Great Leaders

Ours is the only country intentionally founded on a good idea. What’s happening to that idea?

 Americans have never been afraid to argue with each other. After all, our country was born in dissent and founded by revolutionaries. Airing our differences is not just a long tradition, it’s one of the hallmarks of a free society.

But there are certain ideas that seem to invite no argument, and which resonate in the hearts of all Americans. Take these words: dreams, faith, opportunity and freedom. Or these: pride, honesty, hard work and craftsmanship. Or these: caring, compassion, contribution and community. These familiar ideals have united us across all generations and provided a beacon of hope for other freedom-loving nations throughout the world. Continue reading →

Change is in the air. Breathe deeply.

“A competitive world offers two possibilities,” wrote economist Lester Thurow, “you can lose. Or, if you want to win, you can change.”

For a classic example of what Thurow is talking about, just check out two iconic American products that have been around for a century or so: Hostess Twinkies and Coca-Cola. Continue reading →

Don’t sit this one out.

We hear a lot these days about the sad shape the world is in, but there are good reasons to be hopeful too. We have seen what happens when enough good-hearted people make up their minds to collaborate on a big problem or opportunity.

This month the leaders of 150 nations are meeting in Paris to see if they can summon the collective will to avert what is probably the worst problem our world has ever faced: Global Warming.

Here’s the problem in a nutshell . . . Continue reading →

Great leaders bring us heat as well as light.

The best leaders are able to mobilize people to action, not by the power of their authority or charisma…but because their ideas inspire people.

Inspiration may be difficult to define, but we all know it when we hear it (or, better yet, when we feel it). An inspiring idea grabs. It excites. It elevates. It appeals to the best parts of the human spirit. It captures the heart and the imagination of everyday people and pulls them forward.

Here’s an example. When the first big computers were introduced in the late 1940’s, the worldwide scientific community was abuzz with one idea: “Imagine what would happen if we put the world’s smartest man—Albert Einstein—in a room with the world’s largest computer.” It was an intriguing idea, but not very inspiring. Continue reading →

Leadership is action, not position.

Good leaders believe that one of their most important roles is to create more leaders, not more followers. Good leaders surround themselves with good people, who in turn are given the opportunity to become good leaders. The result is an organization where virtually everyone thinks and acts like a leader in every position.

In an “Everyone Leads” type of culture, there is no such thing as an unimportant person, job, task or idea. When people roll out of bed each morning, they go to work knowing that, regardless of their title, they are not only needed, but appreciated. In these highly competitive times, we either rise or fall together. Continue reading →