My Favorite Leadership Quote
April 28th, 2006I recently gave a speech in which I quoted several people, and afterwards someone came up and asked me what my FAVORITE leadership quote was. I regretted not having it memorized. I did not because it’s actually not a quote, but a longish-for-a-quotation passage from Stephen Vincent Benet’s wonderful free-verse poem, John Brown’s Body, a Pulitzer Prize winning book (before the honor became un-burnished) worth every second of its reading.
It is in part my favorite because it is both beautiful in its spareness, and so heavy with the mortality and human frailty that each of us lives with today.
If you take a flat map
And move wooden blocks upon it strategically,
The thing looks well, the blocks behave as they should.
The science of war is moving live men like blocks.
And getting the blocks into place at a fixed moment.
But it takes time to mold your men into blocks
And flat maps turn into country where creeks and gullies
Hamper your wooden squares. They stick in the brush,
They are tired and rest, they straggle after ripe blackberries,
And you cannot lift them up in your hand and move them.
It is all so clear in the maps, so clear in the mind,
But the orders are slow, the men in the blocks are slow
To move, when they start they take too long on the way -
The General loses his stars, and the block-men die
In unstrategic defiance of martial law
Because still used to just being men, not block parts.
It is also my favorite because when I first read it, 20 years ago, I finished the passage, leaned back, and said to myself, “It’s all about people.” And that was the first moment I knew I would do what I’m doing right now.
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April 28th, 2006 at 2:23 am
Absolutely!
I call it ‘the riddle of the stones’.
April 28th, 2006 at 5:41 am
Great Podcast! Have your promo in our lineup of promos to play!!
April 28th, 2006 at 9:59 am
Matthew-
Okay, I’ll bite: why do you call it that?
Mark
April 30th, 2006 at 5:10 am
hi this is salem from Kuwait i really really like your show and i am telling all my frind about your podcast i
i tryed the meeting and it work very good and i am starting the one o one next week
i used the ipod to listen to your podcat so how can i listen to your regestered podcast i really like the work that you are doing it and i hope that i will stick to it as you say good manager is not a saxy job it is boring and it work with repttion
thanks
salem
April 30th, 2006 at 6:57 pm
Salem-
What a kind note! Thank you.
If you’re asking how to get our registered casts, just click on the “Registered Users Podcasts links, on our main page, top left, or here:
http://www.manager-tools.com/registered-users-podcasts/
That will let you sign up.
I forwarded your note to my family, to let them know what wonderful things happen thanks to the internet. Glad you’re a listener.
Mark
May 1st, 2006 at 2:54 pm
WOW you reply to me , Thanks
i am a registered but how can i listen to the spical registered editions with my ipod
May 1st, 2006 at 6:32 pm
Salem-
Ha! We’re just regular guys, honestly. You’re a member, and we’re here to help as best we can. It’s a privilege to be asked.
I’ve asked Mike to respond to your technical question…
Mark
May 1st, 2006 at 9:22 pm
Mark,
Thank you for sharing this wonderful quote….
But, what a joy it is when you and your tired men have crossed the rugged ground and achieved a great goal together. When it’s over, everyone will soon long for the struggle again.
- Fin
May 2nd, 2006 at 12:04 pm
Salem,
If you go to the link Mark provided (http://www.manager-tools.com/registered-users-podcasts/), you’ll find specific directions on how to add the registered members podcast feed to iTunes.
Please let me know if you run into any issues!
thanks,
Mike
May 2nd, 2006 at 3:25 pm
Thanks ya your are right the magic was to read the upper lines in the page
it is working know thanks
May 8th, 2006 at 2:27 pm
Great quote!
I have been on a personal quest to learn to look at people as people and not as objects, competition, or obstacles. Thank your for so freely sharing your wisdom.
Another personal quest is to get a list of Horstman’s laws out of you.
May 8th, 2006 at 11:15 pm
jmichael-
Our pleasure. And maybe you won’t have to wait too much longer.
Mark
June 16th, 2006 at 9:01 am
I’ve been listening to your podcasts on my morning and afternoon commute for a few weeks and have already been able to improve my one on one’s, my meetings and my communication with others. Next? Feedback and coaching. We have a great manager bootcamp program through our company and I have found your podcasts to be a tremendous help to take that knowledge even further. Thank you for helping managers everywhere.
Now how about the book? I’m enjoying the ones you’ve mentioned but at some point you’ve got to do it!
June 16th, 2006 at 4:12 pm
Nick-
Thanks for the kind words. Mike and I are glad that we’re delivering value for you.
Re: the book: well, I am doing it. I promise. There’s a gestation period, is all.
Mark