WHAT'S IN THIS ISSUE?
QUOTABLE QUOTES
LEADERSHIP LESSONS—When Not To Apologize
LINCOLN'S LOG—TEAM OF RIVALS
FEEDBACK
MACROFORCES--Ethanol  
TRAVEL NOTES FROM A ROAD WARRIOR—New York City, Baltimore
VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOUR PERSONAL GROWTH

QUOTABLE QUOTES
***REVENGE 
“No revenge is more honorable than the one not taken.”    --Spanish Proverb 
 
***THE POWER OF QUESTIONS 
“A sudden, bold, and unexpected question doth many times surprise a man and lay him open.”   --Francis Bacon
 
***COURAGE
“You cannot discover new oceans unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore.”  --Anonymous
 
***MOTIVE 
“No man does anything from a single motive.”  --Samuel Taylor Coleridge 
 
***LITERATURE 
“Literature is writing that will be read more than once.”  --Gene Griessman I'LL MEMORIZE THIS DEFINITION--THE BEST I'VE SEEN.
 
 ***DIPLOMACY
“Diplomacy is the art of saying ‘nice doggie’ until you can find a rock.”    --Will Rogers
 
***THE COST OF QUARRELING
“He wants the microwave and she wants the microwave.   What they don’t know is that after 90 seconds I own the microwave.”  --Anonymous divorce attorney

QUICK THINKING
“I thought I told you to wait in the car.”  Tallulah Bankhead (on seeing a former lover for the first time in many years)
 
LEADERSHIP LESSONS
***WHEN NOT TO APOLOGIZE
There’s nothing wrong in apologizing for a statement that you make or a position that you take if you become convinced that you were wrong when you said it or did it.  Architect John Portman once told me that he would change his position on a dime in the presence of new information. 

“Bad promises are better broken than kept,” Abraham Lincoln stated, if keeping the bad promise is “adverse to the public interest.” 
 
My own feelings are that few things are more pathetic than a leader who pigheadedly refuses to abandon a statement or position that he knows is wrong.
 
But nothing can destroy a leader’s credibility quicker than to apologize for something that he/she knows is right--because of criticism or opposition. 
 
More than once I have been gravely disappointed in individuals who made clear-sighted statements or took courageous positions, then repudiated them after they came under attack from powerful individuals or interest groups. 
 
It has happened often in history.  Copernicus and Galileo both recanted, denied what they knew to be true, and apologized for saying and believing it.  To be fair, Copernicus and Galileo faced excommunication, torture, and possible roasting at the stake if they didn’t. 
 
Today’s leaders back down for far less than that.
 
There is a rule for leaders here.  Quickly acknowledge errors if you find them to be errors, and be willing to change your mind if you gain new information.  But Do Not apologize if you did nothing wrong.  You might express regret, sadness, or sympathy--if what you did or said did not achieve a satisfactory result--but not an apology.  To apologize needlessly shows lack of courage and lack of resolution.

LINCOLN'S LOG
*** TEAM OF RIVALS: THE ACHIEVEMENT DIGEST--TAD, March 2005--A Unique Newsletter For LeadersTHE POLITICAL GENIUS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN by Doris Kearns Goodwin.  Goodwin’s new book is a treasure for leaders who deal with high-level, talented, ego-driven executives. 

Goodwin provides descriptions of innumerable incidents of the way in which Lincoln dealt with his cabinet, his generals, and other powerful political supporters and opponents.  Each one of these can be treated as a brief case study from which lasting lessons about leadership can be drawn.  (I’ve written “CEO” in the margin of my copy of the book beside each instance of a good tactical or strategic act.)

One of the most difficult of all Lincoln’s relationships was with Edwin Stanton, his Secretary of War.  Six years before Lincoln chose Stanton for his cabinet,  Stanton had been the lead attorney of a legal team of which Lincoln was a member.  Stanton snubbed Lincoln and would not use him in any way.  Lincoln felt humiliated but decided to stay for the trial.  
 
Goodwin describes Lincoln’s reaction:  “Lincoln told (his friend) Ralph Emerson he was going home to ‘study law.’  Emerson did not understand what Lincoln meant by this, but Lincoln explained. ‘For any rough-and-tumble case (and a pretty good one, too), I am enough for any man we have out in that country; but these college-trained men are coming West.  They have had all the advantages of a life-long training in the law, plenty of time to study and everything, perhaps, to fit them.   Soon they will be in Illinois…and when they appear I will be ready.’”

Until the publication of Goodwin’s book, the best book on the subject was Alonzo Rothschild’s LINCOLN: MASTER OF MEN published in 1906.  (A paperback edition of this classic was published in 2004 by Kessinger Publishing.  This edition plus used copies of the first edition can be purchased at Amazon.)

 

 

 

 

To order your personal copy of TEAM OF RIVALS click above:

 

To order your personal copy of LINCOLN: MASTER OF MEN, click below:

 

 

FEEDBACK
SOME COMMENTS FROM EVALUATIONS IN OHIO, SOUTH CAROLINA, GEORGIA, AND MARYLAND  
***(LESSONS FROM LEGENDS—Georgia presentation "Best guest speaker since my start with the company three years ago.”  “Loved it all.” 
 
***(LEADERSHIP SECRETS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN—South Carolina presentation)  “Lincoln presentation was great, very engaging.” “I really enjoyed hearing how history repeats itself.” 

*** (LEADERSHIP SECRETS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN—Ohio presentations)  “I liked learning about the powerful ‘art’ of storytelling.”  “These were meaningful stories that relate to today’s situations”  “Well rehearsed and studied; conveyed the grace and humility of Lincoln.” “(I enjoyed) the section on communication skills—learning how, who, and when you can say things as a manager.”
 
***(LEADERSHIP SECRETS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN—Maryland presentation)  “Very much enjoyed the surprise!”  “I appreciated the words of wisdom for life.”
 
MACROFORCES—SOCIAL TRENDS AND THE FUTURE
***ETHANOL
Knowledgeable leaders have worried for decades about a future without oil.  It’s no secret that we’ve been using up the world’s reserves at an alarming rate. 
 
For the first time there’s real hope: breakthroughs in the production of cellulosic ethanol. 
 
The U.S. hasn’t done much with this technology yet, even though oil refiners get a whopping 51-cent tax credit for every gallon of ethanol they produce.  But in Brazil three million cars are already equipped to use ethanol that’s produced from sugar cane and other agricultural sources.  In fact 73% of new cars sold in that country are flex-fuel equipped, up from 6% just three years ago. 
 
Richard Branson—as in Sir Richard Branson, chairman of the hugely successful Virgin Group—plans to invest $300 to $400 million per year on cellulosic ethanol research and refineries.  (Branson was introduced to the idea by Ted Turner;  both men know how to bet.)

Prediction:  Cellulosic ethanol will gradually alter international relations.  Don’t expect petroleum-based products to go away in the lifetime of anyone reading this, but this new technology will raise the standard of living of many oil-starved nations and ensure a brighter future for all of us.   
 
TRAVEL NOTES FROM A ROAD WARRIOR
NEW YORK CITY
***Oscars at the Waldorf Astoria
We received a number of favorable comments about our story on the Waldorf Astoria.  One way to experience this great hotel is to dine at Oscar’s, located at the corner of 50th St. and Lexington Ave. This combination brasserie and neighborhood gathering-place offers a bountiful, moderately priced breakfast buffet.  I loved the cold version of the breakfast buffet—everything I could possibly want for breakfast.  The service was professional, friendly, and attentive.  Afterward go upstairs to experience the hotel’s handsome lobby, common areas, the famous clock, Art Deco mosaics, etc.  Phone (212) 872-4920  http://www.thecityreview.com/waldorf.html
 
BALTIMORE
***THE MILTON INN
Located in northern Baltimore County, the Milton Inn is one of America’s finest country inns and a national treasure.  Once a coach stop for Quakers who settled in the area in the mid 1700s, it eventually became Milton Academy, named after the poet John Milton.  One of the academy’s students was John Wilkes Booth.   I was in the area to perform Abraham Lincoln for the annual meeting of a local company, and confess that it felt a little surreal knowing that Booth once had been in the room where I was dining and perhaps did his studies in the place where I was sitting.

My misgivings were quickly put aside by the meal that was served.  Their version of Maryland crab soup is simply amazing.  Another specialty is rack of venison (honey and herb-crusted with roasted acorn squash, sautéed mustard greens with applewood smoked bacon and shallots, topped with a cherry demi-glace.)  The Milton Inn offers a chef’s tasting menu for dinner for $33 served until 7 PM seating.  14833 York Road, Sparks, MD. 21152, Phone 410.771.4366 http://www.miltoninn.com/aboutus.html
 
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