Primary Greatness (quotes from ch.4)

Positive personality traits, while often essential for success, constitute secondary greatness.

Private victory precedes public victory. Self-mastery and self-discipline are the roots of good relationships with others.

Without trust we won't achieve primary greatness or lasting success...If there isn't deep integrity and fundamental character strength, true motives will eventually surface and human relationships will fail.

Emerson, "What you are shouts so loud in my ears I cannot hear what you say."...what we are communicates far more eloquently than anything we say or do.

When the basic source of a person's definition of himself is the social mirror, he may confuse the mirror reflection with his real self; in fact, he may begin to believe and accept the image in the mirror, even rejecting other, more positive views of himself unless they show the distortions he has come to accept.

The antidote for a poisoned self-image is the affirmation of your worth and potential by another person.

Real self-respect comes from dominion over self...interdependence.

We may live for years with chronic pain caused by a lack of vision.

Dag Hammarskjold, "It is more noble to give yourself completely to one individual than to labor diligently for the salvation of the masses."

Many problems in organizations stem from poor relationships...it takes more nobility of character to confront and resolve those issues than it does to work diligently for the many people and projects "out there."

Integrity. the value we place on ourselves

Maturity. the balance between courage and consideration

Abundance Mentality. there is plenty out there for everybody

Inside-Out vs. Outside-In. The paradigm of primary greatness.

People with primary greatness have a sense of stewardship about everything in life...

You can't have empowerment without first having trust.

In aligned organizations, everything serves to help the individual be productive and effective in meeting the objectives of the win-win performance agreement.

A Break With the Past (notes from Ch.5)

Almost every significant breakthrough is the result of a courageous break with traditional ways of thinking.

paradigm- pattern or map for understanding and explaining certain aspects of reality.

Columbus...

a new compass

...until we drop unwarranted assumptions about people, we can't expect to bring about lasting improvements...

...teach them correct principles, and they govern themselves

Where there is no vision...people select goals and begin pursuing them-climbing the proverbial ladder of success-before they define mission and clarify values.

Principle-centered leadership suggests that the highest level of human motivation is a sense of personal contribution...process not product (training and life learning)

Human barriers (human performance)

Overcoming the pull of the past is in large part a matter of having clear identity and strong purpose...Highly effective people carry their agenda with them. Their schedule is their servant, not their master, They organize weekly, adapt daily.

...discipline is the ability to make and keep promises and to honor commitments.

Appetites and passions; pride and pretension; aspiration and ambition

"...putting mind over mattress." Our ability to do more and perform better will increase as we exercise the discipline of doing important and difficult work first...

The principle is to build up regularly, gradually, through daily exercise of emotional fiber...

Do two things daily: 1) gain perspective  2) make some decisions and commitments in light of that perspective...

"Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least."

1- Never make a promise we will not keep.

2- Make meaningful promises, resolutions and commitments to do better and to be better- and share these with a loved one.

3- Use self-knowledge and be very selective about the promises we make

4- Consider promises as a measure of our integrity and faith in ourselves.

5- Remember that our personal integrity or self-mastery is the basis for our success with others.