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Name of author Rick Baker, P.Eng.

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Sir Isaac Newton & the power of the Mastermind Alliance

by Rick Baker
On Aug 15, 2013

While most of us didn’t fully appreciate it when we were introduced to the stuff in high school classes, certain mathematicians and scientists have made monumental contributions. Few reached the level of recognition enjoyed by Sir Isaac Newton.

Sir Isaac Newton is remembered as one of the greatest scientists of all time. He lived from 1642 to 1727… a ripe old age in those days. His contributions to science included: the universal law of gravity, the laws of force and motion, the laws of optics, and the founding of the mathematics known as calculus. These contributions surpassed those of almost every scientist before or since Newton.

Newton said, “If I have seen a little further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants.

He also said, “Tact is the art of making a point without making an enemy.

Sounds like a good example of Integrity, as defined in another Thought Post.

Yet, the historical records show two sides of Sir Isaac Newton: 

  1. He illustrated the humility of a leader as the quotes above illustrate
  2. He engaged in a decades-long, public battle with the German mathematician Gottfried Leibniz, debating which one had been the first to create the mathematics of calculus. Newton had accused Leibniz of plagiarizing his calculus work.
          
  Sir Sir Isaac Newton                          Gottfried Leibniz

By the time of this Newton-Leibniz dispute, Newton was a very well-known and well-respected leader in many fields of science and mathematics…and other fields. With such a reputation and long list of amazing and diverse accomplishments, what motivated the great Newton to engage in such a battle with Leibniz?

Perhaps the answer lies in a bit of thought around the Royal Society of London, a prestigious scientific community chartered by King Charles II in 1660. The founders created the Royal Society to promote scientific research and discussion. Newton was president of the ‘Royal Society’ from 1703 until his death 24 years later. Newton was knighted by Queen Anne in 1705. A few years later, during Newton’s term as president, the Royal Society accused Leibniz of plagiarizing Newton’s calculus work, created a committee to respond to Leibniz’s objection, and decided in favour of Newton, not Leibniz.

When that happened, like Newton, Leibniz was in his sixties. His reputation was ruined by the Royal Society’s decision. He died a few years later.

More than two centuries passed before Leibniz’s name was cleared…the history books now show both Newton and Leibniz as independent creators of calculus.

Today, three hundred years after the fury of the dispute, Leibniz is remembered as one of many great mathematicians.

Sir Isaac Newton is remembered as one of the handful of greatest scientists of all time.

While this story contains many lessons, one stands out in my mind.

Whether we are a fan of Newton or Leibniz, whether we believe Newton illustrated an error of Integrity, and regardless of who was right or wrong we must acknowledge the power contained in a focused group of people, acting in harmony toward a shared goal [a Mastermind Alliance, as defined by Napoleon Hill]. The Royal Society served as Newton’s Mastermind Alliance, a group of people working in harmony towards a common goal. Newton used that Mastermind Alliance. 

Throughout the last half of his long life, Sir Isaac Newton had stature as a leader in the field of science. During his lifetime science was beginning to be respected. The Dark Ages had cleared and it was more acceptable to question European religious beliefs. That was especially true in England. Newton’s work validated recently-accepted scientific claims including ‘the Earth orbits the Sun, not vice-versa’. That aspect of Newton’s thinking resonated well with the English royalty. It also resonated well with England’s scientific community. Newton took advantage of that.

Newton used the Royal Society Mastermind Alliance to etch his name indelibly into front pages of the history books.

That’s a graphic example of what we mean when we say focusing the power of a Mastermind Alliance.

 

PS: both Newton and Leibniz are among my list of heroes.

Tags:

Hero Worship | Wisdom: Surviving the Test of Time

Thought Tweet #800

by Rick Baker
On Aug 9, 2013

Thought Tweet #800 Authentic Self-confidence, properly illustrated and linked to Vision: this is at the essence of leadership.

 

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

It takes various forms, as examples:

  • Alexander the Great did it his way…on the backs of horses leading the charge
  • Mahatma Gandhi did it his way…on the consciences of his nation’s oppressors
  • Richard Branson does it his way…on the dreams in achievers’ hearts

Confidence is a magical state of mind; Confidence is a much-valued state of mind.

When your confidence meter is properly set your opportunity to succeed in business is amplified, often many times over. Self-confidence, near the upper end of reasonable bounds, is the magnetic recipe that attracts the things you need most to succeed in business: the co-operation and enthusiasm residing in yourself and in other people.

 

Tags:

Hero Worship | Thought Tweets | Values: Personal Values | Vision: The Leader's Vivid Vision

The Attributes of a Leader

by Rick Baker
On Jul 31, 2013

You may agree with the attributes/character traits presented below or disagree with them...either way, give them some thought. Create your own list...a list you can live and lead by.

For my part, and seeking simple, I think the required attributes of leadership can be summed up in 3 major qualities:

  1. Intelligence
  2. Self-control
  3. Drive
These qualities can be broken down into components and they can be combined to create a longer list of the attributes of leadership.
 
Here are some classic thoughts on this topic...
 
***
 
From 'Think and Grow Rich', Napoleon Hill's 1937 classic:

1. UNWAVERING COURAGE. 
Based upon knowledge of self, and of one’s occupation. No follower wishes to be dominated by a leader who lacks self-confidence and courage. No intelligent follower will be dominated by such a leader very long. [some thoughts on Courage]

2. SELF-CONTROL.
The man who cannot control himself, can never control others. Self-control sets a mighty example for one’s followers, which the more intelligent will emulate. [some thoughts on self-control]

3. A KEEN SENSE OF JUSTICE.
Without a sense of fairness and justice, no leader can command and retain the respect of his followers. [some thoughts on keen sense of justice]

4. DEFINITENESS OF DECISION.
The man who wavers in his decisions, shows that he is not sure of himself. He cannot lead others successfully. [some thoughts on definiteness of decision]

5. DEFINITENESS OF PLANS.
The successful leader must plan his work, and work his plan. A leader who moves by guesswork, without practical, definite plans, is comparable to a ship without a rudder. Sooner or later he will land on the rocks. [some thoughts on definiteness of plans]

6. THE HABIT OF DOING MORE THAN PAID FOR.
One of the penalties of leadership is the necessity of willingness, upon the part of the leader, to do more than he requires of his followers. [some thoughts on doing more than paid for]

7. A PLEASING PERSONALITY.
No slovenly, careless person can become a successful leader. Leadership calls for respect. Followers will not respect a leader who does not grade high on all of the factors of a Pleasing Personality. [some thoughts on pleasing personality]

8. SYMPATHY AND UNDERSTANDING.
The successful leader must be in sympathy with his followers. Moreover, he must understand them and their problems. [some thoughts on empathy and understanding]

9. MASTERY OF DETAIL.
Successful leadership calls for mastery of details of the leader’s position. [some thoughts on mastery of detail]

10. WILLINGNESS TO ASSUME FULL RESPONSIBILITY.
The successful leader must be willing to assume responsibility for the mistakes and the shortcomings of his followers. If he tries to shift this responsibility, he will not remain the leader. If one of his followers makes a mistake, and shows himself incompetent, the leader must consider that it is he who failed. [some thoughts on responsibility]

11. COOPERATION.
The successful leader must understand, and apply the principle of cooperative effort and be able to induce his followers to do the same. Leadership calls for POWER, and power calls for COOPERATION. [some thoughts on cooperation and harmony]

***

From Wess Roberts' 'Leadership Secrets of Attila The Hun' (1985/2009 audio)

  1. Loyalty
  2. Courage
  3. Desire
  4. Emotional Stamina
  5. Physical Stamina
  6. Empathy 
  7. Decisiveness
  8. Anticipation
  9. Sense of Timing
  10. Competitiveness
  11. Self-Confidence
  12. Accountability
  13. Responsibility
  14. Credibility
  15. Tenacity
  16. Dependability
  17. Stewardship

 

Tags:

Hero Worship | Leaders' Thoughts | Wisdom: Surviving the Test of Time

Thought Tweet #790

by Rick Baker
On Jul 26, 2013

Thought Tweet #790 Abraham Lincoln said, Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe”.

 

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

And, as you already know, it is much harder to build up people and build up business than it is to chop down a tree. 

Tags:

Attitude: Creating Positive Attitude | Hero Worship | Thought Tweets

Thought Tweet #789

by Rick Baker
On Jul 25, 2013

Thought Tweet #789 When it comes to people, each of us has some home-made putty to deal with: we can start with self.

 

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Business is about people, process, and situations. People create the process and people create most of the situations.

So, when you boil it down business is about people.

We all know that.

And, we all forget it…at least from time to time each of us forgets it.

When it comes to people, each of us has some home-made putty to deal with: we can start with self. How can we expect to have any success leading other people if we cannot develop skill at leading self?

 

Napoleon Bonaparte had it right when he said, “If you do not conquer self, you will be conquered by self”. When we understand self we have a chance to guide self to better places. When we understand self we have a chance to increase our good habits and reduce our bad habits. When we understand self we have confidence and we are better-able to tackle new things. This is what Napoleon taught when he said, “conquer self”.

Thought Tweet #783.5

by Rick Baker
On Jul 17, 2013

Thought Tweet #783.5 In a fanfare of keen sense of judgment, unleash creativity.

 

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Keen Sense Of Justice - in his 1937 classic 'Think and Grow Rich', Napoleon Hill taught this leadership attribute. 

Somehow, our business leaders often miss this essential attribute. 

Perhaps, many business leaders see themselves as just too busy to spend time on considering their need to make people-decisions that confirm a keen sense of justice? 

Well then - just bear in mind the most successful people have more time.

Tags:

Hero Worship | Thought Tweets

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