Comments on: The Leader’s Oracle http://www.peakhistory.com/2009/08/12/theleadersoracle/ A blog about leaders who achieved the pinnacle of success Tue, 13 Dec 2011 03:26:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Marguerite Granat http://www.peakhistory.com/2009/08/12/theleadersoracle/comment-page-1/#comment-32 Marguerite Granat Wed, 19 Aug 2009 16:12:52 +0000 http://www.peakhistory.com/2009/08/12/alexander-the-great-hdr-mono/#comment-32 Rachelle, yes, great leaders have a single minded determination around their vision. Thanks again for your great comments! Keep them coming! Marguerite Rachelle, yes, great leaders have a single minded determination around their vision. Thanks again for your great comments! Keep them coming! Marguerite

]]> By: Marguerite Granat http://www.peakhistory.com/2009/08/12/theleadersoracle/comment-page-1/#comment-31 Marguerite Granat Wed, 19 Aug 2009 16:02:14 +0000 http://www.peakhistory.com/2009/08/12/alexander-the-great-hdr-mono/#comment-31 Rick, great comment and I agree with your concept of "arrogance of vision", the ability to drive that vision without caring what people think. In terms of Alexander's education he was taught by Aristotle. Alexander even went far beyond Aristotle in his approach to diversity and multicultural integration. Aristotle believed that the Greeks were superior to other groups. If the authors are not exaggerating, they mention that Alexander wanted to integrate the cultures of the countries he conquered and did not believe the Greeks were superior to others. If this is true, Alexander is definitely an enigma as you said in your comment. Thanks again for visiting, and please come back! Marguerite Rick, great comment and I agree with your concept of “arrogance of vision”, the ability to drive that vision without caring what people think. In terms of Alexander’s education he was taught by Aristotle. Alexander even went far beyond Aristotle in his approach to diversity and multicultural integration. Aristotle believed that the Greeks were superior to other groups. If the authors are not exaggerating, they mention that Alexander wanted to integrate the cultures of the countries he conquered and did not believe the Greeks were superior to others. If this is true, Alexander is definitely an enigma as you said in your comment. Thanks again for visiting, and please come back! Marguerite

]]> By: Richard J. Polo, Jr. http://www.peakhistory.com/2009/08/12/theleadersoracle/comment-page-1/#comment-30 Richard J. Polo, Jr. Wed, 19 Aug 2009 15:45:23 +0000 http://www.peakhistory.com/2009/08/12/alexander-the-great-hdr-mono/#comment-30 As a retired U.S. Army officer, we spend a lifetime studying the great military officers (including the bad ones too) such as Lee, Grant, Eisenhower, MacArthur, Patton, on and on, for the obvious reasons. But, Alexander is an enigma … almost in a class by himself … a true probabilistic outlier. The enormity of his achievements defy explanation and they are almost hard to believe. Did the ancient authors exaggerate? And Alexander accomplished all that you noted while in his twenty’s! I don’t recall that he earned any “advanced” University degrees in leadership and his “formal” training was rather scant; West Point and Sandhurst didn’t exist! I think he might be an example of someone who had an “Arrogance of Vision.” He most certainly wasn’t an arrogant man to his followers or solders who virtually worshipped him. But he absolutely BELIEVED he could accomplish ANY vision. And conquering the known world during his time was most certainly quite an accomplishment for here we are, thousands of years later, still discussing it. Perhaps having an “Arrogance of Vision” is a prerequisite to being a great leader? Today, 19 August 2009, the newspaper headlines discuss Brett Favre’s return to football with yet a new, different team. Favre needs no introduction to anyone who has ever followed football these last two decades. His leadership and exploits off and on the football field are almost legendary and his selection as a future Hall of Famer is certain. But the reason he is still in the newspapers is because the vast majority of football fans don’t want him to “besmirch” his reputation. They want to remember him at the top of his game leading Green Bay to multiple Super Bowl victories from behind. But, the reason that Brett Favre is a GREAT quarterback is PRECISELY why he will play again; he, seemingly, refuses to acknowledge that his best years are behind him. Favre doesn’t care what people think …. he knows he can still contribute on the gridiron … he is motivated to play … no fiber in his body allows him to quit … being concerned with his legacy is a laughable thought. In short, he is CONVINCED that he is NOT JUST the latest, greatest athlete that refuses to retire when nature comes a’ knocking. He BELIEVES he will PROVE us all wrong; it’s an Arrogance of Vision … which is exactly why he is a great leader. As a retired U.S. Army officer, we spend a lifetime studying the great military officers (including the bad ones too) such as Lee, Grant, Eisenhower, MacArthur, Patton, on and on, for the obvious reasons. But, Alexander is an enigma … almost in a class by himself … a true probabilistic outlier. The enormity of his achievements defy explanation and they are almost hard to believe. Did the ancient authors exaggerate? And Alexander accomplished all that you noted while in his twenty’s! I don’t recall that he earned any “advanced” University degrees in leadership and his “formal” training was rather scant; West Point and Sandhurst didn’t exist!

I think he might be an example of someone who had an “Arrogance of Vision.” He most certainly wasn’t an arrogant man to his followers or solders who virtually worshipped him. But he absolutely BELIEVED he could accomplish ANY vision. And conquering the known world during his time was most certainly quite an accomplishment for here we are, thousands of years later, still discussing it.
Perhaps having an “Arrogance of Vision” is a prerequisite to being a great leader?

Today, 19 August 2009, the newspaper headlines discuss Brett Favre’s return to football with yet a new, different team. Favre needs no introduction to anyone who has ever followed football these last two decades. His leadership and exploits off and on the football field are almost legendary and his selection as a future Hall of Famer is certain. But the reason he is still in the newspapers is because the vast majority of football fans don’t want him to “besmirch” his reputation. They want to remember him at the top of his game leading Green Bay to multiple Super Bowl victories from behind. But, the reason that Brett Favre is a GREAT quarterback is PRECISELY why he will play again; he, seemingly, refuses to acknowledge that his best years are behind him.

Favre doesn’t care what people think …. he knows he can still contribute on the gridiron … he is motivated to play … no fiber in his body allows him to quit … being concerned with his legacy is a laughable thought. In short, he is CONVINCED that he is NOT JUST the latest, greatest athlete that refuses to retire when nature comes a’ knocking. He BELIEVES he will PROVE us all wrong; it’s an Arrogance of Vision … which is exactly why he is a great leader.

]]> By: Rachelle Dillon http://www.peakhistory.com/2009/08/12/theleadersoracle/comment-page-1/#comment-28 Rachelle Dillon Sun, 16 Aug 2009 02:57:37 +0000 http://www.peakhistory.com/2009/08/12/alexander-the-great-hdr-mono/#comment-28 Thanks Marguerite- yet another brilliant, concise, thought provoking post. You continue to bat 1,000. As I read this it reminded me of some of our greatest athletes and when they "play out of their mind" their play becomes almost surreal. The ability to engage and disengage mind, ego, and intuition at will I think is another related hallmark of the best leaders. Some of the most inspiring words i've ever spoken seem to have come from somebody else and often when I'm in that groove I cannot repeat what I has said a moment before. Whole industries have risen around discerning our destined paths- astrology to name one. To get this information from a parent, then to feel aligned with that message such as Alexanders case I think is rare. Thanks Marguerite- yet another brilliant, concise, thought provoking post. You continue to bat 1,000. As I read this it reminded me of some of our greatest athletes and when they “play out of their mind” their play becomes almost surreal. The ability to engage and disengage mind, ego, and intuition at will I think is another related hallmark of the best leaders. Some of the most inspiring words i’ve ever spoken seem to have come from somebody else and often when I’m in that groove I cannot repeat what I has said a moment before.
Whole industries have risen around discerning our destined paths- astrology to name one. To get this information from a parent, then to feel aligned with that message such as Alexanders case I think is rare.

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