That’s a great one John. Fortunately for Leonardo, he could do just about anything. 🙂

Thanks Dan! Those are great! And yes, I think the “control what you can” came from something the speaker said at an adviser forum in New York. I couldn’t remember his name, so I quoted Wooden. 🙂

So, here’s a list I put together a couple years ago (mostly from a job perspective, but many carry over into life overall):
1. Check your assumptions- always gather facts, never assume anything; assumptions can get you in trouble.
2. How many do you need to communicate with? N + 1. There’s always one more person to communicate with or loop into a discussion so figure out who that is.
3. Collaboration accomplishes more than individualism.
4. Consider and plan for the long term. Don’t do things just to get you ahead right now.
5. Know your customer and watch out for their best interests. Doing that will lead to success in other areas.
6. In everything integrity is the priority.
7. If you surround yourself with top quality people, even working at the lowest common denominator means that you have high performance.
8. In all, act with true humility. None of us are successful solely because of what we have done. It is through others’ contributions and because of the trust that others have chosen to put in us. There’s no room for pride or self-centeredness.
9. When providing correction, speak directly, articulating facts, but without a confrontational attitude. Others may be more open to your feedback and they don’t leave beaten up.
10. Always set clear expectations. If expecations aren’t met, clearly set expectations make it easier to provide correction.
11. Helping someone see your point of view is more easily done through asking questions than telling them what to think. Questions can lead people down a path to draw their own conclusions, often consistent with yours, but with more ownership.
12. Do a cost/benefit analysis. If the benefit doesn’t justify the cost, typically, don’t do it.
13. Do your research; know what you’re talking about; be prepared to respond to others’ questions.
14. Don’t rush to get something done. It is better to sacrifice time than to sacrifice quality. Be known for quality, not for being on the cutting edge.