letters from leaders

Remixed by JOHN H. MOORE

Opportunity does not knock.You have to find it.

Summer RedstoneChairman, Viacom

p. 43

You create opportunities by performing, not

complaining.

Muriel SiebertFounder and CEO, Muriel Siebert & Co, Inc.

p. 49

Success is whatever makes you feel you’re living with

purpose.

Cathie BlackPresident, Hearst Magazines

p. 64

Leo Hindry Jr.Managing Partner, InterMedia Partners

p. 124

A great leader needs to love and respect people. He also

needs to be able to forgive himself and others. In other words, a

leadermust have “grace.”

James T. TurleyChairman and CEO, Ernst & Young

p. 147

You will never earn the respect of others unless they feel your respect first. And any success one achieves in the absence of

respect is shallow indeed.

Maria Razumich-ZecRVP and General Manager, The Peninsula Hotels

p. 154

Your reputation and integrity are everything. Follow through on what you say you’re going to do. Your credibility can only be built over time, and it is built

from the history of your words and actions.

True leadership must have follower-ship. Management styles can vary, but even an autocrat needs people who

believe and simply don’t follow from fear.

James D. Robinson, IIIGeneral Partner, RRE Ventures

p. 58

Howard J. RubensteinPresident, Rubenstein Associates, Inc.

p. 67

Be conscientious. A true leader pays attention to the details.

So sweat the small stuff.

Howard J. RubensteinPresident, Rubenstein Associates, Inc.

p. 67

At the same time, don’t just act as an order taker. Bring

your insights and ideas to the party.

Muriel SiebertFounder and CEO, Muriel Siebert & Co, Inc.

p. 93

Take stands. Take risks.Take responsibility.

William Harrison Jr.CEO, JP Morgan Chase

Have a view, go make something better, get skin in the game, care

about it, and take some risks along the

way. You shouldn’t take crazy risks,

but you should take risks all the time

to improve and to prove yourself.p. 25

Joseph H. FlomSr. Partner, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom

p. 71

You should recognize that criticism is not always a put down. If you take it to heart,

maybe it will guide the way you ought to be going.

Maurice “Hank” GreenbergCEO, C.V. Starr & Company

p. 78

If you can’t live through adversity, you’ll never be good at what you do. You have to live through the unfair things, and you have to develop the hide to

not let it bother you.

Maurice “Hank” GreenbergCEO, C.V. Starr & Company

p. 77

Whatever you choose to do, have passion for it. Stick with what you are good at, and if

you aren’t good at it, don’t do it. If you don’t have passion for

it, don’t do it.

He who does not believe in miracles is not a realist.

Anton RupertFounder, Rembrandt Group

p. 119

Leslie E. BainsCEO, Modern Asset Management

p. 128

A philosopher once said, “He who has a why to live can bear almost any how.” I would add,

“He who has a why to lead can bear

almost any trial.”

Farooq KathwariCEO, Ethan Allen

p. 157

I strongly believe that the responsibility of leadership is

to shape the debate—to practice and project the right

attributes—whether in a business enterprise, in our

society, and even in our religions.

Shelly LazarusCEO, Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide

p. 165

I urge you to do whatever it takes

to get yourself in a position where you love what you do,

where you care about what you do, where you want to inspire others, build great things, do

great deeds.

Shelly LazarusCEO, Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide

p. 165

Only then will you find true fulfillment. Only then will you be a brilliant leader.