If you don't like change, you're going to like irrelevance even less.
Eric ShinsekiRead
In the army, we do two things every day. We train our soldiers, and then we grow them into leaders, because frankly, we don't hire out. We grow our own leaders.
Interpretation
The army focuses on training individuals not just as soldiers, but as future leaders, emphasizing internal development over external hiring.
In this quote, Eric Shinseki emphasizes the dual mission of the army—training soldiers while also fostering leadership qualities within them. This reflects a commitment to developing talent from within, rather than relying on external sources for leadership. The approach suggests that true leadership is cultivated through experience and guidance, underscoring the importance of mentorship and internal growth in an organized environment.
In practice
This quote could be used in a speech about fostering leaders in the workplace.
If you don't like change, you're going to like irrelevance even less.
Leaders don't look backwards to condemn what has already been done; they look forward to create a better future.
The distance between number one and number two is always a constant. If you want to improve the organization, you have to improve yourself and the organization gets pulled up with you. That is a big lesson. I cannot just expect the organization to improve if I don't improve myself and lift the organization, because that distance is a constant.
A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others. He does not set out to be a leader, but becomes one by the equality of his actions and the integrity of his intent.
Heaven grew weary of the excessive pride and luxury of China... I am from the Barbaric North. I wear the same clothing and eat the same food as the cowherds and horse-herders. We make the same sacrifices and we share.. our riches. I look upon the nation as a new-born child and I care for my soldiers as though they were my brothers.
MAKE STATEMENTS also applies to us women: Speak in statements instead of apologetic questions. No one wants to go to a doctor who says, “I’m going to be your surgeon? I’m here to talk to you about your procedure? I was first in my class at Johns Hopkins, so?” Make statements, with your actions and your voice.
A great leader's courage to fulfill his vision comes from passion, not position.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.