Monday, August 29, 2011

Words of Wisdom from the Past

General Robert E. Lee
I am currently reading the book, "Leading Up," by Michael Useem. In it, the author discusses four guiding principles General Lee held that are as applicable to our careers as they were to him in he war between the states. They are:

  1. Keep your superiors well informed of what you have done, what you are doing, and what you plan to do.
  2. Regardless of how you feel about your superiors, display a respect for their positions.
  3. Avoid petty quarrels with your superiors in which you may be right but from which your reputation will suffer.
  4. Estimate your competitive advantage as precisely as possible, not only to avoid the twin dangers of overconfidence and overcautiousness, but also to sustain your superiors' confidence in your capacity for precise analysis.
Great words to live by, regardless of your career and lot in life.

Be blessed,

Mike