Colin Powell is an American elder statesman and a retired four-star general in the United States Army. Powell was born in Harlem as the son of Jamaican immigrants. During his military career, Powell also served as National Security Advisor, as Commander of the U.S. Army Forces Command and as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, holding the latter position during the Persian Gulf War. Powell was the first, and so far the only, African American to serve on the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He was the 65th United States Secretary of State, serving under U.S. President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2005, the first African American to serve in that position. May his quotes inspire you to work hard to make your dreams a reality.
1. “There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work and learning from failure.” Colin Powell
2. “Leadership is solving problems.” Colin Powell
3. “If you are going to achieve excellence in big things, you develop the habit in little matters. Excellence is not an exception, it is a prevailing attitude.” Colin Powell
4. “Surround yourself with people who take their work seriously, but not themselves, those who work hard and play hard.” Colin Powell
5. “Get mad, then get over it.” Colin Powell
6. “Great leaders are almost always great simplifiers, who can cut through argument, debate and doubt, to offer a solution everybody can understand.” Colin Powell
7. “Don’t let your ego get too close to your position so that if your position gets shot down, your ego doesn’t go with it.” Colin Powell
8. “It ain’t where you start in life, it’s where you end up, and what you did along the way.” Colin Powell
9. “It ain’t as bad as you think. It will look better in the morning.” Colin Powell
10. “Don’t bother people for help without first trying to solve the problem yourself.” Colin Powell
11. “Always show more kindness than seems necessary because the person receiving it needs it more than you will ever know.” Colin Powell
12. “Trust is the glue that holds people together and is the lubricant that keeps an organization moving forward.” Colin Powell
13. “Giving back involves a certain amount of giving up.” Colin Powell
14. “Always focus on the front windshield and not the rearview mirror.” Colin Powell
15. “Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier.” Colin Powell
16. “The best method of overcoming obstacles is the team method.” Colin Powell
17. “As a leader you set the tone for your entire team. Communicate your vision.” Colin Powell
18. “Look for intelligence and judgement and most critically, a capacity to anticipate, to see around corners. Also look for loyalty, integrity, a high energy drive, a balanced ego and the drive to get things done.” Colin Powell
19. “Never neglect details. When everyone’s mind is dulled or distracted the leader must be doubly vigilant.” Colin Powell
20. “Trying to get everyone to like you is a sign of mediocrity.” Colin Powell
21. “In other words, don’t expect to always be great. Disappointments, failures and setbacks are a normal part of the lifecycle of a unit or a company and what the leader has to do is constantly be up and say, we have a problem, let’s go and get it.” Colin Powell
22. “Faults are yours to fix, not to curse.” Colin Powell
23. “When we are debating an issue, loyalty means giving me your honest opinion, whether you think I’ll like it or not. Disagreement, at this stage, stimulates me. But once a decision has been made, the debate ends. From that point on, loyalty means executing the decision as if it were your own.” Colin Powell
24. “The healthiest competition occurs when average people win by putting above average effort.” Colin Powell
25. “Have a vision. Be demanding.” Colin Powell
26. “Only by attracting the best people will you accomplish great deeds.” Colin Powell
27. “In prosperity our friends know us. In adversity we know our friends.” Colin Powell
28. “None of us can change our yesterdays but all of us can change our tomorrows.” Colin Powell
29. “Treat people kindly. When you are kind to somebody and I don’t mean necessarily buddy-buddy, just show kindness and consideration. Show that people are worthy and you respect them and you are glad they’re with you.” Colin Powell
30. “The freedom to be your best means nothing unless you are willing to do your best.” Colin Powell
31. “Remain calm. Be kind.” Colin Powell
32. “Experts often possess more data than judgement.” Colin Powell
33. “Always do your best. Somebody is watching you.” Colin Powell
34. “I think whether you’re having setbacks or not, the role of a leader is to always display a winning attitude.” Colin Powell
