Next time you walk through Dulles or Reagan, look who's manning the counter. Look who's cleaning things up. These are first generation American immigrants, who will raise children, who will grow up to higher things. Colin Powell More Quotes by Colin Powell More Quotes From Colin Powell Surround yourself with people who take their work seriously, but not themselves, those who work hard and play hard. Colin Powell militaryworkinspirational Being responsible sometimes means pissing people off. Colin Powell leadershipmotivationalmean Over the years, the United States has sent many of its fine young men and women into great peril to fight for freedom beyond our borders. The only amount of land we have ever asked for in return is enough to bury those that did not return. Colin Powell patrioticfightingmilitary Being kind doesn't mean being soft or a wuss. Kindness is not a sign of weakness. It is a sign of confidence. If you have developed a reputation for kindness and consideration, then even the most unpleasant decisions will go down easier because everyone will understand why you are doing what you are doing. They will realize that your decision must be necessary, and is not arbitrary or without empathy. As the old saying puts it, 'To the world, you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world.' Colin Powell empathykindnessmean Get mad, then get over it. Colin Powell moving-onwiselife Trust is the essence of Leadership. Colin Powell essenceleadership Strategy equals execution. All the great ideas and visions in the world are worthless if they can't be implemented rapidly and efficiently. Good leaders delegate and empower others liberally, but they pay attention to details, every day. Colin Powell empoweringleaderideas Give me the right people and I don’t much care what organization you give me. Good things will happen. Give me the wrong people and it doesn’t matter what you do with the organization. Bad things will happen. Colin Powell organizationgivingpeople Look for intelligence and judgment and, most critically, a capacity to anticipate, to see around corners. Also look for loyalty, integrity, a high energy drive, a balanced ego and the drive to get things done. Colin Powell egoloyaltyintegrity Maybe we don't put our young people in situations often enough where they're allowed to fail. When you fail you gain experience, and with enough experience, you don't fail as often. Colin Powell gainsinspiringpeople You can never err by treating everyone in the building with respect, thoughtfulness, and a kind word. Everyone of our employees is an essential employee. Every one of them wants to be viewed that way. And if you treat them that way, they will view you that way. They will not let you down or let you fail. They will accomplish whatever you have put in front of them. Colin Powell essentialsviewswant If it ain't broke, don't fix it' is the slogan of the complacent, the arrogant or the scared. It's an excuse for inaction, a call to non-arms. Colin Powell arrogantcomplacencyarms Leadership is the art of accomplishing more than the science of management says is possible. Colin Powell leadershipinspiringart The commander in the field is always right and the rear echelon is wrong, unless proved otherwise. In my experience, the people closest to the problems are often in the best position to see the solutions. The key here is to empower and not be the bottleneck. Colin Powell empoweringkeyspeople Don't be buffaloed by experts and elites. Experts often possess more data than judgment. Elites can become so inbred that they produce hemophiliacs who bleed to death as soon as they are nicked by the real world. Colin Powell datarealexercise You know you're a good leader when people follow you out of curiosity. Colin Powell curiosityleadershippeople Always focus on the front windshield and not the review mirror. Colin Powell carperspectivemirrors Always do your best. Somebody is watching you. Colin Powell Always show more kindness than seems necessary, because the person receiving it needs it more than you will ever know. Colin Powell receivingkindnessfriendship Trying to get everyone to like you is a sign of mediocrity. Colin Powell hatetryinginspirational
