Happy Birthday Millard Fillmore: “The Accidental President”
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Press on. Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not: unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.
~ Calvin Coolidge
A leader relies on the regular flow of intelligence. It’s an absolute must. Without up-to-date information from reliable sources, leaders are stripped of their abilities to make quality decisions. They are relegated to guesswork and playing catch-up—a game that cannot be won.
~ Coy Barefoot, Thomas Jefferson on Leadership
The Founding Fathers on Leadership – Turn a Negative into a Positive
- When the competition thinks you’re down for the count, you have an opportunity to achieve a major victory.
- March while the competition is sleeping.
- Ride to the front and motion for the troops to follow.
- Rest when necessary, but stay close to the competition so as to keep a watchful eye on their actions.
- There is a three-to-one advantage in favor of the proactive party.
- Constantly communicate your situation to those who may render support.
- Stick around when others flee. Stay near the action.
- Keep a sense of humor, even during the worst moments of crisis.
- Share the hardships of the people you lead.
- Fight for your honor when it is attacked.
- Pull together as a team and take responsibility for your own situation.
- Combine an optimistic attitude with a grounded reality in what the situation is—and what must be done to rectify it.
- Never give up hope.
~ Donald T. Phillips, The Founding Fathers on Leadership
The Founding Fathers on Leadership – Travel With Troops
- Hold regular, informal gatherings that provide enjoyable opportunities for immediate and continuous personal communications
- Remember that two-way communication has a tendency to create and strengthen emotional bonds.
- To form a just idea, you must be on the spot.
- Keep people out of trouble by keeping them busy.
- Link your mission to a greater cause. Provide people with a broader understanding of what they are really fighting for.
- Lead by example.
- When in a desperate situation, head down to the river and personally supervise the entire operation.
- Retreat when you must. Live to fight another day.
- During periods of relative inactivity, harass.
- Ride to the sounds of guns.
- The more frequent the human contact, the more progress will be achieved.
- When outnumbered, keep at a distance. Neither fight nor totally run away.
~ Donald T. Phillips, The Founding Fathers on Leadership
The Founding Fathers on Leadership – First Listen, Then Communicate
- Communicate your message with simplicity, consistently, and clarity.
- Communicate in total, without filters or editing. Provide a forum where people can hear the message together and discuss it together.
- Bring people together from distant regions helps to bridge gaps in communication.
- A primary element in your overall strategy should involve disseminating and receiving timely information.
- Be a frequent reader of the controversial literature of the day.
- You do not need to speak for more than ten minutes at a time, nor to any but the main point.
- Do not act without asking, Take time to verify key information.
- Listen, then speak; follow, then lead.
- When things look darkest, stay optimistic and positive; plan on offensive.
- Create “flying camps” in your organization.
- Work by day, think by night.
- Remember that one inspiring communication can turn the tide.
~ Donald T. Phillips, The Founding Fathers on Leadership
Manageable, short-term goals focus our attention and efforts. Leaders appreciate and make clear the link between these goals and the long-term rewards that will results.
~ Coy Barefoot, Thomas Jefferson on Leadership (2002)