A leader's role is not to control people or stay on top of things, but rather to guide, energize and excite.

A good leader remains focused. Controlling your destination is better than being controlled by it

People always overestimate how complex business is. This isn't rocket science. We've chosen one of the world's simplest professions.

Face reality as it is, not as it was, or as you wish it were. Be candid with everyone. Don't manage, lead. Change before you have to. If you don't have a competitive advantage, don't compete. Control your own destiny, or someone else will.

Stretch targets energize. We have found that by reaching for what appears to be the impossible, we often actually do the impossible; and even when we don't quite make it, we inevitably wind up doing much better than we would have done.

Get the best player because whether it's soccer or whether it's anything else the team with the best players wins. So focus your energy on getting the best and getting rid of the weakest.

Not surprisingly, work-life moaners tend to be a phenomenon of below-average performers.