Honoring and Building On The Past
by Dr. Phillip Humbert
There is a wonderful, and haunting quote from Arnold
Toynbee that, "Those who refuse to learn from the past are doomed
to repeat it." Successful people have always learned from, and built
upon the foundations of those who went ahead of them.
Lee Iacocoa said that he read two business books every
week during his career at Ford and later when he brought Chrysler back
from bankruptcy. Presidents Carter, Clinton and both Presidents Bush have
commented on their study of history. John Kennedy was a voracious reader,
and there is a famous photo of him walking into the White House on Inauguration
Day with the book, "Presidential Power" tucked under his arm.
Leaders learn from the past!
This Memorial Day, it seems particularly fitting to honor
all those who have sacrificed for the freedoms we enjoy every day. Obviously,
TIPS subscribers live all over the world, but most live in countries that
know freedom is rarely "free" and it's never easy.
Freedom can be messy because people disagree. Freedom
can be hard because we have to argue for our values and make difficult
political decisions. We must choose how we will live our lives and what
we will do with the opportunities freedom gives us. It is true that, compared
to the chaos of freedom, Mussolini "made the trains run on time,"
but the cost was far too high.
As I coach successful leaders in many fields, including
highly successful parents, spouses, and "retired" businesspeople,
I note that there is a clear distinction between the behavior of the successful
and the "almost successful" in this area.
Leaders read and learn. They ask questions, learn from
their competition, respect and admire their colleagues, and form collaborative
partnerships all over the world. They allow themselves to be taught by
the great figures of history, as well as learning from the best of our
contemporaries..
Successful people learn from at least three types of
models and use the wisdom of others to guide their own success:
1. Biographies of those who achieved what you want to
achieve. This is not casual reading or relaxing with a good story! This
is an investment in your future, an investment in your success. Read and
underline. Read and ponder. Read and learn how others have built the kind
of life you want to live.
2. Formal training. Leaders take classes, go to seminars,
attend workshops and practice, practice, practice. Successful people invest
in their education and they keep on learning. A seminar that contains
just one new idea, or that gives you a fresh slant on an old idea could
make all the difference.
3. Colleagues and experts. Highly successful people watch
and learn from other people. They pick up the phone and call. They send
an email and ask a question, build a friendship, form a partnership with
the best leaders and most successful people they can find.
This weekend there will be lots of speeches about honoring
those who serve in our military around the world. It is particularly fitting
to remember and thank those who have served in Iraq, Afghanistan and around
the world in the fight against terrorism. And, we honor those who sacrificed
from the American Revolution through Viet Nam, and up to today, that we
might be free and safe. The American flag is waving on our porch as I
write this.
But an even more meaningful way to honor those who have
gone before us is to study their lives, to learn from their experiences
and build on the foundations they left us. We honor them by using our
freedoms to build and live GREAT lives.
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