Wisdom for a young CEO. Douglas Barry

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What do I love about: wisdom for a young CEO?

Douglas a 14-year-old young man sought wisdom from CEO’s round the world. This book is a compilation of the letters and admonition from this successful men and women. The summary of these letters focuses on key virtues such as persistence, passion, integrity, and knowledge quest and servant leadership. I have taken out important messaging from this book, which you can find below.

What do I not love about: wisdom for a young CEO?

Zilch

Who should read: wisdom for a young CEO?

If you are fascinated by successful folks then you will in fact enjoy this read.

Who should not read: wisdom for a young CEO?

None I can think of.

Notes from wisdom for a young CEO

On Passion: Do what you love and love what you do

Find something you LOVE to do. WORK HARD. RESPECT others. Do not be afraid to fail. Protect your INTEGRITY. Go for your dreams.
One thing I learned is that I could never take a job simply because it might look good on my resume. I have to do things I enjoy.
PASSIONATE people get things done. Passion for doing what you are called to do resonates in every fiber of a true leader. Passion shows. Passionate people energize other people and build enthusiasm. And as you know. ENTHUSIASM is contagious.
Education will prepare you for anything in life, honesty is one of the primary ingredients, and a sincere love of what you are doing is the fuel that makes it all run.
You must be better than a GOOD COMMUNICATOR- you must be a TRANSLATOR OF DREAMS, a DEMONSTRATOR OF PASSION for pursuing the dreams
There is more to life than being a CEO, but go for your dreams whatever they are.
Develop a strong sense of personal responsibility and independence. Learn to get up and get started every morning.
The PEN is mightier than the SWORD.
WARS are nothing more than the battles over different ideas.
EXCUSES are usually the fine line between successful people and those who are victims of their own lack of resolve.
The problem that faces today’s generation is that we fear that SUCCESS IN THE CORPORATE WORLD mean we sold ourselves short for a bigger paycheck and status.

On Respect: Make people your priority

I try to HEAR things through the ears of others and SEE things through their eyes.
I have found that the two best qualities a CEO can have are the ABILITY TO LISTEN and to assume the best motives in others.
It is all about PEOPLE. Too much is focused on leadership activities. However, great leaders inspire FOLLOWER-SHIP.
First, no one will follow you if you do not treat them with dignity and respect. No one will follow you if they do not trust you. Therefore, you must be HONEST AT ALL TIMES, you must communicate the bad, as well as the good.
Being a TEAM PLAYER is vital. Develop compassion and wisdom when dealing with others.
You have to know how to get the support of other people and have them want to see you succeed. If people do not wish you well you will have great difficulty.
My path came overtime; it was not an epiphany or revelation. It was slow maturing as a leader, realizing that people respond best to those that treat them with DIGNITY AND RESPECT rather than COMMAND and CONTROL
The people of your company do not work for you-you work for them.

On Vision: Clearly communicate the future

To have a BIG SUCCESS, you must have BIG DREAMS, and you must be willing to take a CHANCE.
At various points in your careers, you will be called to take a RISK, and I think you will find, as I have found, those will be the times of your GREATEST OPPORTUNITIES
There was no turning point for me in becoming a leader, but a gradual recognition that I could have an influence on the direction of an organization or a project if I stepped forward and took responsibility.

On Humanity: It is not just about the paychecks

It is important both to PLAN the work and WORK the plan.
I believe in people and think they are more effective when given PRINCIPLES rather than PROCEDURES, STRATEGIES rather than TACTICS, Whys rather than Wants.
You do not have to be the best but you have to try your best in everything.
Successful leaders study, work diligently on and practice leadership.
You make a LIVING by what you GET; you make a LIFE by what you GIVE.

On Curiosity: Look, Listen and Learn

Nothing in the world, can the take the place of PERSISTENCE.
The more you know, the better equipped you will be to tackle all the obstacles you meet on your way to reaching your objectives.
Keep yourself balanced in work, play, religious affiliations, and health.
I believe that getting the most you can out of your life experiences is probably the best way to prepare to be a leader.
I am curious and interested in just about everything. So, I am always learning and working at the margin of my ignorance.
Getting to this point has nothing to do with teachers and books. Find LIFE EXPERIENCES and swallow them whole. Travel, meet many people. Go down some dead ends and explore some dark alleys. Try everything. Exhaust yourself in the glorious pursuit of life.

Teddy Roosevelt:

It is not the CRITICS who count, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena: whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement; and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring reality, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory or defeat.

On Integrity: Honesty above all, to all

Who you are, what your values are, what you stand for. They are your ANCHOR, your north star, you won’t find them in a book. You will find them in your soul.
A CEO must dare to fail. A CEO who plays it safe all the time is not setting goals that are high enough.
An important mark of a good leader is to know you don’t know it all and never will.
LOVE is a better motivator than FEAR.
The best thing you can do right now is keep yourself open to a variety of EXPERIENCES and not be afraid to make some MISTAKES.
My policy has always been ‘ do your job as good as you can and the future will take care of itself’.