[Vnbiz] Leadership -- A little more on Honesty
AD Marshall
admarshall at gmail.com
Fri Jul 27 03:47:15 PDT 2007
Dear Tea,
For me, this has gotten to be a really scary thread now. About Ronnie
RayGun (remember the StarWars missile defence cockamamie?), about the actor
who got to play POTUS, live -- despite his publicly aired comments that
blatantly revealed both his ignorance and personal irresponsibility, like
'Trees pollute more than factories', and jokes like, 'Maybe i should just
press that darned button now and deal with those danged Ruskies away once
and for all' (i paraphrase both) -- i'll only add:
1. While i lived in Canada, RayGun ended my semi-annual visits to the
US -- too idealistically, i boycotted as much as i could that had anything
to do with the US. But despite my excessive idealism of those days,
RayGun's tenures still made a lasting impression on me: those years
completely convinced me that the US political system perpetuates its own
internecine corruption and that the US corporate leadership had long ago
succeeded in dumbing down the majority of the US population, most likely to
perpetuate endless unquestioning consumerism;
2. On the other hand, my father used to tell me, "Even if you could
conclusively prove once and for all that God does not exist, you wouldn't be
doing most Christians a favor". Some folks need to live with their
delusions; and,
3. In that vein, i'm glad Brother Hoanh has shifted from this thread
to his expansion on compassion in leadership. I personally do need more
lessons in compassion. Sorry about the preceding comments. Sorry. Sorry...
4. Re Gorbachev, too, see Bro' Craig's post. Oops. Sorry, again.
On 7/27/07, Tea (Tuy-Phuong) LeTran <tealetran at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> [ Vietnam Business Forum ]
>
>
> Dear Andi,
>
> Much thanks for the info. Should I say history already speak for itself,
> Andi :-) ? The facts that Mr. Reagan and Mr. Gorbachev are the men of their
> words, they're devoted family men, they didn't cheat on their wives, their
> children and their grandchildren. They had good visions for their countries
> and the world, and performed to the best of their abilities during their
> time in offices. They had enough wisdom, courage, compassion for others, to
> the point they're willing to put their differences on the side and tried to
> work together to bring to an end of an armsrace and a long cold war
> potentially can destroy mankind. This is what greatness is all about isn't
> it ?
>
> Look at how many people, or countries for that matter, continued to
> benefits from their works in this brutal world today ? Both men, with
> impeccable reputations, still are well love and respect through out the
> world by a majority of people at present time, also very much speaking for
> itself, Andi.
>
> There are simply too many publications about these two men for me to list
> here for you, but I would refer you to the Google search if you're interest
> in read more about them.
>
> Good day Andi. Please be well and be safe.
>
> TP
>
>
>
>
> On 7/25/07, AD Marshall <admarshall at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > [ Vietnam Business Forum ]
> >
> >
> >
> > Dear Tea,
> >
> > I can empathize. But if you'd like some interesting insights into
> > Gorbachev and Reagan, pick up Robert Littel's book "The Company - A story of
> > the CIA", factually based fiction. Very entertaining and enlightening about
> > the Kennedys, Yeltsin, CIA and KGB, too.
> >
> > With warm wishes,
> > Andi
> >
> >
> > On 7/25/07, Tea (Tuy-Phuong) LeTran <tealetran at gmail.com > wrote:
> > >
> > > [ Vietnam Business Forum ]
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Dear CACC,
> > >
> > > It is very disturbing to see Bill Clinton being glorified for his
> > > slyness and cockiness. If you really take a good look at the world
> > > today, how many role models leaders can we count on our fingers to look up
> > > to ?
> > >
> > > May I suggest if we really want to be good role models for the younger
> > > generations to be come great leaders in the future, we should start right
> > > now, right here, first and foremost, to TRAIN OURSELVES (TU THA^N) to be
> > > self discipline - to restrain ourselves from thinking/saying/doing
> > > unethical/immoral things. Second, to MANAGE OUR FAMILIES (TE^` GIA)
> > > with integrity and respect. Third, may be then, we can go out to GOVERN OUR
> > > COUNTRIES (TRI. QUO^'C) with a good vision. Fourth, and then, may be we can
> > > go to PACIFY/RULE THE WORLD (BI`NH THIE^N HA.) with harmony and peace. You
> > > can analyzed and debated all you want, but without anybody starting from
> > > somewhere with good principles and values, there are no hope for our
> > > children, and our children's children in the future in this world.
> > >
> > > Truly, there are so many different kind of leaders in this world - so
> > > so leaders, good leaders, and great leaders. Case in point for great
> > > leaders of the word, Mikhail Gorbachev and Ronald Reagan. The question
> > > is what kind of a leader we would like to be ? and what kind of a leader we
> > > would like to see in the future for our youngsters ? The choice is yours !
> > >
> > > Great day everyone. Be well and be safe.
> > >
> > > TP
> > >
> > >
> > > On 7/24/07, Craig Stevenson <cstevenson2000 at gmail.com > wrote:
> > > >
> > > > [ Vietnam Business Forum ]
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Hoanh:
> > > >
> > > > Agreed. Of course honesty is paramount. When Bill Clinton said
> > > > that he did not have "sexual relations with that woman" was he not simply
> > > > choosing his words carefully as the respected litigator would. After all,
> > > > no one says sexual relations, in these days, and "sexual relations" in the
> > > > biblical sense would be intercourse, not what went on between Mr Clinton and
> > > > Ms Lewinsky.
> > > >
> > > > So, as a lawyer, it might be that he chose his words carefully. But
> > > > of course the person deposing him did a bad job of it, and Mr Clinton can
> > > > state that he didn't lie by the nature of his answer. Of course, to the
> > > > common person we knew what they were asking and little understood his
> > > > answer. Frankly I thought it was brilliant. As a lawyer he answered a
> > > > totally different question. A point missed by many people. But a lie, in
> > > > actuality no, by intent, perhaps, yes.
> > > >
> > > > Frankly it was a question that shouldn't have been asked but for an
> > > > over-zealous and moralizing opposing party. Would I do what he did? No.
> > > > But then I wouldn't sacrifice my life to take on such a job; to work to
> > > > become a president of a nation. Frankly the question shouldn't have been
> > > > asked. Francois Mitterand used to attend the Opera with his Mistress
> > > > openly. Was it wrong for him to do what he did, in my book yes. Will I
> > > > crucify him for it, no...my morality has no pneumonal, and I believe in the
> > > > phenomenal. Plain and simple, his personal life is none of my business. I
> > > > am sad that we Americans have forgotten this core value of our culture.
> > > > Private is Private. Ms Lewinsky consented, plain and simple, and had to be
> > > > outed by an ambitious and jaded public employee. I feel that person did
> > > > more wrong than Mr Clinton.
> > > >
> > > > Craig
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > On 7/23/07, Tran Dinh Hoanh <tdhoanh at gmail.com > wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > [ Vietnam Business Forum ]
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > Dear CACC,
> > > > >
> > > > > There is this important point that I need to add on Honesty. Of
> > > > > course, dishonesty annoys me; but that is personal preference. That is not
> > > > > the point.
> > > > >
> > > > > As far as a leader is concerned, honesty is the MOST important
> > > > > ingredient to build the SOLIDITY of your organization. Honesty is the
> > > > > cement of your building.
> > > > >
> > > > > Say, you have 12 close lieutenants who are in your inner-most
> > > > > circle. These lieutenants see that you cheat on taxes (i.e., lying
> > > > > to your government), you lie (including white lies) to your customers, you
> > > > > lie outright to your competitors, what do they think about you? Probably
> > > > > not much, "just normal business" you would think. And you're probably
> > > > > right.
> > > > >
> > > > > But more often than not, when there is something tense in the air,
> > > > > some little disagreement between you and one of the lieutenants, something a
> > > > > bit out of ordinary, and you say something, then most of your lieutenants
> > > > > would think: "I wonder if he is telling us the truth?" And that kind of
> > > > > thinking trickles down to the entire organization through the management
> > > > > echelon.
> > > > >
> > > > > When your people are skeptical that way, your organization cannot
> > > > > be solid, cannot be strong. In some serious cases, it may immediately put
> > > > > the organization on deathbed, because it becomes so fragile and brittle. It
> > > > > can be broken easily. (That is why mafia organizations usually die the
> > > > > sudden death).
> > > > >
> > > > > When your people believe in your words, because they know that you
> > > > > are honest, they will be more open and honest to you, and you will have
> > > > > better and more accurate information and cooperation from your people to
> > > > > plan and to execute your plans.
> > > > >
> > > > > (Bill Clinton knows this point, so he did not volunteer to the
> > > > > world that he lies. He wanted everyone to believe that he was honest. It
> > > > > just didn't happen the way he wanted).
> > > > >
> > > > > If someone tells me that he lies and cheats often, including the
> > > > > so-called white lies, and can build a strong long-lasting organization, I
> > > > > know that he is lying to me. You cannot be competent if you are dishonest,
> > > > > because it is impossible to build a strong organization without honesty.
> > > > >
> > > > > In the short-term, yes, you can lie and do something big, because
> > > > > you can fool people into believing in your honesty in the short term. But
> > > > > in the long-term, lies have their way to rise up to the surface and destroy
> > > > > your organization.
> > > > >
> > > > > Another note, most people make the mistake that they can lie
> > > > > freely to their enemies. My observation is that when you lie to your
> > > > > enemies, your lieutenants may ask whether you lie to them when you may be
> > > > > unhappy about them. Lies, whatever kind of lie, always come back to hurt
> > > > > you. In my profession as a courtroom litigator, the best lawyers in the
> > > > > profession with the best reputation of winning cases are very honest and
> > > > > careful about their words. Their honesty reputation plays a big role in
> > > > > helping them win cases, because all the judges and their opponents trust
> > > > > their words.
> > > > >
> > > > > Have a great day!
> > > > >
> > > > > Hoanh
> > > > > --
> > > > > Tran Dinh Hoanh, LLB, JD
> > > > > Washington DC
> > > > >
> > > > > _______________________________________________
> > > > > To subscribe/unsubscribe, please contact admins at
> > > > > vnbizadmin at vietlinks.net
> > > > > Info at http://mail.saigon.com/mailman/listinfo/vnbiz
> > > > > Archive at
> > > > > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vnbiz/
> > > > > or http://groups-beta.google.com/group/VNBIZforum/
> > > > > or http://mail.saigon.com/pipermail/vnbiz
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > > _______________________________________________
> > > > To subscribe/unsubscribe, please contact admins at
> > > > vnbizadmin at vietlinks.net
> > > > Info at http://mail.saigon.com/mailman/listinfo/vnbiz
> > > > Archive at
> > > > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vnbiz/
> > > > or http://groups-beta.google.com/group/VNBIZforum/
> > > > or http://mail.saigon.com/pipermail/vnbiz
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > > --
> > > Tea (Tuy-Phuong) LeTran
> > >
> > > Form is not different from Void, Void is not different from Form
> > > Form is Void, Void is Form
> > > (The Great-Wisdom-Beyond-Wisdom Heart Sutra)
> > >
> > > Sa('c ba^'t di. Kho^ng, Kho^ng ba^'t di. Sa('c
> > > Sa('c tu+'c thi. Kho^ng, Kho^ng tu+'c thi. Sa('c
> > > ( Ba't Nha~ Ta^m Kinh )
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > To subscribe/unsubscribe, please contact admins at
> > > vnbizadmin at vietlinks.net
> > > Info at http://mail.saigon.com/mailman/listinfo/vnbiz
> > > Archive at
> > > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vnbiz/
> > > or http://groups-beta.google.com/group/VNBIZforum/
> > > or http://mail.saigon.com/pipermail/vnbiz
> > >
> > >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > To subscribe/unsubscribe, please contact admins at
> > vnbizadmin at vietlinks.net
> > Info at http://mail.saigon.com/mailman/listinfo/vnbiz
> > Archive at
> > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vnbiz/
> > or http://groups-beta.google.com/group/VNBIZforum/
> > or http://mail.saigon.com/pipermail/vnbiz
> >
> >
>
>
> --
> Tea (Tuy-Phuong) LeTran
>
> Form is not different from Void, Void is not different from Form
> Form is Void, Void is Form
> (The Great-Wisdom-Beyond-Wisdom Heart Sutra)
>
> Sa('c ba^'t di. Kho^ng, Kho^ng ba^'t di. Sa('c
> Sa('c tu+'c thi. Kho^ng, Kho^ng tu+'c thi. Sa('c
> ( Ba't Nha~ Ta^m Kinh )
> _______________________________________________
> To subscribe/unsubscribe, please contact admins at
> vnbizadmin at vietlinks.net
> Info at http://mail.saigon.com/mailman/listinfo/vnbiz
> Archive at
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vnbiz/
> or http://groups-beta.google.com/group/VNBIZforum/
> or http://mail.saigon.com/pipermail/vnbiz
>
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://mail.saigon.com/pipermail/vnbiz/attachments/20070727/bf38f7cc/attachment.html
More information about the Vnbiz
mailing list