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Name of author Rick Baker, P.Eng.

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Principle-based Leadership

by Rick Baker
On Apr 6, 2012

Many leaders understand the merits of principle-based leadership.

But...what does principle-based leadership mean?

Specifically - what exactly does principle-based leadership mean?

James Allen1 provides most-clear answers to this question.

For example...excerpts of James Allen's wisdom:

The first things in a sound life – and therefore in a truly happy and successful life – are right principles.

The first principles in life are principles of conduct.”

Allen states 5 of them...

Duty “The principle of duty means strict adherence to one’s own business, and just as strict non-interference in the business of others.”

Honesty “It means not cheating or overcharging another. It involves the absence of all trickery, lying and deception of word, look or gesture. It includes sincerity, the saying what you mean and the meaning what you say.”

Economy” “The conservation of one’s financial resources is merely the vestibule leading toward the more spacious chambers of economy. It means, as well, the husbanding of one’s physical vitality and mental resources.”

Liberality: “Liberality follows economy. Only the man of economy can afford to be generous. The spendthrift, whether in money, vitality, or mental energy, wastes so much on his own miserable pleasures as to have none left to bestow upon others.

Self-Control: “Self-control is the last of these five principles, yet it is the most important.” 

The five principles are five practices, five avenues to achievement, and five sources of knowledge.”

 

Footnote

1. James Allen, ‘Foundation Stones to Happiness and Success’, (1913)

Tags:

Values: Personal Values | Wisdom: Surviving the Test of Time

Thought Tweet #450

by Rick Baker
On Apr 6, 2012

Thought Tweet #450 “Self-help has accomplished about all the great things of the world.”


The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Recently, I made a rule - not to post any more quotes in my Thought Tweets. However, it wasn't a hard-and-fast rule [like a Master Rule], so, here I am, today, breaking it. I am breaking my no-more-quotes rule because I am impressed by Orison Swett Marden's wisdom. And, this particular quote expresses, in a much better way than I am able to do, a major piece of my life philosophy. This quote is one of 151 quotes I copied from Orison Swett Marden 1911 self-development classic - 'Pushing to the Front'. [I am fortunate to own a first printing of this 2-volume classic.]

Tags:

Thought Tweets | Wisdom: Surviving the Test of Time

About Self-Management

by Rick Baker
On Mar 30, 2012

I have touched on the topic of self-management, but, as yet, I have not presented a concise summary of how to go about it.

I am about to remove that shortcoming.

Here are some suggestions on how to go about obtaining the benefits of Self-Management:

  • Have a definite purpose - also known as a life purpose.  People who have a definite purpose have an easier time with self-discipline. The reality is - most people, perhaps as many as 98-out-of-100 people, do not have a life purpose. Put another way, most people do not have a consuming, driving, life-long ambition/goal. The natural next question is, can you develop one? The good-news answer to that question is - Yes. [It will take a concerted & lengthy introspection...but, it can be done.]
  • "Know Thyself". Perhaps Socrates said this first? Anyhow, it is ancient wisdom which spans many cultures and at least 2 millennia. Again, most people do not have a detailed knowledge of 'self'. That's because they have not taken the time to regularly perform concerted & lengthy introspection. The good news is - many self-development gurus provide help at a cheap price. For example, check out Napoleon Hill's 'Think And Grow Rich'. In that classic, Hill provides a list of questions for an annual self-assessment.
  • Understand your personal Values, your personal Rules, and your Habits. And, work at trying New Things which you think may, with your continued effort, become Good Habits.
  • Write our Your Vision and Your Goals...and update them at least once a year. Many self-help experts and many psychologists state this is a major key to success. Rather than argue whether or not that can be proved...I suggest you just do it. Really, it does not take much time so why not take a leap of faith and accept it as a good piece of advice.
  • Each morning, write out a TO DO list for the day. Make a practice of receiving the merits of The 80/20 Rule, also known as the Pareto Principle: 80% of results are due to 20% of causes. So, focus on the 20% of Actions that generate 80% of the desired results.
These 5 things will take you a long way down the path of Self-Management....and SUCCESS.

Tags:

Habits: Good Habits, Bad Habits, & New Things | Wisdom: Surviving the Test of Time

Boil Down Your Business

by Rick Baker
On Mar 1, 2012

Boil down your business.

That's what Robert Collier did at Volume 5 of his 1926 classic, 'The SECRET of the Ages'. 

He stated, "Volumes have been written about personal efficiency, and general efficiency, and every other kind of efficiency in business."

Then he said,

 "But when boiled down, it all comes to this:

  1. Know what you want.
  2. Analyze the thing you've got to do to get it.
  3. Plan your work ahead.
  4. Do one thing at a time.
  5. Finish that one thing and send it on its way before starting the next.
  6. Once started, KEEP GOING!"

I got a kick out of that straightforward, simple advice.

Points #4 and #5 are keys to developing talents involving  Attention, Concentration, & Focus.  They are also keys to overcoming frazzled Emotions.

Thought Tweet #419

by Rick Baker
On Feb 23, 2012

Thought Tweet #419  "Divide each difficulty into as many parts as is feasible and necessary to resolve it." #ReneDescartes 

 

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Descartes: what an interesting man! He started a philosophical revolution when he said, "I think; therefore I am." He also said, "I am accustomed to sleep and in my dreams to imagine the same things that lunatics imagine when awake." [And, from what I've read, he might not have felt dogs are 'Man's Best Friend'.]

Tags:

Delegation & Decisions | Hero Worship | Thought Tweets | Wisdom: Surviving the Test of Time

Thought Tweet #418

by Rick Baker
On Feb 22, 2012

Thought Tweet #418 "You wouldn't look for good scores from a ball team whose pitcher was at odds with the catcher."

 

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Robert Collier wrote this in his classic work, 'The Secret of the Ages - Book 1', (1926). While I do not like the saying "There is no I in teamwork." I do like this one!

Tags:

Thought Tweets | Wisdom: Surviving the Test of Time

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