Screening out peer pressure and conventional wisdom. It is so powerful, that most of us aren't even aware of how much it is influencing our decisions.

Education has been critical. First at Kansas and then at Harvard Business School. It helped me build the confidence that I could go out and do things in the world. It taught me to put myself in the shoes of a decision maker and figure out what I would do if I were in his/her shoes. This is why I am a big believer in education as a foundation for reaching your unique potential.

Personal relationships are often based on affection - professional relationships can have affection but they must have mutual understanding, trust and respect.

Why do leaders fail? Isolation and inability to learn. They are afraid to express doubt, admit vulnerability or seek advice from subordinates. Leaders must actively work to seek feedback and a reality check. They must be open to asking questions and framing issues. As the world becomes more complex and global, the risk of isolation becomes greater. The need for leaders to be open to learning becomes greater. Great leaders will need to ask the right questions and balance inquiry with advocacy.

The better strategy is to focus on strengths and surround yourself with people who can complement your skills. However, you have to first do the analysis.

Process improvement programs are like teaching people how to fish. Strategy maps and scorecards teach people where to fish.

Managing risk is very different from managing strategy. Risk management focuses on the negative-threats and failures rather than opportunities and successes.