[May 21, 2015] Having a new puppy in our family has brought great joy and some sleepless nights for my wife Nancy and I. Doing so has put a snag into my reading schedule; as I tire much easier during the day when I only get 4 or 5 hours of very interrupted sleep nightly. That will pass and I will soon be back in form soon as the puppy grows enough to sleep through the night. For today, a military book that I’ve wanted for a long time but didn’t get to it is Colin Powell’s bestseller, “It Worked for Me: In Life and Leadership.” Anyone with any interest in leadership will gain from his thoughts.
It Worked for Me, Colin Powell, 2012.
A truly enjoyable book, Powell’s ability to put together clear thinking and communicate that to us is something to admire. His writing is built around stories and life experiences from which he learned a important lessons. In the first part of his book, he talks about his “thirteen rules.” Despite them being military-centric, they apply to any leadership endeavor. For example, “It ain’t as bad as you think. It will look better in the morning.” Or, “Have a vision. Be demanding.” The rest of the book is about everything that is important to him, from him saying it’s important to know who you are to knowing and taking care of your followers. Powell provides us with no conclusions or recommendations. He simply gives us his observations from which we can also learn. While some consider this a weakness in his book, I found it refreshing. Those who are leaders today will find the book fascinating and an easy read. Highly recommended.
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