Colin Powell
Colin Luther Powell was the 65th United States Secretary of State, serving from 2001-01-20 to 2004-11-12. At the time, he was the highest ranking African American government official in the history of the United States.
Found 30 thoughts of Colin Powell
Don't be afraid to challenge the pros, even in their own backyard.
Colin Powell
Never let your ego get so close to your position that when your position goes, your ego goes with it.
Colin Powell
Success is the result of perfection, hard work, learning from failure, loyalty, and persistence.
Colin Powell
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
Have fun in your command. Don't always run at a breakneck pace. Take leave when you've earned it: Spend time with your families.
Colin Powell
'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
Organization charts and fancy titles count for next to nothing.
Colin Powell
Organization doesn't really accomplish anything. Plans don't accomplish anything, either. Theories of management don't much matter. Endeavors succeed or fail because of the people involved. Only by attracting the best people will you accomplish great deeds.
Colin Powell
No battle plan survives contact with the enemy.
Colin Powell
Don't be buffaloed by experts and elites. Experts often possess more data than judgment. Elites can become so inbred that they produce haemophiliacs who bleed to death as soon as they are nicked by the real world.
Colin Powell
You don't know what you can get away with until you try.
Colin Powell
Keep looking below surface appearances. Don't shrink from doing so just because you might not like what you find.
Colin Powell
There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.
Colin Powell
Surround yourself with people who take their work seriously, but not themselves, those who work hard and play hard.
Colin Powell
Never neglect details. When everyone's mind is dulled or distracted the leader must be doubly vigilant.
Colin Powell
A dream doesn't become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work.
Colin Powell
The day soldiers stop bringing you their problems is the day you have stopped leading them. They have either lost confidence that you can help them or concluded that you do not care. Either case is a failure of leadership.
Colin Powell
Fit no stereotypes. Don't chase the latest management fads. The situation dictates which approach best accomplishes the team's mission.
Colin Powell
The commander in the field is always right and the rear echelon is wrong, unless proved otherwise.
Colin Powell
Think hard about it: I'm running out of demons. I'm running out of villians. I'm down to Castro and Kim Il Sung.
Colin Powell
The healthiest competition occurs when average people win by putting above average effort.
Colin Powell
It ain't as bad as you think. It will look better in the morning.
Colin Powell
