Leadership Philosophy - Peter Koestenbaum

Peter Koestenbaum, Ph.D., founder and Chairman of PiB.Net and the Koestenbaum Institute, brings leadership philosophy to business people globally. He has been close to business executives and their deepest concerns, sharing with them insights and feelings, new perspectives and more serviceable adaptations.

“The best leaders operate in four dimensions: vision, reality, ethics and courage. These are the four intelligences, the four forms of perceiving, the languages for communicating that are required to achieve meaningful, sustained results. The visionary leader thinks big, thinks new, thinks ahead – and most important, is in touch with the deep structure of human consciousness and creative potential. You must gain control over the patterns that govern your mind: your world view, your beliefs about what you deserve and about what’s possible. That’s the zone of fundamental change, strength, and energy – and the true meaning of courage.”

– Peter Koestenbaum

7 Fundamental Character Traits to Succeed

1 Passion

Consuming obsessive purpose to do what they do, to grow and to be more. Gives them the

fuel that powers their success train and causes them to tap their true potential. Causes

people to stay late and leave early; passion what people want in relationships; passion gives

life power, juice and meaning; passion to be the best.

2 Belief

Huge power and effect of faith and belief on mankind. Our belief in what we are and what we

can be will determine what we will be. If we believe in magic, we will live a magical life. If we

believe our life is defined by limits, they will be defined by limits. What we believe is true and

possible will become what is true and possible.

People who succeed know what they want and believe that they can get it.

Passion and belief provides the fuel and propulsion towards excellence!

3. Strategy

Way of organising resources to achieve goal. What one needs and what one needs to do to

achieve the goal. One needs the resources and use it in an effective way. The best talents

and ambitions need to find the right avenue.

4 Clarity of Values

Fundamental, ethical and moral judgements we make about what’s important. A belief

system. Judgements on what makes life worth living. 1, 2 and 4 are interactive. If 1 and 2 do

not conform with your values, the goal will not be fulfilled.

5 Energy

Physical vitality to take action. Physical, intellectual and spiritual energy to take action to

make the most of what we have. Need to maximise physical vibrancy.

6 Bonding power

Ability to create and develop a rapport with different backgrounds and beliefs. Great

Successes are not on the world stage but in the recesses of your heart.

Need to form lasting, loving relationships with others.

7 Mastery of Communication

The way we communicate with others and ourselves will determine the quality of our lives. (eg

doing the washing – incidental activity as opposed to a bind).

People who shape our lives have an ability to communicate a vision, quest, joy or mission in a

way that creates a passion in you to share that vision. It is what makes a great parent, artist,

politician or teacher.

"The Oyster"

There once was an oyster

Whose story I tell,

Who found that some sand

Had got into his shell.

It was only a grain,

But it gave him great pain.

For oysters have feelings

Although they’re so plain.

Now, did he berate

The harsh working of fate

That had brought him

To such a deplorable state?

Did he curse at the government,

Cry for election,

And claim that the sea should

Have given him protection?

No – he sad to himself

As he lay on a shell,

Since I cannot remove it,

I shall try to improve it.

Now the years have rolled around,

As the years always do,

And he came to his ultimate

Destiny – stew.

And the small grain of sand

That had bothered him so

Was a beautiful pearl

All richly aglow.

Now the tale has a moral;

For isn’t it grand

What an oyster can do

With a morsel of sand?

What couldn’t we do

If we’d only begin

With some of the things

That get under our skin.

                               Author: Unknown

Stopwatch

All of us know the importance of time, at least conceptually. We all know that time and tide wait for no man. But do we really realise the importance of time? Here are three interesting perspectives on the importance of time that have been in circulation on internet for quite sometime. It’s worth reminding ourselves and reiterating our pledge to utilise this most important resource to the fullest.

Imagine there is a bank which credits your account each morning with $86,400, carries over no balance from day to day, allows you to keep no cash balance, and every evening cancels whatever part of the amount you had failed to use during the day.

What would you do?

Draw out every cent of course!

Every morning, it credits you with 86,400 seconds.

Every night it writes off, as lost, whatever of this you have failed to invest to good purpose.

It carries over no balance. It allows you no overdraft.

Each day it opens a new account for you.

Each night it burns the records of the day.

If you fail to use the day’s deposits, the loss is yours.

There’s no going back. There is no drawing against tomorrow.

You must live in the present on today’s deposits.

Invest it so as to get from it the utmost in health, happiness and success!

The Clock is running. Make most of today.

To realise the value of one year: Ask a student who has failed a final exam.

To realise the value of one month: Ask a mother who has given birth to a premature baby.

To realise the value of one week: Ask an editor of a weekly newspaper

To realise the value of one hour: Ask the lovers who are waiting to meet.

To realise the value of one minute: Ask the person who has missed the train, bus or plane.

To realise the value of one second: Ask a person who has survived an accident.

To realise the value of one millisecond: Ask the person who has won a silver medal in Olympics.

Yesterday is history.

Tomorrow is a mystery.

Today is a gift. That’s why it’s called the present.

PUT THE GLASS DOWN TODAY

Once Professor began his class by holding up a glass with some water in it. He held it up for all to see & asked the students “How much do you think this glass weighs?”

50gms!’….. ’100gms!’ …..’125 gms’ …the students answered.

“I really don’t know unless I weigh it,” said the professor, “but, my question is:

What would happen if I held it up like this for a few minutes?”…. .

‘Nothing’ …..the students said.

‘Ok what would happen if I held it up like this for an hour?’ the professor asked.

‘Your arm would begin to ache’ said one of the students

“You’re right, now what would happen if I held it for a day?”

“Your arm could go numb; you might have severe muscle stress & paralysis & have to go to hospital for sure!”

….. Ventured another student & all the students laughed

“Very good.

But during all this, did the weight of the glass change?” asked the professor.

‘No’…. Was the answer.

“Then what caused the arm ache & the muscle stress?”

The students were puzzled.

“What should I do now to come out of pain?” asked professor again.

“Put the glass down!” said one of the students

“Exactly!” said the professor.

Life’s problems are something like this.

Hold it for a few minutes in your head & they seem OK.

Think of them for a long time & they begin to ache.

Hold it even longer & they begin to paralyze you. You will not be able to do anything.

It’s important to think of the challenges or problems in your life, But EVEN MORE IMPORTANT is to ‘PUT THEM DOWN’ at the end of every day before you go to sleep…

That way, you are not stressed, you wake up every day fresh &strong & can handle any issue, any challenge that comes your way!