Stephen R. Covey

Whatever is at the center of our life will be the source of our security, guidance, wisdom, and power.

We are not animals. We are not a product of what has happened to us in our past. We have the power of choice.

You can’t live principals you can’t understand.

The ability to manage well doesn’t make much difference if you’re not even in the right jungle.

It is in the ordinary events of every day that we develop the proactive capacity to handle the extraordinary pressures of life. It’s how we make and keep commitments, how we handle a traffic jam, how we respond to an irate customer or a disobedient child. It’s how we view our problems and where we focus our energies. It’s the language we use.

The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.

Leaders, true leaders, take responsibility for the success of the team, and understand that they must also take responsibility for the failure.

Everything rises and falls on leadership.

It’s easy to demonise people, you’re usually wrong about it, people are nicer than you think.

A great leader’s courage to fulfill his vision comes from passion, not position.

And give… give more credit to others and don’t assume they’re mean until you know they’re actually mean.

I like to praise and reward in a loud voice and to scold in a whisper.

You don’t reward failure by promoting those responsible for it, because all you get is more failure.

I think people should be nicer to each other

A great leader has to be flexible, holding his ground on the major principles but finding room for compromises that can bring people together. A great leader has to be savvy at negotiations so we don’t drown every bill in pork barrel bridges to nowhere. I know how to stand my ground – but I also know that Republicans and Democrats need to find common ground to stand on as well.

When the leader lacks confidence, the followers lack commitment.

I judge people based on their capability, honesty, and merit.

The best leaders are humble enough to realize their victories depend upon their people.

A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.

If you aspire to be a leader of your own country, you must speak your own language, for God’s sake.

I have a very simple rule when it comes to management: hire the best people from your competitors, pay them more than they were earning, and give them bonuses and incentives based on their performance. That’s how you build a first-class operation.