Don't be afraid to challenge the pros, even in their own backyard. Colin Powell More Quotes by Colin Powell More Quotes From Colin Powell The United States presents a value system to the world that is based on democracy, based on economic freedom, based on individual rights for men and women, .. I think that is what makes us such a draw for nations around the world. People come to the United States to be educated, to become Americans. We are a country of countries and we touch every country, and every country in world touches us. Colin Powell men country thinking Fit no stereotypes. Don't chase the latest management fads. The situation dictates which approach best accomplishes the team's mission. Colin Powell fads team management Bad news isn't wine. It doesn't improve with age. Colin Powell wine age reality No matter how significant or life-changing your greatest hit or miss might be, neither even begins to define who you are. Each of us is a product of all our experiences and all our interactions with other people. To cite calculus, we are the area under the curve. Colin Powell interaction-with-others curves life-changing President's personal staff has a unique role. They're his intimate personal advisers, and the tradition and the precedent has been, even when I was national security adviser, that people in that position do not testify before the Congress. They talk to the Congress. They have meetings with the Congress. Colin Powell unique president people Don't be afraid to challenge the pros, even in their own backyard. Learn from the pros, observe them, seek them out as mentors and partners. But remember that even the pros may have leveled out in terms of their learning and skills. Sometimes even the pros can become complacent and lazy. Colin Powell skills challenges exercise But just as they did in Philadelphia when they were writing the constitution, sooner or later, you've got to compromise. You've got to start making the compromises that arrive at a consensus and move the country forward. Colin Powell writing country moving It is not the role of the United States to dictate change, but to enter into discussions with our friends. Colin Powell discussion united-states roles I have always admired the Linking Pin theory of management specialist Rensis Likert. It says that in every organization there are leaders who link the lower level to the upper level. What makes somebody an effective link as a leader is that he conveys down everything that above wants and he conveys up everything that below needs. Colin Powell organization leader links We view Egypt as a good friend of America. We are in constant touch with them. We provide them economic and military assistance as part of our relationship. Colin Powell egypt good-friend military We are not trapped in what the science of management says we can do. We are capable of doing what the art of leadership says is possible. Colin Powell trapped management art I always like to take my time and examine the two candidates, see not only the two candidates but the policies they will bring in, the people they will bring in, who they might appoint to the Supreme Court, and look at the whole range of issues before making a decision. Colin Powell issues two people I'm sleeping like a baby, too. Every two hours, I wake up, screaming. Colin Powell sleep baby two Preferring members of any one group for no reason other than race or ethnic origin is discrimination for its own sake. This the Constitution forbids. Colin Powell groups race sake The greatest gifts my parents gave to me...were their unconditional love and a set of values. Colin Powell unconditional-love parent father My responsibility, our responsibility as lucky Americans, is to try to give back to this country as much as it has given us, as we continue our American journey together. Colin Powell military leadership country It is the job of leaders to eliminate uncertainty. Colin Powell engagement leadership jobs It takes more courage to send men into battle than to fight the battle yourself. Colin Powell battle fighting men We have to be on guard that we don't spend so much time worrying about terrorism and guarding ourselves that we start to lose the essence of who we are as an open, freedom-loving people, welcoming to the rest of the world. Colin Powell essence worry people President Reagan fueled the spirit of America. His smile, his optimism, his total belief in the ultimate triumph of democracy and freedom, and his willingness to act on that belief, helped end the Cold War and usher in a new and brighter phase of history. Colin Powell optimism war america