I am reminded how hollow the label of leadership sometimes is and how heroic followership can be.

See the long view: By all means "plant the corn, milk the cows, and feed the horses" but always keep the eventual "harvest" in mind.

A new leader has to be able to change an organization that is dreamless, soulless and visionless... someone's got to make a wake up call.

The learning person looks forward to failure or mistakes. The worst problem in leadership is basically early success.

Embrace error: Create an atmosphere in which prudent risk taking is strongly encouraged.

The American Heritage Dictionary defines crucible as "a place, time, or situation characterized by the confluence of powerful intellectual, social, economic, or political forces; a severe test of patience or belief; a vessel for melting material at high temperatures." A crucible was the vessel in which medieval alchemists attempted to turn base metals into gold. That the alchemists inevitably failed in their audacious attempts doesn't denigrate the power of the crucible as a metaphor for the circumstances that cause an individual to be utterly transformed.

One of the qualities that all the leaders have is a voracious appetite to learn whatever they do not as yet know and understand, coupled with an openness to new experiences.