Honoring and Building On The Past

by Dr. Phillip Humbert

There is a wonderful, and haunting quote from Arnold Toynbee that, "Those who refuse to learn from the past are doomed to repeat it." Successful people have always learned from, and built upon the foundations of those who went ahead of them.

Lee Iacocoa said that he read two business books every week during his career at Ford and later when he brought Chrysler back from bankruptcy. Presidents Carter, Clinton and both Presidents Bush have commented on their study of history. John Kennedy was a voracious reader, and there is a famous photo of him walking into the White House on Inauguration Day with the book, "Presidential Power" tucked under his arm.

Leaders learn from the past!

This Memorial Day, it seems particularly fitting to honor all those who have sacrificed for the freedoms we enjoy every day. Obviously, TIPS subscribers live all over the world, but most live in countries that know freedom is rarely "free" and it's never easy.

Freedom can be messy because people disagree. Freedom can be hard because we have to argue for our values and make difficult political decisions. We must choose how we will live our lives and what we will do with the opportunities freedom gives us. It is true that, compared to the chaos of freedom, Mussolini "made the trains run on time," but the cost was far too high.

As I coach successful leaders in many fields, including highly successful parents, spouses, and "retired" businesspeople, I note that there is a clear distinction between the behavior of the successful and the "almost successful" in this area.

Leaders read and learn. They ask questions, learn from their competition, respect and admire their colleagues, and form collaborative partnerships all over the world. They allow themselves to be taught by the great figures of history, as well as learning from the best of our contemporaries..

Successful people learn from at least three types of models and use the wisdom of others to guide their own success:

1. Biographies of those who achieved what you want to achieve. This is not casual reading or relaxing with a good story! This is an investment in your future, an investment in your success. Read and underline. Read and ponder. Read and learn how others have built the kind of life you want to live.

2. Formal training. Leaders take classes, go to seminars, attend workshops and practice, practice, practice. Successful people invest in their education and they keep on learning. A seminar that contains just one new idea, or that gives you a fresh slant on an old idea could make all the difference.

3. Colleagues and experts. Highly successful people watch and learn from other people. They pick up the phone and call. They send an email and ask a question, build a friendship, form a partnership with the best leaders and most successful people they can find.

This weekend there will be lots of speeches about honoring those who serve in our military around the world. It is particularly fitting to remember and thank those who have served in Iraq, Afghanistan and around the world in the fight against terrorism. And, we honor those who sacrificed from the American Revolution through Viet Nam, and up to today, that we might be free and safe. The American flag is waving on our porch as I write this.

But an even more meaningful way to honor those who have gone before us is to study their lives, to learn from their experiences and build on the foundations they left us. We honor them by using our freedoms to build and live GREAT lives.