The First Two Rules of Leadership

Don't Be a JerkLead with Confidence

“Something can be done and there is something I can do.”

—Unknown

I am not sure exactly where I heard that sentence for the first time. Whoever shared it with me gave me a wonderful gift—it has been a source of confidence throughout my life. Something can be done—whatever hole I was in was not permanent and something can be done right now. And, there is something I can do—the next move is mine.

Not everything that happens to you is going to be great; you don't live in a Pollyanna world. Things will happen that are beyond your control and maybe unfair and unexplainable. Regardless, you never lose control of your reaction. There are no stipulations. No passes for bad economy, bosses, luck, or choices…no stipulations at all. You can react to whatever happens to you in a positive, optimistic, confident manner—or not. Those around you are watching how you react to everything.

What Do You See?

“An optimist sees an opportunity in every calamity; a pessimist sees a calamity in every opportunity.” That was Winston Churchill's view. The following story illustrates his point.

Two researchers were independently dispatched by a large shoe manufacturer to one of the world's least-developed countries. The researchers' task was to assess the business possibilities within that country.

When the first report came back to the manufacturer's headquarters, the message read: “No market here. Nobody wears shoes!” A few days later, the second report came back ...