Inspiration is what I need from time to time… I have found it in the following.
Books…
The Holy Bible… This is the most ancient Holy book about people their problems and how they reacted to these problems. It is truly the book about life.
Plato… The allegory of the cave.
Thucydides… the political speeches…
How I raised myself from failure to Success,by Frank Bettger. This book was given to me by Southwestern Publishing Company sales training program in 1968.
Life is Tremendous The Seven Laws of Leadership, by Charles “Tremendous” Jones. I found this book on a chair in a room after Mr. Jones had spoke at the Ramada Inn Downtown in Tuscaloosa. This is great book; it gave me a simple values on life leadership that goes to my spirit.
Ben Franklin, by Carl Van Doren… I think Ben Franklin is the reason we are Americans without his efforts we could never have financed our Revolution.
Democracy in America… Alexis De Tocqueville a Frenchman’s profound view of our country in the 1830’s.
The Plateauing Trap… Dr. Judith Bardwick how to work through the Plateauing of your career.
I am OK you are OK… Thomas A. Harris M.D. transactional analysis; how we relate to each other through conversation.
How to Win Friends and Influence People… How to Stop Worrying and Start Living… How to Develop Self-Confidence And Influence People By Public Speaking… Dale Carnegie simple books about complicated subjects.
Personal Memoirs… Ulysses S. Grant… the story of the “cracker line” is what true leadership is about… seeing a way through a problem.
Reminiscences of the Civil War… John Brown Gordon… What courage is about
A Soldier’s Story… Omar Bradley… this is a great book on WWII written by a great hero of our country.
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People… Principle Centered Leadership… First Things First… Stephen S. Covey. I enjoyed each; but, for me I really enjoyed First Things First… this is the struggle of most first line managers.
Napoleon Bonaparte…Alan Schom… how one man can change history.
The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich…William L. Shirer. How Germany was like boiling a frog… The takeover of Germany by Hitler seem right and justified until the people became trapped.
Steven Jobs… Walter Isaacson… the look at the icon of the computer industry and how he changed that business.
Movies…
Patton… the strengths and weakness of leadership on a grand stage, shown in a grand style.
It’s a Wonderful Life… This shows how a humble man can have an impact his community … even though he can not see his impact.
Speeches…
The man in the Arena… Theodore Roosevelt.
Farewell Address… President George Washington what he wanted for America and felt important.
Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address.
George S. Patton speech to his troops on June 5,1944 in England before their invasion of Europe.
