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-> Interesting points taken from Steve Pavlina's blog

Michael Powell, former FCC Chairman and son of Colin Powell, spoke about leadership. One of his points was the importance of developing “confusion endurance,” a tolerance for ambiguity, which he credited to Leonardo da Vinci. He noted the 70/30 rule: “When I have 70% of what I need to act, it’s time to act now.” Waiting for that last 30% rarely changes the outcome, and you will miss opportunities while you wait. This point resonated with me — if you wait for 100% certainty, you’re too late. It would be accurate to say that when I started blogging and podcasting and speaking, I was only about 70% certain about what I was doing. Sometimes ready-fire-aim is superior to ready-aim-fire.

Some of Powell’s other points included:

• A leader is a true decision-maker, even in the face of ambiguity and uncertainty.
• Don’t confuse activity with productivity.
• Take time to unplug, to reflect, and to think. Try one day a week without touching a computer keyboard. Try one hour a day with no interruptions. Try not answering email for the first 90 minutes of your day.
• Little differences are the determiner of greatness.
• “If work is not a joyful place for you, you’re in for a crummy life.”
• A top leader should spend 75% of his/her time on people issues.
• Earned authority is not the same as apparent authority. Respect and trust are earned, not bestowed.
• “You might be smart without ever failing, but you will never be wise.”
• Maintain perspective about what’s really important. Don’t let trivialities knock you off course.

Points made by Rudolf Giuliani, former Mayor of New York City

• Know what you stand for.
• Be an optimist, not a pessimist. People follow hope.
• You have to have courage, which means having fear and making the right decision anyway.
• Relentless preparation.
• Teamwork. Build a balanced team by recruiting others who possess the strengths you lack.
• Communicate.

Points made by Zig Ziglar

• Motivation is temporary, but so is bathing. If you do both, you’ll live longer and smell better. :)
• People who succeed understand that their own decisions and attitude make more difference than external, uncontrollable factors like the economy.
• The more you have of what money won’t buy, the more you’ll get of what money will buy.
• Commitment to your goals is critical. Some of us are about as committed as “a kamikaze pilot on his 39th mission.” :)
• Little steps are important. Termites do more damage than earthquakes and hurricanes.
• Work every day like you do the day before you’re leaving on vacation.
• “Run your day by the clock, your life with a vision.”
• A strong relationship gives you the “home court advantage.” Zig noted how it took him 25 years and 17 failed business deals before he achieved any degree of financial success. He was financially struggling for 25 years (from his 20s to his 40s). And yet, his wife kept her faith in him the whole way and never wavered in her support.
• Inner joy improves all areas of your life for the better (physical, mental, social, spiritual, financial, etc.). I agree completely with this point.
• Success is like an old-fashioned hand water pump. You have to pump it hard for a while, holding the faith that the water will eventually begin to flow even while you’re getting nothing but air. But once the water starts to flow, it takes less energy to keep it flowing. Nice analogy.