WHAT'S IN THIS ISSUE?
PERSONAL PRODUCTIVITY--LESSONS FOR LEADERS
LESSONS FROM HISTORY
LINCOLN'S LOG
QUOTABLE QUOTES
TRAVEL NOTES FROM A ROAD WARRIOR--Coer d'Alene,Idaho; Palm Beach, Philadelphia
RESOURCES
FEEDBACK

PERSONAL PRODUCTIVITY--LESSONS FOR LEADERS

Advice: Don't Waste Your Time Reading.

Reading can unlock the door to a room of treasure--hard-bought lessons from many generations and cultures. Reading can be a sure way to career success.

But you can waste time reading poorly written, unreliable, unhelpful material. You can become a readaholic, ever reading but never read.

Next time you contemplate doing some reading, ask a few questions:

1)Is it skillfully written? Good writing can be a thing of beauty that need not teach you anything in order to be savored.

2)Does it contain valuable, reliable information, even if poorly written?

3)Is it "politically" important? There's no escaping politics. Politics includes reading an article or book that's been recommended by your boss, or reading something you need to be acquainted with when your associates discuss it.

4) Is it written by a friend? Your friend will appreciate your effort, and reading it will help you understand him/her better.

5)Is it a pleasant diversion from life's routines?

6) Does it raise your spirits by enabling you to push unpleasant thoughts out of your mind?

7)Does it help you solve problems or acquire skills?

8)Does it make you more interesting?

If what you're reading doesn't meet any of these standards, forget it.

Reading is a zero-sum game. Time spent reading a second-rate book article

could be better spent reading, or doing, something else. (For more information about this idea, see TIME TACTICS OF VERY SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE: "If It's Not Worth Doing, Be Sure Not To Do It," pp. 86; "Don't Finish Every Book That You Start," p. 96)

LESSONS FROM HISTORY--ONE WAY TO AVOID DRAWING INCORRECT LESSONS FROM A BIOGRAPHY

You can learn a great deal from a well-written biography, but you also can be mislead. This is because success tactics are situation-specific. You have to adapt what you see to precisely where you are in your own career. For example, GENERAL Eisenhower was able to do what LIEUTENANT Eisenhower could not do. When Eisenhower was a lieutenant, his main responsibility was to execute the orders of his commanding officer; but even as a lieutenant,

Eisenhower behaved in certain ways that led to his advancement. Try tofind out what those behaviors were.

I have interviewed celebrities who became mellow and gentle when they were old, but when they were young and on the way up were feisty and aggressive. Some individuals remain essentially the same throughout their career, but others--probably most highly successful individuals--are transformed by their evolving responsibilities and by their successes and failures.

If you decide to mirror the actions of a particular individual, make sure that this individual's situation corresponds to your own. If you've just been promoted to your first management position, don't think you can do everything Bill Gates did after he became a CEO. Try to find out what that individual thought and did when he/she was at approximately your present level. Make that your template for right now. Later, you can change it as you mature and move up to the next rung on the ladder.

LINCOLN'S LOG

A Life Lesson For Politicians Today And For Ourselves

"The spirit of concession and compromise--that spirit which has never failed us in past perils...may be safely trusted for all the future." (This quotation and an essay on compromise can be found in The Words Lincoln Lived By, pp. 51, 52.)

Lincoln Day-Day

There you will find some colorful information about the everyday side of the great man's life, like an entry on his birthday in 1844 that tells us that he paid 13 cents for socks for his infant son Robert.

A Poignant Website

On February 7, 1850 Lincoln's second son Edward died--after a 52-day illness. Eddie would have been 4 years old March 10th of that year.

Years ago, my heart almost stopped when I saw Eddie's tombstone for the first time in the Lincoln museum in Springfield. The tombstone tells exactly how long Eddie lived: 3 years, 10 months, 18 days. His parents had counted the days!

A daguerreotype of Eddie has been found that can now be seen on the

Internet. Get ready to feel pain when you see it. A week after Eddie's

death a poem entitled "Little Eddie", which may have been written by Abraham or Mary, was published in The Illinois State Journal. It begins "Those midnight stars are sadly dimmed, That late so brilliantly shone, And the crimson tinge from cheek and lip, With the heart's warm life has flown...

QUOTABLE QUOTES

"These are called trinkets, I know...It is with trinkets that you lead people." Napoleon (This is Napoleon's comment about why he created the Legion of Honor, an order the recognizes meritorious service by men or women in military or civil affairs. The word that has been translated "trinket" is "hochet," which means a child's rattle.)

"There is no education in the second kick of a mule."

"Never get your car repaired by a mechanic that pumps gas."

Bumper Sticker "We the unwilling, led by the unqualified, are doing the impossible for the ungrateful."

TRAVEL NOTES FROM A ROAD WARRIOR

Coer d'Alene, Idaho

Palm Beach

Golf Digest School, PGA National Resort, Palm Beach Gardens, FL I'm a great believer in piggybacking--doing something extra whenever doing a business trip. Recently, after making a presentation in Palm Beach, I had

several hours available before catching my plane. So I booked a private golf lesson at the golf academy that adjoins the PGA National Resort & Spa. (You do not have to be a guest of the resort to take a golf lesson.) I had a great instructor named Kurt Mantyla. He used the proven teaching techniques that the Golf Digest Schools have perfected. The cost? Just $100 plus tip. The results? Noticeable. (561-627-7593)

Palm Beach

Carmine's
People in the Palm Beach area consider Carmine's to be in a class by itself. When available they serve a marvelous and hard-to-obtain fish called hog snapper. Carmine's prepares it with capers, black olives, and roasted fennel in white wine and serves it with polenta. (561-624-1141 2460 PGA Boulevard, Palm Beach Gardens, FL)

Philadelphia

There's a bold new building in downtown Philadelphia--the Kimmel Center For The Performing Arts. I attended a performance of the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia the night before one of my presentations and enjoyed the experience immensely. The Center, which contains several performing spacesof various sizes, is absolutely stunning.

RESOURCES

Just released--the print version of "99 Ways To Get More Out Of Every Day." It's already a hit at the seminars where it has been shown. You can get it in hard-copy or as a download that you can share with your people--for only $40. The price includes shipping for the hard copy.

This new productivity system is ideal for individual self-study or for organizational development. The big 8.5" x 11" pages contain 99 ways that you can optimize your time, rise to new levels in your career, and balance your social, family, and business commitments.

Illustrated with memorable graphics, the guide starts with a crisp presentation of each of the 99 techniques. Each section includes space for the reader to put on paper what happened when a particular technique was used. The facing pages can be used for journalizing.

THE JIMMY CARTER LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

"Lincoln Live" will be performed on the Friday after Thanksgiving--November 26--at 2:00 PM, at the Jimmy Carter Library and Museum. Admission is free with the purchase of a ticket to the museum. Seating is limited and is on a first-come basis. If you plan to be in the Atlanta area at Thanksgiving, mark your calendars, and come early. For directions call 404/865-7101 or use Mapquest--441 Freedom Parkway, Atlanta, GA 30507

FEEDBACK
Motivational Coaching...

"Gene Griessman's teaching methods are original and unique. His ability to articulate and bring to life Abraham Lincoln's principles distinguish him as an expert in his field. Our players at UCLA (during the 2000-2001 season) not only learned valuable lessons in the fundamentals of achievement, but gained an appreciation and deeper understanding for one of our greatest presidents, Abraham Lincoln. Gene's focus on time management is particularly helpful to student-athletes. Most importantly, I am impressed with Gene's commitment to building and shaping tomorrow's leaders." Steve Lavin, former head coach UCLA basketball; now television personality and announcer ESPN

After attending the seminar "How To Get More Out Of Every Day"....
"I have almost finished the "99 Ways To Get More Out Of Every Day" CD, and I just printed out one copy of your download package for my assistant. Also I have created a desktop Word file called "Journal", and it already has one page filled up. Thank you. I am excited!!! Fred R Beaulieu Jr. CFO, Sunshine Plumbing Supply, Inc., Riviera Beach, FL

After attending the Abraham Lincoln presentation....

"Your presentation is by far the best and most memorable I've seen in my three years in TEC. The lessons offered are both simple and profound. Your Abe Lincoln is nothing short of mesmerizing. I look forward to recommending your presentation." Don Nicholas, Editor and Managing Partner, Digital Media Advisors, LLC, Sudbury, MA.

IF YOU ARE INVOLVED IN PLANNING AN UPCOMING MEETING, SALES CONFERENCE, CUSTOMER-APPRECIATION EVENT OR SEMINAR, PLEASE TYPE "YES" BESIDE THE ITEM/S BELOW AND RETURN THIS EMAIL IN ORDER TO RECEIVE MORE ABOUT THE FOLLOWING

PROGRAMS:
___Lincoln-Leadership

___Personal Productivity-Time Management

___Macroforces and Trends in American Society

___Keynote Presentation ("Lessons From Legends" "Success and Failure: Nine Secrets That Make The Difference" based on exclusive interviews with celebrities, including Ronald Reagan and Ray Charles) ___Executive Coaching

OTHER RESOURCES FOR YOUR PERSONAL GROWTH
TIME TACTICS OF VERY SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE

THE WORDS LINCOLN LIVED BY

"LINCOLN ON COMMUNICATION" DVD-CD

99 WAYS TO GET MORE OUT OF EVERY DAY: WORKBOOK-JOURNAL, DOWNLOAD, CD AUDIOBOOK "THE INSPIRATIONAL WORDS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN" AUDIOBOOK "AN EVENING WITH ABRAHAM LINCOLN" VIDEO "LESSONS FROM LEGENDS" CD AUDIOBOOK

"THE DIVERSITY CREED" POSTER

"WORDS TO LIVE BY" POSTER