“If I was in high school or college right now, I’d be starting as many new internet companies as I could in search of the next Facebook,” commented Tom.

I agreed. The cost of entry is low, and younger entrepreneurs are more likely to use new technology in new ways. Because they have less experience, they also tend to have fewer boundaries and expectations about what can and can’t be done.

Of course you don’t have to be a young entrepreneur to think that way. I believe some of the best leadership is about attempting what hasn’t been done before. Managers can handle the incremental improvements; leaders are those who can take people to new places that they hadn’t even thought about going.

I hope you enjoy these lessons and I’d like to invite you to post the most important lessons you’ve learned.

Passive reading can be a substitute for the harder work of thinking and learning. We fool ourselves if we think a large input of ideas will necessarily benefit us. Until we digest those ideas and ultimately apply them, then reading is of little value.

Abraham Lincoln was a leader known for deep reflection. His law partner and biographer William Herndon said that “Lincoln read less and thought more than any man in his sphere in American.”

When Lincoln was President there was far less published than there is today; still, he could have chosen to be a voracious reader. His strength wasn’t in the limits of his reading but the depth of his thinking.

What can you eliminate in your schedule today that will enable you to do more thinking?

He knew the value of timeless truths. (And I recognize the phrase “timeless truths” is redundant–all truths are timeless, but we need to be remnded of that sometimes).  Circumstances change but truths endure. In an age of management philosophy du jour, make sure the underlying principles of your work as a leader are sound.

He said he targeted getting big companies into his city because he believed they could be generous donors to worthwhile causes and charities.

“Mayor,” I said, “that sounds like a Republican sentiment.”

“That’s why my party calls me a bad Democrat,” he replied with a grin.

When it is good to be bad? This is an example. In the current two party political spectrum bad democrats and bad republicans often end up as centrists, or social liberals and fiscal conservatives or visa versa.

Frankly, I like these mold-breaking departures. I’m tired of both parties, and I belong to one of ‘em.

In leadership, it is easy to fall into a category that can trap you as well as define you. The Mayor is, in my opinion, an excellent leader because he refuses to let that happen. He is also a world-class consensus builder who has brought people of different views and beliefs together to do great things for the community.

Too bad he isn’t running for president.

I walked back over kind of expecting the woman to figure out I’d been sitting there but she ignored me. I actually said, “Excuse me” as I gathered up my stuff and relocated. She was oblivious.

In the scheme of things it wasn’t a big deal. But it is indicative of the decline of civility. Stuff like that (and the woman talking on her cell phone who cut off two lanes of traffic to turn left from the far right lane) hit my buttons.

Part of me wants to politely say something like, “Excuse me, but you’ve taken my seat.” That wouldn’t be rude but I’m not sure it would be helpful. It takes a great deal of optimism to think that somehow people like the woman and her brood might gain some insight.

Instead, and against my own lower nature, I decided that the antidote to behavior that isn’t civil is…civility. To rise above without feeling superior, to recognize the rampant self-absorption and distraction in our culture and ultimately to recall the words of Phileo Judaeus who said, “Be kind, everyone is fighting a hard battle.”

During this political season let’s be reminded of these wise words:

You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich.
You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.
You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.
You cannot lift the wage earner up by pulling the wage payer down.
You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred.
You cannot build character and courage by taking away men’s initiative and independence.
You cannot help men permanently by doing for them, what they could and should do for themselves.

Who said it? Abraham Lincoln

As I’m about to turn 50, I am increasingly unwilling to waste any of my life. If a movie sucks, walk out. If a book disappoints, quit reading. If an event is deadly dull, don’t stay. Of course consideration in social situations should be given to others, but when it is ultimately your time, choose not to waste it.

We did get our money back for the movie, but I didn’t care: life is too short to sit through a bad movie because you paid for the tickets.

Eat smaller portions
Eat 5-6 times daily
Stay hydrated
Aim for a minimum of 30 minutes of physical activity if you’re really serious,

2. Call a past customer and ask what you could do to get him or her back.

3. Send a thank you note.

4. Write a personal note of encouragement to someone on your team.

5. Plan your day the night before or first thing in the morning.

6. Schedule accomplishment, not activity.

7. Read, study, pray for the first 30 minutes of each day.

8. Do one intentional act of kindness for a family member, friend or stranger.

9. End the day remembering all the good things that happened.

10. Tell someone you love them.

Keeping “the chain” or any chain intact is not on my daily list of things to do. First, it isn’t a chain; it is an unasked for email or letter. Second, if I didn’t request it, I have no responsibility to keep the chain going. Third, the only thing worse is the veiled threat and/or genie payoff: “Bob broke the chain and his leg fell off” or “Jill kept the chain and someone gave her a new car.”

When you request anything, in writing or verbally, make your request compelling and leave it to intelligent people to decide to comply or deny. If it is worthwhile, most will comply. If it isn’t, using “the chain” isn’t going to invoke any higher-order life form to help. That only works on the superstitious.

(Sponsored by the Freedom from Stupidity Foundation)