The importance of discretion increases with closeness to the top of a hierarchical organization.

A great idea is not enough.

The goal of winning is not losing two times in a row.

Confidence makes you willing to try harder and attracts the kind of support from others that makes "winning" possible.

The Martha Stewart trial makes clear how far women have risen in the business world. America can be proud of our equal-opportunity prosecution and conviction.

Sometimes you lose - perhaps because you play against the very best, or because surprises happen - but if there is organizational confidence, you bounce back from losses and convert them to successes.

One of the symptoms of a losing streak is a turnover of top executives. It's a revolving door.