“The Heart of a Leader”
Ken Blanchard
Honor Books, 1999
Many Christmases ago, I sent to each of my friends and business associates a not-so-expensive gift of quotes printed on special paper and mounted on a miniature lectern. Today, when I visit their offices or homes, the gift still stands proud in a corner, still speaking of eternal truths and inspiring lines for the day.
The business world is a vast land mass of business language – jargon, facts, figures, charts and tables. Thus, when you stumble upon an insight expressed in an inspired line, a point with unintended lyricism, or an everyday fact elevated to timeless truth – they serve as a refreshing oasis offering sparkling water.
An inspiring line relaxes the nerves, prompts the mind to open itself to realities beyond the workaday world, and readies the soul to commune with the Divine. And when that momentary trip or long journey is over, you again descend to the “world of reality” (although Plato will disagree with you, because he will insist that we are mere shadows or copies and reality is somewhere else).
That explains why we love quotes. To use 21st century language, it’s like a good cup of Starbucks or Figaro coffee perking up an otherwise humdrum existence. One of the latest additions is a package of 79 quotes from one who has earned the reputation as a motivational author and speaker – Ken Blanchard – with his book, “The Heart of a Leader.”
The book deals with many themes, as many topics as our multi-colored life needs – from occasional confidence at work to abiding faith; from team spirit to a profounder partnership; from simply relaxing to finding fulfillment in solitude; from the practice-makes-perfect principle to a lifelong commitment to learning; from “health is wealth” to health-is-better-than-wealth; from golf is life to “Game of Life First.”
On confidence building, for example, the book offers this memorable quote: “No one can make you inferior without your permission.” That comes from Eleanor Roosevelt, wife to powerful Franklin Delano Roosevelt, hinting that the spouse is no less mighty or confident. A companion quote should come from an American President whose life has become an inspiring example of finally ending in triumph after a long litany of failures: Abraham Lincoln. This could be his article of faith and formula for success: “It’s surprising how much you can accomplish if you don’t care who gets the credit.” This should be liberating to many of us.
On team spirit, one quote speaks of the advantage of synergy, a quick retort to “Lone Rangers” out there: “None of us is as smart as all of us,” a quote from One Minute Manager Meets the Monkey. Mind you, it’s the manager talking, not the banana-eating cousin! And here’s a saying that’s needed by him who does not put his money where his mouth is: “Share the cash, then share the congratulations.” When your boss pats your back for bringing in millions of pesos in sales, tell him “talk is cheap.”
Workaholics, they say, are a modern-day phenomenon. This world is populated by driven people, moved by a timetable to become millionaires at a predetermined date, and made sicker by stress-related illnesses. The book has valuable quotes for the driven: “Take what you do seriously but yourself lightly.” This one liner from the book Mission Possible will do wonders to people who just can’t relax.
If that quote doesn’t do it, we should compare these people with “lower life forms” with this quote from Lily Tomlin: “The trouble being in the rat race is that even if you win the race, you’re still a rat.” Let’s be classical and quote Confucius for a change: “Choose the work you love and you will never have to work a day in your life.”
But, we have to work, you say. And thus the book has some ample lines for you about striving for perfection. Nothing wrong with that, actually. “Your game is as good as your practice.” Michael Jordan naturally agrees and all other champion athletes. And, if you fear losing your job, listen to this: “The only job security you have today is your commitment to continuous personal improvement.” Your present employer’s loss should be you prospective boss’s gain.
The book views career and work as part of the entire stream of life. There is no point breaking your back or your home for success. All through this book, that intangible quality called “faith” is actually palpable. It also emphasizes openness to vast possibilities. This quote says it best: “Life is what happens to you while you’re planning on doing something else,” according to Beatle John Lennon.
And finally, the book has something to say about golf. To the author, G.O.L.F. means “Game of Life First.” With 79 quotes, the sample quotes serve only as slices of life – aperitif, if you may. Before you know it, however, something emerges from reading the quotes and the brief explanations and anecdotes. The book, “The Heart of a Leader,” is actually telling us that the heart of the matter is – the heart. Feedback: dantemv@i-next.net.
No one can make you inferior without your permission. – Eleanor Roosevelt
None of us is as smart as all of us. - One Minute Manager Meets the Monkey
It’s more important as a manager to be respected than to be popular – Everyone’s a Coach
Take what you do seriously but yourself lightly – Mission Possible
The trouble being in the rat race is that even if you win the race, you’re still a rat - Lily Tomlin
Life is what happens to you while you’re planning on doing something else – John Lennon
If you don’t seek perfection, you can never reach excellence – Everyone’s a Coach
Your game is as only good as your practice - … Coach
Choose the work you love and you will never have to work a day in your life – Confucius
The only job security you have today is your commitment to continuous personal improvement
Share the cash, then share the congratulations - Gung Ho! (talk is cheap) put your money where your mouth is)
It’s surprising how much you can accomplish if you don’t care who gets the credit – Lincoln
Early in life, people give up their health to gain wealth … In later life, people give up some of their wealth to regain health! – One Minute Manager Balances Life and Work
Ducks quack. Eagles soar.
Take responsibility for making relationships work –
G.O.L.F. – Game of Life First. – Playing the Great Game of Golf
Walk your talk
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