friend, not your master. – Vince Poscente
Value your team’s diversity and manage each person as the unique and valuable asset they are. – Ken Carnes, David Cottrell & Mark Layton
Seize each moment and passionately pursue life by being the very best you can be. No looking back. No regrets! – Ken Carnes, David Cottrell
Successful people keep moving, even when they are discouraged and have made mistakes. – David Cottrell
Conquering adversity is all about heart. Communication – the art of sharing what we feel – gives our heart a voice. We call it passion, and no winner lives without it. – Christopher Novak
Management is reactive…leadership is proactive. – Ken Carnes, David Cottrell
When an organization’s strategy becomes predictable, they are a sitting target for their competitors. – David Cottrell, Alice Adams
If there is a lack of clear direction, there’s a good chance there also will be chaos and inconsistency. – David Cottrell, Mark Layton
Life is too short to deal with unpleasant people…more than once. – David Cottrell
All superstars have a super attitude. – Billy Cox
Clarity begins with simplification. – Bryan Dodge, David Cottrell
Credibility is something that must be earned. It might be the result of hard work, but hard work in and of itself does not build credibility. – Tony Jeary, David Cottrell
Your thoughts today create the results in your future. – David Cottrell
Trust is the foundation of good communication. – Stephen Krempl
The more buckets you fill, the more your bucket is filled. – David Cottrell
Some people think differently from you and communicate differently. It doesn’t make your style right or wrong – just different. – Valerie Sokolosky
There is nothing in your business or personal life that outweighs the negative consequence of sacrificing your integrity. – David Cottrell
The difference between dysfunctional teams and high-impact teams is often an absence of chemistry formulated by timely and sincere communication. – Christopher Novak
You have too much potential to be living Ground Hog Day over and over. – David Cottrell
You don’t know what you don’t know. Open your mind to discover possibilities that may not be obvious at the time. – Vince Poscente
A purpose is your team’s bridge to a brighter tomorrow…and you have to build it! – David Cottrell
Don’t let your marketing department write a check that your front-line staff can’t cash. – David Reed, David Cottrell
Courage is moving forward…even through the path of most resistance. – David Cottrell
Hire ‘nice’, because you can’t train ‘nice’. – Lorraine Grubbs-West
Life’s rewards go to those who let their actions rise above their excuses. – David Cottrell
Success in any business requires a sense of urgency. – Ken Carnes
There are reasons why hearses don’t have luggage racks! Your legacy will be what you leave others. – David Cottrell
You cannot pick and choose what you want people to see and follow. You are always leading. – David Cottrell
The most important conversation you will ever have is the one with yourself. – Lee J. Colan
Be easy on yourself and everyone else…we are all works in progress. – David Cottrell
Zero in on a goal that has a depth of meaning. The journey has to be worth taking. – Vince Poscente
Competence builds confidence. – Lee J. Colan
Your goal is to hire tough and make it an honor for someone to be on your team. – David Cottrell
Engaging leaders appreciate their employees, not just their contributions. – Lee J. Colan
It’s difficult to watch people leave your organization. It’s worse, however, if someone has already ‘mentally quit’ and you allow him or her to stay. – David Cottrell, Eric Harvey
Winners are committed to ‘hang in there’ long enough to win. – David Cottrell
Customers don’t forget attitudes. – David Reed, David Cottrell
We fear most the unknown. Defining moments of change occur when we choose to face our fears. – Lee J. Colan
12/3/07-Okun, Peskoff, Pierson&Conant, Pinyuh, PioCosta, Pneuma, Point Gammon, Poole, Rcehler, Rodgers, Schacht, Selective Group, Shapiro, Sharkey, Spola, Waldele, Westville
The more you teach, the more accountable you become to what you’re teaching. Teaching is good for you! – David Cottrell
Reinforced behavior becomes repeated behavior. – David Cottrell, Mark Layton
Your business is based on trust. When you lose a customer’s trust, there is really no basis for continuing the business relationship. – David Cottrell
Good, better, best; never let it rest, until your good is better and your better is best. – Billy Cox
Your mind is your personal computer. Scan and delete negative input regularly. – Lee J. Colan
If you want to be around happier people…choose to be happy. It starts with you. – David Cottrell
Be accountable and measure progress. – Stephen Krempl
Your time is your responsibility. If you aren’t able to do the important things, only you can solve that problem. – David Cottrell
Life is a team sport. You will need the help and support of others to reach your goals. – Billy Cox

1/14&1/15, 1/22, 1/25, 1/30/08: Pre-selection ltrs: McDowell, Melosh, Marcalus, Marcello, Marianthi, Markey, Marshall, Martin, Lookout, Lorber, Luing, Luzarraga, Lombardo, Littenberg, Q. Kennedy, Kroon, Knurr, LaBlanc, LaGrassa, Lipari, Joy Street, Keating Crawford, Keep the Faith, Knueven, Landsberger, S. Lang, Larini, Lautenberg, Lipper, Howe, Imbesi, Infinite Possibilities, It’ll Do, James Family, Marian Craig Leers, LFH, Clare, Coccia, Collins, D’Angelo, DePhillips, Doherty, Holmes, Kean, Liana, Alford, Almar, Barrett, Bartlett, Baus, Beane, Bergeron, Bocina, Boorujy, Brach, Brandywine, Bulova Gale, Canata, Capozzi, Caxton, Cesatam, Charles, Chippie, DRS Tech., Durso, Farris, Fr. Collins, Fr. John, Five G’s, Fournier, Frazza, Fruscione, Children in Americas, Gagnon, Galgano, Gallagher, Garcia, George, Gibson, Giordano

There is no ‘grand conspiracy’ preventing you from accomplishing what you need to do. – David Cottrell
Shift beliefs, attitudes and truths so they are aligned with your vision. – Vince Poscente
If you want your ship to come in, you’ve got to go where the ships are. In personal improvement, the ships are in goals – specific, measurable and obtainable goals. – David Cottrell
The more employees know how valuable they are, the more valuable they become. – Lorraine Grubbs-West
The opposite of courage is conformity. – David Cottrell
When customers have an issue, more than at any other time, you and your customers have an opportunity to develop a bonded relationship. – David Cottrell
The Obvious Choice looks at the mountain as a bunch of molehills put together that have to be unraveled – deconstructed, one small piece at a time. – Bryan Dodge, David Cottrell
For you to be the very best, you cannot allow yourself to become complacent in your comfort zone. You need to be reaching for improvement. – David Cottrell
You earn trust when employees perceive you will be fair when there is no obvious right or wrong. – David Cottrell, Eric Harvey
We need to shift our thinking on how we must work across the organization – from west to east – rather than from the top down. – Valerie Sokolosky
You cannot fake your desire to be a leader. Be true to yourself and your people. – David Cottrell
What you reward, reinforce and train for is what you will get. – David Cottrell
Success does not depend upon the brilliance of your plan, but upon the consistency of your actions. – Lee J. Colan
Envision having the goal rather merely wanting the goal. – Vince Poscente
When the customer is operating at top speed, we succeed. – Ken Carnes
Accept constructive criticism as a gift…a learning tool that teaches us lessons throughout our life. – David Cottrell
Successful leaders typically demonstrate the courage to remain optimistic and search for the best – even in times of stress and uncertainty. – David Cottrell, Eric Harvey
When facing adversity, we must move in a determined, motivated manner, even if the outcome of our actions is not well defined. – Chris Novak
How an organization ‘recovers’ from a guest complaint or a service blunder is the single biggest factor that separates the average company from the exceptional. – David Reed, David Cottrell
You are the Chief Bucket-Filler, and the best way to fill buckets is with excellent communication. – David Cottrell
Deciding to be committed and doing something about your commitment are entirely different. Leaders must do more than decide…they must take action. – David Cottrell
The signature of mediocrity is consistently changing directions. The signature of excellence is sticking to it. – Lee J. Colan
If messengers are shot down for telling the truth, no truthful messengers will attend the next meeting. – David Cottrell, Mark Layton
The best marketing tool available to you is your customer’s satisfaction after the sale. – David Cottrell
If you want to reach the highest level of success, you have to learn to tap in to the amazing power of edification. – Billy Cox
A real leader spends his time fixing the problem instead of finding who to blame. – David Cottrell
Eventually a rut can become a grave because the only difference between a rut and a grave is in the depth. – Bryan Dodge, David Cottrell
Every seed produces its own kind. Apple seeds do not yield oak trees. What seeds are you sowing? Sow positive behaviors to reap positive results. – David Cottrell
Stay focused. Discover what is most important…then stick to it. – Lee J. Colan
When you depend on another’s perceptions to match your expectations, you’re setting yourself up for disappointment. – David Cottrell
The number one reason employees are unhappy at work is that they do not know what is expected. – David Cottrell
You are the same today as you’ll be in five years except for two things: the people you meet and the books you read. – Charlie “Tremendous” Jones
Effective leaders are able to see beyond the obvious and focus on something greater than the current situation. – David Cottrell
Integrity means doing the right thing, even when no one will ever find out what you’ve done. – Billy Cox
Life is a series of presentations. Everywhere we go and in everything we do, we present ourselves to others. – Tony Jeary, David Cottrell
All great things start as one small thing. – Lee J. Colan
Keep the main thing the main thing. – David Cottrell
Complacency is the root of mediocrity. – David Cottrell, Eric Harvey

2/7/08 Preselection letters: Good, Grauer, Gravina, Green, H. Green

People quit people before they quit companies. – David Cottrell
Staff to your weaknesses so you can focus on your areas of strength. – Valerie Sokolosky
Never take your eyes off your goals. – David Cottrell
The paradox of change: The best time to do it is when it seems the least necessary. – David Cottrell
High-achieving leaders hone their focus. – Lee J. Colan
Experience the goal as though it were happening right now. – Vince Poscente
Without your trust, very little a manager says or does will matter. – Ken Carnes, David Cottrell
Take the time to manage your boss the same way you manage your subordinates. – David Cottrell
Overcoming adversity is exhausting, frustrating work but it is not stronger than our most determined efforts. – Christopher Novak
Convert your turning points into learning points. – Lee J. Colan
If you take care of your customers, they’ll take care of your business. – David Reed, David Cottrell
Excellent leadership vision does not necessarily guarantee excellent results, yet leadership without vision does guarantee failure. – David Cottrell
Perception is reality…only for the ignorant. – Teri Kabachnick
Character is the ability to follow through with a goal, a commitment or a contract long after the excitement is gone or the money you earned has been spent. – Billy Cox
Without a compelling cause, your team’s minds might be engaged but their hearts are not. Meaning precedes motivation. – Lee J. Colan
Lighten up. Find humor in the absurdities of work and life. – David Cottrell
Don’t paint stripes on your back if you’re not a zebra. Focus on building upon your unique abilities. – Lee J. Colan
One of the ‘main things’ for a leader is to eliminate confusion. – David Cottrell
No matter how much you voice mail, e-mail, memo or speak, if you are not addressing your followers’ needs you are not communicating. – David Cottrell
Frequently ask yourself the number one time-management question of all time: What is the best use of my time right now? – David Cottrell, Mark Layton
Leadership has to be earned. The long and short of it…it takes time. – Valerie Sokolosky
Show your gratitude consistently. – Vince Poscente
There is never a good reason to sacrifice your integrity. – David Cottrell
Complexity is the enemy of excellence. Keep things simple. – Lee J. Colan
Disengagement begins when learning and development end. – Teri Kabachnick – – J Moskal, A. Thompson, N. Jermanowski,
P. Paventa, R. Field
The pain of tomorrow’s squandered opportunities lasts far longer than the pleasure of today’s complacency. – David Cottrell, Eric Harvey
People will go out of their way to avoid communicating with those they do not trust. Without trust, you are wasting each other’s time. – David Cottrell
The longer a problem is allowed to exist, the more costly it will be to fix. Very seldom, if ever, does a problem solve itself and simply go away. – David Cottrell
Earning trust sometimes takes years, but it can be destroyed in seconds by one simple action. — Ken Carnes, David Cottrell & Mark Layton
It is not what we leave our kids; it’s what we leave within them that counts. – Valerie Sokolosky
Avoid negative, cynical people whenever you can. The impact of negative people in your work group can be more damaging than the actions of your competitors. – David Cottrell
Clarity is the friend of accountability; ambiguity is the enemy. – Lee J. Colan
Frequently the difference between success and failure is the resolve to stick to your plan long enough to win. – David Cottrell
You have to escape from management land and get in touch with your people. – David Cottrell
Leaders see what’s possible, describe what’s possible, and pursue what’s possible. – Paul B. Thornton
Teamwork is connected independence. – David Cottrell
Mastery is not built in chunks. It’s a gradual process of layering. – Lee J. Colan
Frustration will lead to negative thoughts. Negative thoughts add fuel to more negativity. This negativity can be a pattern that destroys confidence. – Vince Poscente
We were meant to give our lives away. Focus on living your legacy instead of worrying about leaving it. – Lee J. Colan
If you want to perform at the highest level, have fun! – Vince Poscente
Your highest form of communication is your example. People hear what you say and how you say it, but people respond to what they see you do. – David Cottrell
Build your vocabulary. A large vocabulary allows you to influence people to change. – Ed Zimmer
Customers enjoy positive surprises. – David Cottrell
Success is doing the right things long enough until you finally achieve your goals. – Billy Cox
Your job is not to lower the bottom by adjusting for and accommodating the lowest-performing employees. You should be raising the top by recognizing and rewarding superstar behaviors. – David Cottrell
Spending time improving where you are, instead of looking where you think you should be, is the key to your success. – Bryan Dodge, David Cottrell
Criticism, even unjust criticism, is not to be ignored – listen with the intent to understand. – David Cottrell
Know what the forest looks like before you chop down a tree. – Lee J. Colan
Many top performers go to bed hungry at night – hungry for recognition from you. – David Cottrell, Mark Layton
For profits, you need people who perform. Period. – Teri Kabachnick
‘Lagniappe’ – always give the customer a little something extra. – David Reed, David Cottrell
As the leader of a team, people are watching you…they’re watching everything you do. The question is, what are they seeing? – David Cottrell, Mark Layton
Doing the right thing isn’t always easy – in fact, sometimes it’s really hard – but just remember that doing the right thing is always right. – David Cottrell
No two thoughts can occupy the mind at the same time. Replace negativity with positive, confident thoughts. – Vince Poscente
Courage is proactively attacking your fear. – Lee J. Colan
The customer’s rule of reciprocity: When I enjoy doing business with you, I will spend more money with you. – David Cottrell
Most things worth doing never go quite the way they were planned. The challenge is to ignore the distractions, overcome the obstacles and stay focused on the goal. – Billy Cox
If you want to be around people who are positive and enthusiastic and eager to live, your attitude has to be the same. – David Cottrell
Being a mom is a great school for managers. – Valerie Sokolosky
It is difficult to worry when you are energetically working toward a plan! – David Cottrell
For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction so when you aim forward expect backward motions from time to time. – David Cottrell, Alice Adams
Successful leaders play with class – win, lose or draw. They make no excuses and look forward to the next challenge. – David Cottrell
Leaders generate ideas. They find easier, better ways to achieve the desired goals. – Mitch McCrimmon
Your assumptions or view of the world will consistently predict your actions and the results you achieve. – Lee J. Colan
Life rewards action…so dive in and get to work. – Lee J. Colan
Unforeseen circumstances will arise. Expect the unexpected. Anticipate your response to challenges as well as your team’s. – Vince Poscente
Be curious! Curiosity is a prerequisite to continuous improvement and excellence. – Mary Jean Thornton
Like it or not, Coach, you are the team’s pacesetter. – David Cottrell, Mark Layton
Working is still a poor substitute for living. People need to have lives outside work in order to enjoy their lives at work. – Christopher Novak
The trailing edge prospers. You don’t always have to be the first to do something. Capitalize on the other guy’s hard work and improve on it. – David Cottrell
The more you enjoy the people at work, the more you will enjoy your work. – David Cottrell
Life and work cannot be separated into compartments. Managers must become more ‘professionally personal’. – Teri Kabachnick
Attack procrastination! Do it now! – David Cottrell, Mark Layton
If you help your customers create value for their company, they will reward you with more business. It is as simple as that. – David Cottrell
If you are convinced you have found your ‘gold mine’, keep digging. – Billy Cox
The pain of regret for not being prepared for an opportunity will last far longer than the pleasure of today’s laziness. – Bryan Dodge, David Cottrell
Expect troubles to invade your life. When trouble comes, look it squarely in the eye and say, ‘I will be bigger than you. You cannot defeat me.’ – David Cottrell
If you want to make big, lasting change, you’re going to have to create new habits. – Stephen Krempl
You have no choice about being a role model for your team. The only choice that you have is which role you will model. – David Cottrell, Eric Harvey
The most important thing you do as a leader is hire the right people. – David Cottrell
Effective leaders have the self-discipline to work long after their competitors have gone for the day. – David Cottrell
To get passionate performance, you must give it. – Lee J. Colan
When it comes to problems and conflict, people who bury their heads in the sand will find that their backsides are exposed. – Ken Carnes, David Cottrell & Mark Layton
Never lower your standards just to fill a position. You will pay for it later. – David Cottrell
What in our adult world that’s truly important has no associated accountabilities or consequences? The answer is NOTHING. Importance and accountability go hand in hand. – David Cottrell, Eric Harvey
Celebration rescues us from exhaustion of fighting the good fight. It renews our energy, lifts our spirits, and keeps us afloat. – Christopher Novak
Those who give the best of themselves get the best from others. – Lee J. Colan
Your success is the result of making better choices…and recovering quickly from bad choices. – David Cottrell
Great coaches invest in lifelong learning. – David Cottrell, Mark Layton
When the time is right, just pucker up and say…’I’m sorry.’ – Vince Poscente
Regardless of the past, your future will be shaped by your optimism about what is ahead. – David Cottrell
Reaching the next level doesn’t just happen. It takes vision, discipline and action. – David Cottrell, Alice Adams
Your success is based more on what your people do than what you do. Focus on people, not titles. – Lee J. Colan
Being committed to a task means, in effect, being committed to the process of being committed. – Vince Poscente
Change the way you look at things and things will change the way they look. – Lee J. Colan
One of the major sources of stress, anxiety, and unhappiness comes from feeling that your life is out of control. – David Cottrell
There are two performance end-states that cannot be tolerated in any organization: not getting results, and getting results the WRONG way. – David Cottrell, Eric Harvey
Amid adversity, remember that positive outcomes are easier to see with your head up. – Christopher Novak
Create your own brand, ‘Brand Me,’ and advertise it. – Ken Carnes
What kind of results would we achieve if everyone imitated you? – David Cottrell
Why wait for Thanksgiving to be thankful? Why wait for Christmas to be generous? Why wait for birthdays to be happy? Look for moments every day when you can show your team appreciation. – David Cottrell, Mark Layton
The real prescription for success is to ACT NOW…because not everyone gets a second chance. – Stephen Krempl
Customer loyalty begins with employee loyalty. – David Cottrell
When things go wrong, don’t waste valuable time blaming others for what happened. Shift your attention from what is wrong to what the situation will look like in the future. – Billy Cox
Successful people have the ability to make the right choices at the right time. – David Cottrell
There will be more problems. There’s no escaping it – it’s a fact of life. The question is, are you going to be proactive and take action to avert a crisis, or are you going to do nothing and hope things turn out okay? – Stephen Krempl
Leaders keep improving, especially when they are on top of their game. – David Cottrell
Successful leaders have successful habits. They sacrifice today’s pleasures for tomorrow’s rewards. – Lee J. Colan
Don’t allow adversity to steal your dream. Instead, use adversity to reveal to you the inner resources you didn’t even know you possessed. – Billy Cox
Early response leads to easier resolutions. – Stephen Krempl
Gratitude is the magic ingredient in the recipe for a fulfilling life. – Vince Poscente
The comfort zone is full of people who are passed by others who make personal improvement a priority. – Ken Carnes, David Cottrell & Mark Layton
If you want to make better use of your time, you need to be looking for the small increments of time…a minute here, five minutes there, etc. – David Cottrell
Passion exposes possibilities. – Lee J. Colan
Celebrate life. For all its imperfections, injustices and wrongs, life is still a beautiful gift. – Christopher Novak
A successful recovery can turn an upset person into a loyal customer, which will more than pay back the cost of fixing the original mistake. – David Reed, David Cottrell
The key to making your best decisions is to precisely understand your values. – David Cottrell
Don’t be so busy making a living that you forget how to live. Work hard to be successful, but enjoy the journey. – David Cottrell, Mark Layton
If you choose to ignore the voices and actions of your customers, the long-term health of your business is in jeopardy. – David Cottrell
So much of life is about attitude and how we handle what life throws our way. – Bryan Dodge, David Cottrell
If you are going to fulfill your destiny, you gotta get in the game, you gotta stay in the game, and you gotta follow the game plan. – Billy Cox
Character is the foundation upon which one must build to win respect. Just as no worthy building can be erected on a weak foundation, so no lasting reputation worthy of respect can be built on a weak character. – R.C. Samsel
Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one’s definition of your life, but define yourself. – Harvey S. Firestone
Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out. – John Wooden
Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forward. – Soren Kierkegaard
The good old days were never that good, believe me. The good new days are today, and better days are coming tomorrow. Our greatest songs are still unsung. – Hubert H. Humphrey
It is not what happens that determines the major part of your future. What happens, happens to us all. It is what you do about what happens that counts. – Jim Rohn
Your past is important, but it is not nearly as important to your present as is the way you see your future. – Dr. Tony Campolo
We are free up to the point of choice, then the choice controls the chooser. – Mary Crowley
Life will be to a large extent what we ourselves make of it. – Samuel Smiles
Of all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these: It might have been. – John Greenleaf Whittier
Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice; it is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved. – William Jennings Bryan
A man carries his success or failure with him…it does not depend on outside conditions. – Ralph Waldo Trine
Do what you can, with what you have, where you are. – Theodore Roosevelt
Forgive yourself for your faults and your mistakes and move on. – Les Brown
I used to say, ‘I sure hope things will change.’ Then I learned that the only way things are going to change for me is when I change. – Jim Rohn
Success means doing the best we can with what we have. Success is in the doing, not the getting – in the trying, not the triumph. – Wynn Davis
The greatest power that a person possesses is the power to choose. – J. Martin Kohe
Standing in the middle of the road is very dangerous; you get knocked down by traffic from both sides. – Margaret Thatcher
Be like a postage stamp. Stick to one thing until you get there. – Josh Billings
I’m a great believer in luck, and I find that the harder I work, the more of it I have. – Thomas Jefferson
The world stands aside to let anyone pass who knows where he is going. – David Starr Jordan
The mind is a bit like a garden. If it isn’t fed and cultivated, weeds will take it over. – Erwin G. Hall
It is not enough to have a good mind. The main thing is to use it well. – Rene Descartes
If you want to be successful, know what you are doing, love what you are doing and believe in what you are doing. – Will Rogers
Every beginning is a consequence. Every beginning ends something. – Paul Valery
There is a time when we must firmly choose the course we will follow, or the relentless drive of events will make the decision for us. – Herbert B. Prochnow
You shall judge a man by his foes as well as by his friends. – Joseph Conrad
The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. – Edmund Burke
The only people with whom you should try to get even are those who have helped you. – Mae Maloo
I don’t know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody. – Bill Cosby
I have found that the greatest help in meeting any problem with decency and self-respect and whatever courage is demanded, is to know where you yourself stand. That is, to have in words what you believe and are acting from. – William Faulkner
Keeping score of old scores and scars, getting even and one-upping, always make you less than you are. – Malcolm Forbes
L There is no pillow as soft as a clear conscience. – John Wooden
Integrity is telling myself the truth, and honesty is telling the truth to other people. – Spencer Johnson
Anyone who thinks they can go to the top and stay there without being honest is dumb. – Mortimer Feinberg
There are always two choices. Two paths to take. One is easy. And its only reward is that it’s easy. – Anonymous
If you believe in unlimited quality and act in all your business dealings with total integrity, the rest will take care of itself. – Frank Perdue
Integrity is not a 90 percent thing, not a 95 percent thing; either you have it or you don’t. – Peter Scotese
Success is simple. Do what’s right, the right way, at the right time. – Arnold Glasow
Don’t compromise yourself; you are all you’ve got. – Betty Ford
The truth of the matter is that you always know the right thing to do. The hard part is doing it. – Norman Schwarzkopf
There can be no happiness if the things we believe in are different from the things we do. – Freya Stark
If you think you’re too small to have an impact, try going to bed with a mosquito in the room. – Dame Anita Roddick
Don’t wait. The time will never be just right. Start where you stand and work with whatever tools you may have at your command and better tools will be found as you go along. – Napoleon Hill
Opportunity rarely knocks on your door. Knock rather on opportunity’s door if you ardently want to enter. – B.C. Forbes
Now that it’s all over, what did you do yesterday that’s worth mentioning? – Coleman Cox
Decisions without actions are worthless. – W. Clement Stone
Progress always involves risk; you can’t steal second base and keep your foot on first. – Frederick Wilcox
If you can’t win, make the fellow ahead of you break the record. – Charles L. Tiblom
Behold the turtle. He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out. – James B. Conant
Never doubt that a small group of concerned citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. – Margaret Mead
In a moment of decision the best thing you can do is the right thing. The worst thing you can do is nothing. – Theodore Roosevelt
The dictionary is the only place where success comes before work. – Mark Twain
Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there. – Will Rogers
The great aim of education is not knowledge, but action. – Anonymous
The man who doesn’t read good books has no advantage over the man who can’t read them. – Mark Twain
We must all suffer from one or two pains; the pain of discipline or the pain of regret. The difference is discipline weighs ounces while regret weights tons. – Jim Rohn
When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on. – Franklin Roosevelt
Failure is delay, but not defeat. It is a temporary detour, not a dead-end street. – William Arthur Ward
Develop success from failures. Discouragement and failure are two of the surest stepping stones to success. – Dale Carnegie
Success…seems to be connected with action. Successful men keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don’t quit. – Conrad Hilton
Men’s best successes come after their disappointments. – Henry Ward Beecher
Success is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm. – Winston Churchill
Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up. – Thomas Edison
You cannot measure a many by his failures. You must know what use he makes of them. What did they mean to him? What did he get out of them? Orison Swett Marden
The most essential factor is persistence – the determination never to allow your energy or enthusiasm to be dampened by the discouragement that must inevitably come. – James Whitcomb Riley
It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare; it is because we do not dare that they are difficult. – Seneca
Don’t be afraid to fail. Don’t waste energy trying to cover up failure. Learn from your failures and go on to the next challenge. It’s OK to fail. If you’re not failing, you’re not growing. – H. Stanley Judd
Others can stop you temporarily – you are the only one who can do it permanently. – Zig Ziglar
Failure is the only opportunity to more intelligently begin again. – Henry Ford
The only person who is educated is the one who has learned how to learn…and change. – Carl Rogers
Failure is success if we learn from it. – Malcolm Forbes
Your attitude – today, tomorrow and forever – is your choice. Choose wisely.
An optimist may see a light where there is none, but why must the pessimist always run to blow it out? – Michel de Saint-Pierre
Some people are always grumbling that roses have thorns; I am thankful that thorns have roses. – Alphonse Karr
Surround yourself with people who are optimistic and caring; it’s one time when being ‘surrounded’ is a good thing. – Al Lucia
Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much. – Helen Keller
Recipe for having friends: Be one. – Elbert Hubbard
After the game, the king and the pawn go into the same box. – Italian proverb
One of the secrets of a long and fruitful life is to forgive everybody everything every night before going to bed. – Bernard Baruch
Our rewards in life will always be in exact proportion to the amount of consideration we show others. – Earl Nightingale
The golden rule is of no use whatsoever unless you realize that it is your move. – Dr. Frank Crane
Relationships of trust depend on our willingness to look not only to our own interests, but also the interests of others. – Peter Farquharson
Three things in human life are important: The first is to be kind. The second is to be kind. The third is to be kind. – Henry James
Example is not the main thing in influencing others. It is the only thing. – Albert Schweitzer
Remember, if people talk behind your back, it only means you’re two steps ahead. — Fannie Flagg
The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining. – John F. Kennedy
What you are afraid to do is a clear indicator of the next thing you need to do. – Anonymous
In this world it is not what we take up, but what we give up, that makes us rich. – Henry Ward Beecher
Nobody who ever gave his best regretted it. – George Halas
It is one of the most beautiful compensations of life, that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself. – Ralph Waldo Emerson
When you share, the remainder multiplies and grows. – W. Clement Stone
If you can’t feed a hundred people, then feed just one. – Mother Teresa
The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others. – Mahatma Gandhi
There are two ways of spreading light; to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it. – Edith Wharton
We cannot hold a torch to light another’s path without brightening our own. – Ben Sweetland
We were meant to give our lives away. Focus on living your legacy instead of worrying about leaving it. – Lee J. Colan
Y You can be bitter or better – your choice. – Jesse Jackson
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. – Leonardo da Vinci
The basis of leadership is the capacity of the leader to change the mindset, the framework of the other person. – Warren Bennis
I knew then and believe even more firmly now – there is a simpler way to lead organizations, one that requires less effort and produces less stress than the current practices. – Meg Wheatley, Ph.D.
No matter how complicated a problem is, it usually can be reduced to a simple, comprehensible form which is often the best solution. – An Wang, founder of Wang Labs
Leaders do not need to have all the answers. They do need to ask the right questions. – Ronald Heifitz and Donald Laurie Harvard Business Review, February 2000
All of life’s answers are available, if we just knew what questions to ask. – Albert Einstein
Those who plan the battle are less likely to battle the plan. – Dwight D. Eisenhower
What is impossible to do in one paradigm can be easy in the next. – Joel Barker
Success produces success, just as money produces money. – Nicolas de Chamfort
The success combination in business is: Do what you do better…and…Do more of what you do.
The first and most important step toward success is the feeling that we can succeed. – Nelson Boswell
Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success. – Henry Ford
Winning organizations not only fulfill their desired goals today, but they also continually redesign those goals as circumstances change and go on to meet those new goals. – Noel Tichy
Leadership is making the complex simple. — Anonymous
Arrogance is attitudinal. Check it at the door. – Benjamin Franklin
Treat people as if they were what they ought to be and you will help them to become what they are capable of being. – Johann W. Von Goethe
Unless he manages himself effectively, no amount of ability, skill, experience or knowledge will make an executive effective. – Peter Drecker
One person can make a difference and every person should try. – John F. Kennedy
Professionalism is knowing how to do it, when to do it…and doing it. – Frank Tyger
Technology makes it possible for people to gain control over everything…except technology. – John Tudor
Decide what your priorities are and how much time you will spend on them. If you don’t, someone else will. – Harvey Mackay
If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people you might better stay home. – James Michener
Tact is…giving the other fellow a sense of ease in one’s presence. – Gordon Lindsay
The highest of distinctions is service to others. – King George VI
In business the competition will bite you if you keep running. If you stand still they will swallow you. – William Knudsen
It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts. – Coach John Wooden
Complaints are good! The only way you can make positive changes is by knowing what needs to be changed. – David Cottrell, Mark C. Layton
If things go wrong, don’t go with them. – Roger Babson
If you ignore dissatisfied customers and they go to a competitor, they have Elephant memory about their unpleasant experience…and they talk about it! – David Cottrell, Mark C. Layton
A diamond is a chunk of coal that made good under pressure – Anonymous
M The longer a problem exists without being identified or addressed, the more expensive and time-consuming it is to fix.
Very seldom, if ever, does a problem solve itself and simply go away. – David Cottrell, Mark C. Layton
Always do more than is required of you. – General George S. Patton
There’s always room for improvement. It’s the biggest room in the house. – Louise Heath Leber
The world is equally balanced between good and evil and your next act will tip the scales. – Rabbi Hillel
We are living in a world of raplexity – a business environment that changes rapidly – and, as changes occur, they are more and more complex. – Valerie Sokolosky
Today is another opportunity to go to work and have a positive impact on someone else’s life. – David E. Reed
Choose to be a Difference Maker! – David E. Reed
You can have everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want. – David E. Reed
Your integrity will be valued by what you do when no one else is watching. Choose the correct path. – David E. Reed
The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. – Martin Luther King, Jr.
The key to success on any team is to spread the work around, trying to take advantage of each person’s strengths while developing their weaknesses. – David E. Reed
If you want to make yourself a valuable member of your team, take time to learn about your co-workers’ jobs so you are ready to jump in and help out when the need arises. – David E. Reed
When you hear or see one of your co-workers doing a great job that results in a satisfied customer, celebrate and let others know about this success. – David E. Reed
Doesn’t it make more sense to focus our time and talents on the things we can control…or at least influence? – David E. Reed
The real art of conversation is not only to say the right thing in the right place, but to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment. – Lady Dorothy Nevill
Be a difference maker. Anyone can use their job and their daily tasks to make a positive difference in the lives of those they come in contact with. – David E. Reed
Serve each other. Although it is rare and sometimes difficult, learn to serve your fellow team members and customers. Put each other’s needs ahead of your own and trust that those who do the right thing will win in the end. – David E. Reed
Any human encounter can become a good one. – Simon T. Bailey
Professional Paradise is a state of being – a state of mind backed up with intentional action. So often it’s not what happens at work, but how we perceive it, think about it and act on it that has a lasting impact. – Vicki Hess
Happiness isn’t just a vague, ineffable feeling; it’s a physical state of the brain – one that you can induce deliberately. – Richard Davidson
You don’t have to depend on others for your happiness or your paradise. You can create it yourself – on a regular basis – even at work! – Vicki Hess
When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change. – Wayne Dyer, “The Power of Intention”
If you don’t know the ending to a story, then why not create a happy one? – Vicki Hess
If you don’t make things happen, then things will happen to you. – Robert Collier, “The Secret of the Ages”
Intentionally choose your actions after objectively assessing the circumstances. – Vicki Hess
Connections are at the heart of business, because little gets done without some degree of interaction or joining together with others. – Vicki Hess
Misery has enough company…dare to be happy! – Volkswagen advertisement
Be the change you want to see in the world. – Mahatma Gandhi
Pay attention to the care and feeding of your brain. – Vicki Hess
The world stands aside to let anyone pass who knows where he is going. – David Starr Jordan
The quality of a person’s life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor. – Vince Lombardi
Winners are committed to ‘hang in there’ long enough to win. – Lee J. Colan
Passion exposes possibilities. – Lee J. Colan
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. – George Carlin
Empty pockets never held anyone back. Only empty heads and empty hearts can do that. – Norman Vincent Peale
w Wisdom is choosing the purity of truth over popularity. – Lee J. Colan
When you heart speaks, take good notes. – Anonymous
Accept everything about yourself – I mean everything. You are you and that is the beginning and the end – no apologies, no regrets. – Clark Moustakas
Courage is moving forward…even through the path of most resistance. – Lee J. Colan REPEAT OF #401
Courage is contagious. When a brave man takes a stand, the spine of others are often stiffened. – Billy Graham
Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore. – Andre Gide
It’s not the size of the man, but the size of his heart that matters. – Evander Holyfield
It’s not enough to be busy. The question is, what are we busy about? – Henry David Thoreau
Happiness comes from following one’s passion. Success comes from work that you are passionate about. – Anonymous
Difficulties do not control my life. I am responsible for my own success! – Charles Mallory
Follow your dreams, not the path of others’ expectations. – David Cottrell & Lee J. Colan
Values…know the, believe them, live them. – David Cottrell & Lee J. Colan
Vision is the gift to see what others only dream. – David Cottrell & Lee J. Colan
The past does not have a future, but you do. – David Cottrell & Lee J. Colan
Step out…make the difference. – David Cottrell & Lee J. Colan
Your best is yet to come. – David Cottrell & Lee J. Colan
Success is a reflection of your commitment to excellence. – David Cottrell & Lee J. Colan
The right attitude is the root of success. It enables us to stand strong and prevail. – David Cottrell & Lee J. Colan
You must let go to grow. – David Cottrell & Lee J. Colan
Greatness takes time to grow. – David Cottrell & Lee J. Colan
Excellence is reflected in each of us. – David Cottrell & Lee J. Colan
Your legacy is not what you leave, it’s how you have lived. – David Cottrell & Lee J. Colan
Move forward…turn opportunity into reality. – David Cottrell & Lee J. Colan
Our character is revealed while navigating life’s obstacles. – David Cottrell & Lee J. Colan
Make excellence an everyday event. – David Cottrell & Lee J. Colan
Life’s greatest rewards often appear in unexpected places. – David Cottrell & Lee J. Colan
Courage is the inner drive to make progress regardless of the difficulty. – David Cottrell & Lee J. Colan
For every person, there comes a time when you must step forward and meet the needs of the time. – David Cottrell & Lee J. Colan
Regardless of whether your moment is now or sometime in the future, you must be ready. – David Cottrell & Lee J. Colan
When you move forward…even through the path of most resistance…you gain the courage necessary to win. – David Cottrell & Lee J. Colan
Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn. – Benjamin Franklin
Cherish your visions and your dreams as they are the children of your soul; the blueprints of your ultimate achievements. – Napoleon Hill
The great thing in the world is not so much where we stand, but in what direction we are moving. – Oliver Wendell Holmes
Sometimes it’s the smallest decisions that can change your life forever. – Keri Russell
Nothing will ever be attempted if all possible objections must be first overcome. – Samuel Johnson
Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together. – Vincent van Gogh
Good actions give strength to ourselves and inspire good actions in others. – Plato
The choices we make, the words we say, and the actions we take not only impact our lives, but also the lives of those around us. – Eric Harvey and Michelle Sedas
Do something wonderful, people may imitate it. – Albert Schweitzer
Unless commitment is made, there are only promises and hopes; but no plans. – Peter F. Drucker
My satisfaction comes from my commitment to advancing a better world. – Faye Wattleton
Integrity: Doing the right thing; taking the high road; acting according to one’s values. – Eric Harvey and Michelle Sedas
Choose to take the road less traveled. The path may be bumpier, the landscape plainer, the duration longer. But the destination will truly be worth the journey. – – Eric Harvey and Michelle Sedas
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference. – Robert Frost
Continuous effort – not strength or intelligence – is the key to unlocking our potential. – Winston Churchill
Persist and persevere, and you will find most things that are attainable, possible. – Lord Chesterfield
Just remember, you can do anything you set your mind to, but it takes action, perseverance, and facing your fears. – Gillian Anderson
Optimism: –noun – a disposition or tendency to look on the more favorable side of events or conditions and to expect the most favorable outcome.
For myself I am an optimist – it does not seem to be much use being anything else. – Sir Winston Churchill
Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence. – Helen Keller
The most powerful force in the universe is compound interest. – Albert Einstein (LTRS TO: Bill McDonald, Tony Lombardo & Ted Wessel;
MEMOS TO: Peggy Briant & Rita Kelly)
Life is all about timing…the unreachable becomes reachable, the unavailable become available, the unattainable…attainable. Have the patience, wait it out. It’s all about timing. – Stacey Charter
The best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago. The second best time is now. – Proverb
To do something, however small, to make others happier and better, is the highest ambition, the most elevating hope, which can inspire a human being. – John Lubbock
Allow the love for those things that you hold dear to inspire you to get involved, to support one another, to make a difference. – – Eric Harvey and Michelle Sedas
I love you not only for what you are but for what I am when I am with you. – Roy Croft
We can do no great things; only small things with great love. – Mother Teresa
Creativity is the power to connect the seemingly unconnected. – William Plomer
Sometimes creativity just means the daily work of helping others to see a problem in a different way. – Joseph Badaracco
Creativity is the ability to see relationships where none exist. – Thomas Disch
The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning. – Mitch Albom
The purpose of human life is to serve and to show compassion and the will to help others. – Albert Schweitzer
Great opportunities to help others seldom come, but small ones surround us every day. – Sally Koch
Sometimes when we are generous in small, barely detectable ways it can change someone else’s life forever. – Margaret Cho
It is important to give it all you have while you have the chance. – Shania Twain
We must remember that one determined person can make a significant difference, and that a small group of determined people can change the course of history. – Sonia Johnson
As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. – Marianne Williamson
One idea, which is acted upon, can change us and those around us in unimaginable ways. – – Eric Harvey and Michelle Sedas
Realize that by removing your self-imposed boundaries, you open yourself up to limitless possibilities. – Eric Harvey and Michelle Sedas
Develop a mindset that will give you courage to go after your goals, rather than to feel overwhelmed by them. – Eric Harvey and Michelle Sedas
Believe that it’s the small things that make a big difference. – Eric Harvey and Michelle Sedas
Improve yourself and the world around you. – Eric Harvey and Michelle Sedas
How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world. – Helen Keller
Only one thing has to change for us to know happiness in our lives: where we focus our attention. – Greg Anderson
If you surrender completely to the moments as they pass, you live more richly in those moments. – Anne Morrow Lindbergh
Stay focused. Discover what is important…then stick to it. – Lee J. Colan
Excellence requires laser-like focus. – Lee J. Colan
When we seek to discover the best in others, we somehow bring out the best in ourselves. – William Arthur Ward
It does not matter whether customers are wrong or right; it matters how they feel when they hang up the phone. – Patti Wysocki
It’s hard to beat a person who never gives up. – Babe Ruth
Those who let things happen usually lose to those who make things happen. – David Weinbaum
We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit. – Aristotle
In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. But, in practice, there is. – Yogi Berra
A life filled with positive attitude is also filled with positive impact. – Lee J Colan
A single act does make a difference…it creates a ripple effect that can be felt many miles and people away. – Lee J Colan
Live your company values before you communicate them to your employees. – Lee J Colan
Corporate culture is nothing more than a compilation of behaviors. So, culture change is really about behavior modification. – Lee J Colan
Organizational change is just a concept that is brought to life by individuals who change. – Lee J Colan
The old assertion that ‘the happy employee is the productive employee’ was refuted long ago. In fact, the reverse is true: the productive worker is the happy worker. Therefore we must change employees’ behavior, then their hearts will follow. – Lee J Colan
More companies die from organizational indigestion than die from organizational expansion. – Lee J Colan
Saying ‘Yes’ to one thing always means saying ‘No’ to something else. – Lee J Colan
Measure what matters, then manage what you measure. – Lee J Colan
High revenue growth forgives many sins. – Lee J Colan
Leaders who manage growth most effectively force themselves to get off the treadmill of work in their business and step into the eagle’s nest to work on their business. – Lee J Colan
The entrepreneur says, ‘The next deal is king,’ while the leader says, ‘The customer is king’. – Lee J. Colan
Employees who are searching for answers typically fill in the blanks with the worse case scenario. – Lee J. Colan
Frequently, the difference between success and failure is to resolve to stick to your plan long enough to win. – David Cottrell
The problem with American business is not a lack of good ideas, but a lack of follow-through. – Mary Kay Ash
Success does not depend upon the brilliance of your plan, but upon the consistency of your actions. – Lee J. Colan
If you don’t know where you are going, you will probably end up somewhere else. – Laurence Johnson Peter
The secret to success is constancy of purpose. – Benjamin Disraeli
T Things that matter most must never be at the mercy of things that matter least. – Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
I don’t know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody. – Bill Cosby
Genius is the ability to reduce the complicated to the simple. – C.W. Ceram
If a man does his best, what else is there? – General George S. Patton
Beware of no man more than thyself. – Thomas Fuller
T The most important thing about goals is having one. – Geoffrey F. Abert
Our goal can only be reached through a plan, in which we must fervently believe, and upon which we must vigorously act. There is no other route to success. – Stephen A. Brennan
Wisdom is your perspective on life, your sense of balance, your understanding of how the various parts and principles apply and relate to each other. – Stephen Covey
Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm. – Ralph Waldo Emerson
The most important conversation you will ever have is the one you have with yourself. – Anonymous
The more I want to get something done, the less I call it work. – Richard Bach
Constant kindness can accomplish much. As the sun makes the ice melt, kindness causes misunderstandings, mistrust and hostility to evaporate. – Albert Schweitzer
Communicate, communicate, communicate – until you are sick of hearing yourself. Then communicate some more. – Jack Welch, Former CEO of General Electric
If you want to be successful, put your effort into controlling the sail, not the wind. – Anonymous
You don’t have to be great to get started, but you do have to get started to be great. – Lee J. Colan
Start a crusade in your organization – have the courage to learn, the vision to lead, and the passion to share. – Lee J. Colan
If you love your customers to death, you can’t go wrong. – Graham Day
If you don’t care, your customer never will. – Marlene Blaszczyk
Promises are like crying babies in a theater, they should be carried out at once. – Norman Vincent Peale
Biggest question: Isn’t it really ‘customer helping’ rather than customer service? And wouldn’t you deliver better service if you thought of it that way? – Jeffrey Gitomer
C Customers don’t expect you to be perfect. They do expect you to fix things when they go wrong. – Donald Porter
It’s what you say AND how you say it that counts. – Steve Ventura
Research has shown that approximately 55% of all face-to-face communication is done through BODY LANGUAGE (facial expressions, posture, gestures). – Steve Ventura
Here is a simple but powerful rule: Always give people more than what they expect to get. – Nelson Boswell
If you are not serving your customer, you better be serving someone who is! – Jan Carlzon, former CEO of Scandinavian Airlines
You are serving a customer, not a life sentence. Learn how to enjoy your work. – Laurie McIntosh
Keep a grateful journal. Every night, list five things you are grateful for. What it will begin to do is change your perspective of your day…and your life. – Oprah Winfrey
To give real service you must add something which cannot be bought or measured with money, and that is sincerity and integrity. – Douglas Adams
Giving what you expect to get from others is called “integrity.’ – Steve Ventura
Expecting what you fail to give, yourself, is called “hypocrisy.” Don’t be a hypocrite! – Steve Ventura
You hold in your hands the power to keep customers coming back – perhaps even to make or break the company. – Ron Zemke and Kristin Anderson
Service is about doing things at the customer’s convenience, not the servers. – Steve Ventura
A customer is not an interruption of our work; he is the purpose of it. – Leon Leonwood
When you make commitments write them down, check your list often, do whatever it takes to make good on them. – Steve Ventura
Learn from the best and the worst. – Steve Ventura
Of customers who take their business their business somewhere else: 65% leave because of customer service. – The Forum Corporation
As far as clients are concerned, you are the agency. – Ron Zemke and Kristin Anderson
You hold in your hands the power to keep clients coming back – perhaps even to make or break this agency. – Ron Zemke and Kristin Anderson
Anyone who doesn’t take truth seriously in small matters cannot be trusted in large ones either. – Albert Einstein
Weakness of attitude becomes weakness of character. – Albert Einstein
Education is what remains after one has forgotten everything he learned in school. – Albert Einstein
Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new. – Albert Einstein
People judge your integrity by what they see you do everyday. – Anonymous
If you don’t show people that you care they will reason that you don’t care. Then they will reciprocate. – Anonymous
Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts. – Sign hanging in Einstein’s office at Princeton
It is our choices…that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities. – J.K. Rowling
We must accept finite disappointment, but we must never lose infinite hope. – Martin Luther King, Jr.
Your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning. – Bill Gates
I can accept failure, but I can’t accept not trying. – Michael Jordan
Never lose sight of the fact that the most popular yardstick of your success will be how you treat other people. – Barbara Bush
A good exercise for the heart is to bend down and help another up. – Anonymous
A true friend is someone who is there for you when he’d rather be anywhere else. – Len Wein
Ability is what you are capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it. – Lou Holtz
The healthiest competition occurs when average people win by putting above average effort. – Colin Powell
Fools live to regret their words, wise men to regret their silence. – Will Henry
Be careful of your thoughts; they may become words at any moment. – Jara Gassen
It’s not whether you get knocked down; it’s whether you get up. – Vince Lombardi
If you think you can, you can. If you think you can’t, you’re right. – Mary Kay Ash
One of the secrets in life is to make stepping stones out of stumbling blocks. – Jack Penn
Apply yourself. Get all the education you can, but then, by God, do something. Don’t just stand there, make it happen. – Lee Iacocca
There’s always room for improvement – it’s the biggest room in the house. – Louise Heath Leber
What get celebrated, get repeated! – Eric Harvey and Al Lucia
I It is not the employer who pays the wages. Employers only handle the money. It is the customer who pays the wages. – Henry Ford
I don’t think much of a man who is not wiser today than he was yesterday. – Abraham Lincoln
The purpose of our value statements is to guide both our behaviors and our decisions. – Eric Harvey and Al Lucia
Additional problems are the offspring of poor solutions. – Mark Twain
An oak and a reed were arguing about their strength. When a strong wind came up, the reed avoided being uprooted by bending and leaning with the gusts of wind. But the oak stood firm and was torn up by the roots. – Aesop
Behold the turtle. He makes progress only when he sticks his nect out. – James B. Conant
The hallmark of a well-managed organization is not the absence of problems, but whether or not problems are effectively resolved. – Steve Ventura
Coaching isn’t an addition to a leader’s job. It’s an integral part of it. – George S. Odiorne
All too frequently, employees do good work in spite of the organization and its leadership, rather than because of them. – Al Lucia
Feedback is the breakfast of champions. – Ken Blanchard and Spencer Johnson The One Minute Manager
Leaders who choose which rules to follow and which ones to let slide set a dangerous example for their people to follow. And they WILL follow! – Steve Ventura
No one enjoys addressing others’ deficiencies. But failure to do so sends the message that people are on track when they really aren’t. And that may be the greatest disservice a leader can do to someone else. – Eric Harvey
If leaders are careless about basic things – telling the truth, respecting moral codes, proper professional conduct – who can believe them on other issues? – James L. Hayes
It’s critical that leaders ensure their departments and teams are about what the organization says IT is about. – Al Lucia
Success on any major scale requires you to accept responsibility. In the final analysis, the one quality that all successful people have is the ability to take on responsibility. – Michael Korda
Being powerful is like being a lady. If you have to tell people you are, you aren’t. – Margaret Thatcher
The best [leader] is the one who has sense enough to pick good [people] to do what [he/she] wants done, and self-restraint enough to keep from meddling with them while they do it. – Theodore Roosevelt
The quality of employees will be directly proportional to the quality of life you maintain for them. – Charles E. Bryan
When people work in a place that cares about them, they contribute a lot more than duty. – Dennis Hayes
Truly great leaders spend as much time collecting and acting on feedback as they do providing it. – Al Lucia
Time is the scarcest resource, and unless it is managed, nothing else can be managed. – Peter F. Drucker
If you don’t give people information, they’ll make up something to fill the void. – Carla O’Dell
Nature has given us two ears, two eyes, and but one tongue – to the end that we should hear and see more than we speak. – Epictetus
If you want to get the best from yourself, first give the best of yourself. – Lee J. Colan
If you expect something in return for your help, your act of kindness is really an act of trading favors. Be a giver, not a trader. – Lee J. Colan
Help is not help unit it is given, so turn your intentions to help into acts of help. – Lee J. Colan
It’s not having what you want; it’s wanting what you’ve got. – Sheryl Crow
Our relationships should be the place where we act our best and give our best. – Lee J. Colan
Everything can be taken from a person but one thing: the last of human freedoms – to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way. – Viktor E. Frankl
Your attitude is something you can always control! – Lee J. Colan
Tomorrow you will become what you choose today. – Lee J. Colan
You are the conductor of your own attitude! Nobody else can compose our thoughts for you. – Lee J. Colan
Our attitude is our personal boomerang to the world – whatever we throw out will come back to us. – Lee J. Colan
Help a colleague and we will find a helping hand. – Lee J. Colan
Our attitude toward life is the most importance choice we make! – Lee J. Colan
Our ability to choose is a gift, but it is also a huge responsibility. – Lee J. Colan
The greatest discovery of my generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes of mind. – William James
Your own beliefs have a much greater impact on your results than anyone else’s beliefs. – Lee J. Colan
When you change the way you look at things, things change the way they look. – Lee J. Colan
Nothing in life is so hard that you can’t make it easier by the way you take it. – Ellen Glasgow
Get to know and spend time with people who have a positive outlook. – Lee J. Colan
You are what you think, so control your input! – Lee J. Colan
We become what we think about. – Earl Nightingale
You are who you are today because of what you believed yesterday. You will become tomorrow who you believe you are today. – Lee J. Colan
Whether said in love or anger, gratitude or envy, your words leave a lasting impression. – Lee J. Colan
One person with a commitment is worth more than 10 people who only have an interest. – Mary Crowley
Your attitude…reflects your past, describes your present and predicts your future. – Lee J. Colan
Act the way you’d like to be and soon you’ll be the way you act. – George W. Crane
Do or do not. There is no try. – Yoda
It is not the answer that enlightens, but the question. – Decouvertes
Your day goes the way the corners of your mouth turn. – Unknown
If you don’t make things happen, then things will happen to you – Roman Virgil
A life filled with positive attitude is also filled with positive impact. – Lee J. Colan
You cannot always control your feelings, but you can control your thoughts, words and actions. – Lee J. Colan
All great things start as one small thing. – Lee J. Colan
Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude. – Thomas Jefferson
The truth is incontrovertible. Malice may attack it and ignorance may deride it, but in the end, there it is. – Winston Churchill
The great enemy of the truth is very often not the lie – deliberate, contrived and dishonest; but the myth – persistent, persuasive and unrealistic. – John F. Kennedy
The greatest problem in communication is the illusion that it has been accomplished. – George Bernard Shaw
Do not say a little in many words, but a great deal in a few. – Pythagoras
I do not live to play, but I play in order that I may live and return with zest to the labors of life. – Plato
The ability to focus attention on important things is a defining characteristic of intelligence. – Robert J. Shiller
Diplomacy is the art of letting someone else have your way. – Daniele Vare, Italian diplomat
Don’t worry about the world coming to an end today. It’s already tomorrow in Australia. – Charles Schulz
The pessimist may be right in the long run, but the optimist has a better time during the trip. – Anonymous
Feed your faith and your doubts will starve to death. – Roadside church
Do the thing we fear, and the death of fear is certain. – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself. – Leo Tolstoy
An optimist sees an opportunity in every calamity; a pessimist sees a calamity in every opportunity. – Winston Churchill
It is good to have money and the things that money can buy, but it’s good, too, to check up once in a while to make sure you haven’t lost the things money can’t buy.- George Lorimer
The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now. – Chinese proverb
The best way to predict the future is to create it. – Peter Drucker
I never worry about what I will do if I win a battle, but I always know exactly what I will do if I lose one. – Napoleon
Judge a man by his questions rather than his answers. – Voltaire
When a man says he approves of something in principle, it means he hasn’t the slightest intention of putting it into practice. – Otto von Bismarck
The best way to get a good idea is to get a lot of ideas. – Linus Pauling
A few simple things done consistently in strategic places produce big results. – Anonymous
The greatest good you can do for another is not to share your riches, but to reveal theirs. – Benjamin Disraeli
There are two mistakes one can make along the road to truth…not going all the way, and not starting. – Buddhist quote
Be kind for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle. – Plato
In the long run, we shape our lives, and we shape ourselves. The process never ends until we die. And the choices we make are ultimately our own responsibility. – Eleanor Roosevelt
Don’t go around saying the world owes you a living. The world owes you NOTHING. It was here first. – Mark Twain
There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure. – Colin Powell
The Lord gave us two ends, one to sit on and one to think with. Success depends on which one we use the most. – Ann Landers
T The road to success is lined with many tempting parking spaces. – Anonymous
Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and ay out. – Robert Collier
Whatever you can vividly imagine, ardently desire, sincerely believe and enthusiastically act on…must inevitably come to pass. – Paul J. Meyer
It’s me who is my enemy – me who beats me up, me who makes the monsters, me who strips my confidence. – Paula Cole
Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fail. – Ralph Waldo Emerson
There are many ways of breaking a heart. Stories are full of hearts broken by love, but what really breaks a heart is taking away its dream – whatever that dream might be. – Pearl Buck
Surround yourself with positive people, and you’ll become positive and self-confident. Surround yourself with negative people, and you’ll become negative and lose your confidence. – Bud Bilanich
A cynic not only reads bitter lessons from the past, he is prematurely disappointed in the future. – Sidney J. Harris
Mentor: Someone whose hindsight can become your foresight. – Author Unknown
Be on brand in all that you do. People with strong personal brand ensure that everything they do and all that surrounds them communicates their brand message. – William Arruda
People judge us by the way we dress. In all situations, business and social, our outward appearance sends a message. – Lydia Ramsey
Ladies and gentlemen help people feel good about themselves. They don’t embarrass others. – Bud Bilanich
When performance exceeds ambition, the overlap is called success. – Cullen Hightower
Wisdom is not a product of schooling but of the lifelong learning attempt to acquire it. – Albert Einstein
Never tell anyone that you’re writing a book, going on a diet, exercising, taking a course, or quitting smoking. They’ll encourage you to death. – Lynn Johnston
Don’t be fooled by the calendar. There are only as many days in the year as you make use of. One person gets only a week’s value out of a year while another person gets a full year out of a week. – Charles Richards
The newest computer can merely compound, at speed, the oldest problem in the relations between human beings, and in the end the communicator will be confronted with the age old problem of what to say and how to say it. – Edward R. Murrow
My aim is to put down on paper what I see and what I feel in the best and simplest way. – Ernest Hemingway
It takes one hour of preparation for each minute of presentation time. – Wayne Burgraff
Trust is the glue of life. It is the foundational principle that holds all relationships. – Stephen R. Covey
Knowing others is wisdom, knowing yourself is enlightenment. – Lao Tzu
Tyr to find a WIN-WIN solution, in which both sides benefit. In that way, conflicts are turned into opportunities. – Robert Allen
Remember what is unbecoming to do is also unbecoming to speak of. – Socrates
Be as you wish to seem. – Socrates
False words are not only evil in themselves, but they infect the soul with evil. – Socrates
It is not only living that matters, but living rightly. – Socrates
Let him that would move the world first move himself. – Socrates
The unexamined life is not worth living. – Socrates
The way to gain a good reputation is to endeavor to be what you desire to appear. – Socrates
True wisdom comes to each of us when we realize how little we understand about life, ourselves, and the world around us. – Socrates
The time is always right to do what is right. – Marin Luther King, Jr.
Until you make peace with who you are, you’ll never be content with what you have. – Doris Mortman
It is better to be defeated on principle than to win on lies. – Arthur Calwell
It is no use walking anywhere to preach unless our walking is our preaching. – St. Francis of Assisi
In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock. – Thomas Jefferson
The tragedy of life does not lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy lies in having no goal to reach. – Benjamin Mays
I would rather be a failure at something I love than a success at something I hate. – George Burns
To see what is right and not do it is cowardice. – Confucius
It is surprising how much you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit. – Abraham Lincoln
There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up. – John Andres Holmes
Vision without action is a daydream. Action without vision is a nightmare. – Japanese proverb
Do not follow where the path may lead. Go, instead, where there is no path and leave a trail. – Unknown
Some of the world’s greatest feats were accomplished by people not smart enough to know they were impossible. – Unknown
In times of change, there is no incentive so great, and no medicine so powerful as the hope for a better tomorrow. – Unknown
Before anything else, preparation is the key to success. – Alexander Graham Bell
Blesses are those who can laugh at themselves for they shall never cease to be amused. – Anonymous
G Growth begins when we start to accept our own weakness. – Jean Vanier
He who rejects change is the architect of decay. – Harold Wilson
The man who graduates today and stops learning tomorrow is uneducated the day after. – Newton D. Baker
Perfection does not exist – you can always do better and you can always grow. – Les Brown
In teaching others, we teach ourselves. – Proverb
Trouble is opportunity in work clothes. – W. Clement Stone
When you blame others, you give up your power to change. – Anonymous
If you focus on results, you will never change. If you focus on change, you will get results. – Jack Dixon
Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts. – Sign hanging in Albert Einstein’s office at Princeton
The only source of knowledge is experience. – Albert Einstein
There is nothing that is a more certain sign of insanity than to do the same thing over and over and expect the results to be different. – Albert Einstein
Measured objectively, what a man can wrest from truth by passionate striving is utterly infinitesimal. – Albert Einstein
Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex and more violent. It takes a touch of genius – and a lot of courage – to move in the opposite direction. – Albert Einstein
Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life’s coming attractions. – Albert Einstein
We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them. – Albert Einstein
The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing. – Albert Einstein
Sometimes one pays the most for the things one gets for nothing. – Albert Einstein
In order to be an immaculate member of a flock of sheep, one must above all be a sheep oneself. – Albert Einstein
Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds. – Albert Einstein
The most important single ingredient in the formula of success is knowing how to get along with people. – Theodore Roosevelt
Respect others and others will respect you. – Confucius
A strong, positive self-image is the best possible preparation for success. – Dr. Joyce Brothers
We need to restore the full meaning of that old word, DUTY. It is the other side of rights. – Pearl S. Buck
Own, admit to, fix, and learn from your errors. – Steve Ventura
Cut complacency, not corners. – Steve Ventura
Ask yourself this question: “Is my attitude worth catching?” – Source unknown
Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless. – Mother Teresa
Choose being kind over being right and you will be right every time. – Richard Carlson
We are made kind by being kind. – Eric Hoffereric
No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted. – Aesop
Wherever there is a human being there is an opportunity for kindness. – Seneca
Forget injuries; never forget kindness. – Confucius
It is when you give of yourself that you truly give. – Kahlil Gibran
Kindness is the golden chain by which society is bound together. – Goethe
A person’s true wealth is the good he or she does in the world – Mohammed
Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person. – Mother Teresa
What wisdom can you find that is greater than kindness? – Rousseau
Sometimes our light goes out but is blown into a flame by another human being. Each of us owes deepest thanks to those who have rekindled this light. – Albert Schweitzer
If anyone is in need, just lend a hand and help them out. – Anonymous
By doing kind acts it helps you to see good in yourself and bring the good out in others. – Unknown
Never get tired of doing little things for others. Sometimes, those little things occupy the biggest part of their hearts. – Unknown
Never doubt that a small group of committed people can change the world. It is indeed the only thing that ever truly has. – Margaret Mead
For attractive lips, speak words of kindness. – Audrey Hepburn
Remember not only to say the right thing in the right place, but far more difficult still, to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment. – Ben Franklin
Isn’t it amazing how often we can touch someone’s life and enrich our own by a very simple act? Kindness, pass it on…what a wonderful way in which to pattern our lives! – Unknown
The value of kindness cannot be measured in human terms. An act of kindness enriches the heart of both the giver and the receiver. – Brother Arockiam
If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion. – Dalai Lama
Imagine what a harmonious world it could be if every single person, both young and old, shared a little of what he is good at doing. – Quincy Jones
The kindness planned for tomorrow does not count for today. – Unknown
You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late. – Ralph Waldo Emerson
How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single minute before starting to improve the world. – Ann Frank
One who knows how to show and accept kindness will be a friend better than any possession. – Sophocles
The best portion of a good man’s life – his little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and love. – William Wordsworth
Tenderness and kindness are not signs of weakness and despair, but manifestations of strength and resolutions. – Kahlil Gibran
Remember there’s no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end. – Scott Adams
I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver. – Maya Angelou
You have not lived until you have done something for someone who can never repay you. – John Bunyan
The happiest people are those who care more about others than they do about themselves. – Ted Turner
There is a loftier ambition than merely to stand high in the world. It is to stoop down and lift mankind a little higher. – Henry Van Dyke
It is by spending ONESELF that one becomes rich. – Sarah Bernhardt
Real generosity is doing something for someone who will never find out. – Frank A. Clark
Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around. – Leo Buscaglia
The capacity to care is the thing which gives life its deepest meaning and significance. – Pablo Casals
Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: what are you doing for others? – Martin Luther King, Jr.
You have not lived a perfect day, even though you have earned your pay, unless you have done something for someone who will never be able to repay you – Ruth Smeltzer
When good people have a falling out, only one of them may be at fault at first; but if the strife continues long, usually BOTH become guilty. – Thomas Fuller
It takes TWO to quarrel, but only ONE to end it. – Spanish Proverb
Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, “I will try again tomorrow”. – Mary Anne Radmacher
If we were supposed to talk more than we listen, we would have tow mouths and one ear. – Mark Twain
Endurance is one of the most difficult disciplines, but it is to the one who endures that the final victory comes. – Buddha
I am only bone but still I am one. I cannot do everything but I can do something. I will not refuse to do the something I can do. – Helen Keller
The bad news is time flies. The good news is you’re the pilot. – Michael Altshuler
In truth, people can generally make time for what they choose to do; it is not really the time but the will that is lacking. – Sir John Lubbock
To do two things at once is to do neither. – Publilius Syrus
One cannot manage too many affairs: like pumpkins in the water, one pops up while you try to hold down the other. – Chinese Proverb
Nothing is so fatiguing as the eternal hanging on of an uncompleted task. – William James
It’s not so much how busy you are, but why you are busy. The bee is praised. The mosquito is swatted. – Mary O’Connor
The happiest of people don’t necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way. – Anonymous
Our lives are not determined by what happens to us but by how we react to what happens, not by what life brings to us, but by the attitude we bring to life. – Anonymous
Spend your energy searching for solutions, not excuses. – David Cottrell
Discard “That’s not my job” and replace it with ”What can I do to help?” – Paul Sims
The people with whom you work reflect your own attitude…if you are on your best behavior, you will bring out the best in the persons with whom you are going to spend most of your waking hours.” – Beatrice Vincent
Behaviors that get reinforced bet repeated. – Eric Harvey
When the student is ready, the teacher appears. – Zen saying
The best leaders do their work in such a way that the people believe that they did it themselves. – Lao Tzu
Look them in the eye. Explain specifically what they did well. Give them a great big “Thank You!” – Eric Harvey
If you don’t know where you are going, any road will get you there. – Lewis Carroll
Self-knowledge is the beginning of self-improvement. – Spanish proverb
The most important thing in any relationship is not what you get, but what you give. – Eleanor Roosevelt
Who gossips with you will gossip of you. – Irish saying
Opportunities are often missed because we are broadcasting when we should be listening. – Unknown
Use the 4 W’s for greater clarity. When making assignments, describe Who needs to do What, by When…and Why. – Donna M. Long
A customer who complains is my friend. – Stew Leonard
When things go wrong you are always faced with two choices: 1) Try to make things better, or 2) Not try. Choose to try! – Donna M. Long
A word of encouragement during a failure is worth more an hour of praise after success. – Unknown
Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome. – Booker T. Washington
If nothing else, leadership is the earned consent of followers, consent that begins with the trust that, as leaders, we are who we say we are, and that even in the absence of guidelines, we will do what is right. – Meredith Kimbell, Richard Hadden & Bill Catlette
If you care about people, you tell them the truth. – Meredith Kimbell, Richard Hadden & Bill Catlette
Forget outside competition when you own worst enemy is the way you communicate with one another internally. – Jack Welch
If people are going to follow you, they have a right to know where you stand. And “stand” means stands. – Meredith Kimbell, Richard Hadden & Bill Catlette
Without trust, everyone operates at best deliberately, at worst protectively, and in either case, slowly. – Meredith Kimbell, Richard Hadden & Bill Catlette
While handling broken trust isn’t fun, it is essential for building high-performance relationships and results. – Meredith Kimbell, Richard Hadden & Bill Catlette
Nugget: Technology is good. Relationships are important. Neither is a good substitute for the other. – Meredith Kimbell, Richard Hadden & Bill Catlette
People can’t possibly do their very best work if they don’t fully understand why their work matters. – Meredith Kimbell, Richard Hadden & Bill Catlette
We apply familiar solutions to fresh problems and wonder why the patch didn’t hold. – Meredith Kimbell, Richard Hadden & Bill Catlette
Let people you work with know what your information preferences are. – Meredith Kimbell, Richard Hadden & Bill Catlette
Choose your battles wisely. Before you fight, ask yourself if the issue will still be important in six months. – Meredith Kimbell, Richard Hadden & Bill Catlette
Bottom line, your skillfulness as an influencer is a critical leadership competency that shapes your own, your team’s, and your organization’s success. – Meredith Kimbell, Richard Hadden & Bill Catlette
Out of sight, out of mind. Out of mind, out of importance. Out of importance, OUT OF PRACTICE. – Eric Harvey & Steve Ventura
You have no choice about being a role model. You are one…it comes with the job. The only choice you have is deciding which role you will model. – Eric Harvey & Steve Ventura
They expect you to lead by example…to stand for something good and noble…to walk the talk. – Eric Harvey & Steve Ventura
Facts: Your actions determine your character. Your character determines your credibility. Your credibility determines your ability to lead. – Eric Harvey & Steve Ventura
What job-related activity do leaders engage in the most? Communication! What job-related activity do leaders typically pay the least attention to? Same answer! – Eric Harvey & Steve Ventura
The best communicators are careful and caring. The worst are carefree and careless. – Eric Harvey & Steve Ventura
Of all the activities you engage in as a leader, “catching people doing things right” – and recognizing them for it – needs to be one of your top priorities. – Eric Harvey & Steve Ventura
Recognizing good performance gets you more of it. Why? Because whenever you recognize any behavior, you also reinforce it. And, with few exceptions,…reinforced behavior is repeated behavior! – Eric Harvey & Steve Ventura
Why does my leadership position exist? What is my ultimate purpose? Why am I here? (1) To support and advance the organization’s mission. (2) To help employees reach their potential for success. – Eric Harvey & Steve Ventura
Oftentimes, what team members really need in order to be successful are a few extra sets of hands to help carry the load. – Eric Harvey & Steve Ventura
Most employees can be much more successful than they are. And when it comes to that, as a leader, you’re either part of the solution…or you’re part of the problem. – Eric Harvey & Steve Ventura
Doing what is right isn’t always easy – but it is always right. Make the tough calls! – Eric Harvey & Steve Ventura
Conflicts are workplace obstacles. Don’t let them get in the way of your team’s success. Dealing with them may not be pleasant. But having to repair the damage they can cause will be even worse. – Eric Harvey & Steve Ventura
Courage is following your conscience instead of “following the crowd”. – Eric Harvey & Steve Ventura
Courage is taking action against hurtful or disrespectful behaviors. – Eric Harvey & Steve Ventura
Courage is sacrificing personal gain for the benefit of others. – Eric Harvey & Steve Ventura
Courage is speaking your mind even though others don’t agree. – Eric Harvey & Steve Ventura
Courage is taking complete responsibility for your actions…and your mistakes. – Eric Harvey & Steve Ventura
Courage is following the rules – and insisting that others do the same. – Eric Harvey & Steve Ventura
Courage is hiring and promoting people who are faster, smarter, and more talented than you are. – Eric Harvey & Steve Ventura
Courage is challenging the status quo in search of better ways. – Eric Harvey & Steve Ventura
Courage is facing setbacks and disappointments head-on – without losing your drive and spirit or adopting a victim mentality. – Eric Harvey & Steve Ventura
Courage is telling others what they need to hear rather than what they want to hear. – Eric Harvey & Steve Ventura
Courage is doing what you know is right – regardless of the risks and potential consequences. – Eric Harvey & Steve Ventura
If you keep on doing what you’ve always done, you’ll keep on getting what you’ve always got. – Eric Harvey & Steve Ventura
When ideas are left unspoken, everyone loses. – Eric Harvey & Steve Ventura
Avoid “there’s only one way to do this” mindsets and you’ll open the door for new and innovative approaches. – Eric Harvey & Steve Ventura
There’s only one thing you can accurately predict about the future: it will be different. – Eric Harvey & Steve Ventura
A “boss” controls. A “leader” serves. Which will I be today? – Eric Harvey & Steve Ventura
Serve – verb – To work for; to labor in behalf of; to exert one’s self continuously for the benefit of; to promote, benefit, or be useful or beneficial to; to be of use; to answer a purpose; to suit; to be favorable. – Webster
To lead is to guide, to guide is to help, to help is to serve. Remember that. Apply that. Strive to serve others. – Eric Harvey & Steve Ventura
The Leadership Paradox: The people who work for you also are the people for whom you work! – Eric Harvey & Steve Ventura
Human Nature 101: Success is contagious and self-perpetuating. The more you have, the more you want. The more you want, the more you get. – Eric Harvey & Steve Ventura
Believe in something big. Your life is worth a noble motive. – Walter Anderson
I had one idea that never changed in my mind – that you should use your wealth to help people. – Chuck Feeney
Don’t just start something. Start it right! – Anonymous
Start. Start right. Start right now. – Anonymous
You have a clean slate every day you wake up. You have a chance every single morning to be the person you want to be. Decide today’s going to be the day. Say it: “This is going to be my day!” – Brendan Burchard
Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen. – Winston Churchill
Don’t lower your expectations to meet your performance. Raise your level of performance to meet your expectations. – Ralph Marston
Life’s ups and downs provide windows of opportunity to determine your values and goals. Think of using all obstacles as stepping stones. – Marsha Sinetar
The future is not some place we are going to, but one we are creating. The paths to it are not found but made, and the activity of making them changes both the maker and the destination. – John Schaar
Passion: the fuel that makes great things happen. – Scott V. Black
When you live your lift like it matters, IT DOES! – Scott V. Black
We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give. – Winston Churchill REPEAT OF #278
I expect to pass through life but once. If, therefore, there be any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do to any fellow being, let me do it now, and not defer or neglect it, as I shall not pass this way again. – William Penn
If I can understand you a little better, and you can understand me a little better, doesn’t it make sense that we are in a position to have a better relationship? – Dr. Robert Rohm
We can always choose to perceive things differently. You can focus on what’s wrong in your life, or you can focus on what’s right. – Marianne Williamson
I can’t imagine a person becoming a success who doesn’t give this game of life everything he’s got! – Walter Cronkite REPEAT OF #154
There is no such thing as a self-made man. You reach your goals only with the help of others. – George Shinn
None of us is as smart as ALL of us. – Ken Blanchard
The wise man in the storm prays God
not for safety from danger,
but for deliverance from fear.
It is the storm within which endangers him,
not the storm without.