Orrin Woodard of Team & George Washington's 5th Ten
Here are the next ten maxims of George Washington's "Rules of Civility and Decent Behaviour in Company and Conversation". Enjoy!

(Ferry Farm, c. 1744)

41st Undertake not to Teach your equal in the art himself Proffesses; it Savours of arrogancy.

42nd Let thy ceremonies in Courtesie be proper to the Dignity of his place [with whom thou conversest for it is absurd to act the same with a Clown and a Prince.

43rd Do not express Joy before one sick or in pain for that contrary Passion will aggravate his Misery.

44th When a man does all he can though it Succeeds not well blame not him that did it.

45th Being to advise or reprehend any one, consider whether it ought to be in publick or in Private; presently, or at Some other time in what terms to do it & in reproving Shew no Sign of Cholar but do it with all Sweetness and Mildness.

46th Take all Admonitions thankfully in what Time or Place Soever given but afterwards not being culpable take a Time and Place convenient to let him him know it that gave them.

47th Mock not nor Jest at any thing of Importance break no Jest that are Sharp Biting and if you Deliver any thing witty and Pleasent abtain from Laughing thereat yourself.
48th Wherein you reprove Another be unblameable yourself; for example is more prevalent than Precepts.

49th Use no Reproachfull Language against any one neither Curse nor Revile.

50th Be not hasty to beleive flying Reports to the Disparagement of any.


Another powerful ten.  I see Orrin Woodward throughout.

Orrin Woodward of Team & George Washingtons's Maxims
Here are the next ten maxims of George Washington's "Rules of Civility and Decent Behaviour in Company and Conversation".

(Ferry Farm, c. 1744)

31st If any one far Surpassess others, either in age, Estate, or Merit [yet] would give Place to a meaner than himself in his own lodging or elsewhere the one ought not to except it, So he on the other part should not use much earnestness nor offer] it above once or twice.

32d: To one that is your equal, or not much inferior you are to give the cheif Place in your Lodging and he to who 'tis offered ought at the first to refuse it but at the Second to accept though not without acknowledging his own unworthiness.

33d They that are in Dignity or in office have in all places Preceedency but whilst they are Young they ought to respect those that are their equals in Birth or other Qualitys, though they have no Publick charge.

34th It is good Manners to prefer them to whom we Speak before ourselves especially if they be above us with whom in no Sort we ought to begin.

35th Let your Discourse with Men of Business be Short and Comprehensive.

36th Artificers & Persons of low Degree ought not to use many ceremonies to Lords, or Others of high Degree but Respect and highly Honour them, and those of high Degree ought to treat them with affibility & Courtesie, without Arrogancy.

37th In Speaking to men of Quality do not lean nor Look them full in the Face, nor approach too near them at lest Keep a full Pace from them.

38th In visiting the Sick, do not Presently play the Physicion if you be not Knowing therein.

39th In writing or Speaking, give to every Person his due Title According to his Degree & the Custom of the Place.

40th Strive not with your Superiers in argument, but always Submit your Judgment to others with Modesty.

Hope you are enjoying these as much as Orrin Woodward, co-author of "Leading the Consumer Rebellion" and "Launching a Leadership Revolution" has!

Orrin Woodard of Team & George Washington's Maxims
Here are the next ten maxims of George Washington's "Rules of Civility and Decent Behaviour in Company and Conversation". I hope you enjoy them!

(Ferry Farm, c. 1744)

21st Reproach none for the infirmities of Nature, nor Delight to Put them that have in mind thereof.

22d Shew not yourself glad at the Misfortune of another though he were your enemy.

23d When you see a Crime punished, you may be inwardly Pleased; but always shew Pity to the Suffering Offender.

24th Do not laugh too loud or too much at any Publick Spectacle.

25th Superfluous Complements and all Affectation of Ceremonie are to be avoided, yet where due they are not to be Neglected.

26th In Pulling off your Hat to Persons of Distinction, as Noblemen, Justices, Churchmen &c make a Reverence, bowing more or less according to the Custom of the Better Bred, and Quality of the Person. Amongst your equals expect not always that they Should begin with you first, but to Pull off the Hat when there is no need is Affectation, in the Manner of Saluting and resaluting in words keep to the most usual Custom.

27th Tis ill manners to bid one more eminent than yourself be covered as well as not to do it to whom it's due Likewise he that makes too much haste to Put on his hat does not well, yet he ought to Put it on at the first, or at most the Second time of being ask'd; now what is herein Spoken, of Qualification in behaviour in Saluting, ought also to be observed in taking of Place, and Sitting down for ceremonies without Bounds is troublesome.

28th If any one come to Speak to you while you are Sitting Stand up tho he be your Inferiour, and when you Present Seats let it be to every one according to his Degree.

29th When you meet with one of Greater Quality than yourself, Stop, and retire especially if it be at a Door or any Straight place to give way for him to Pass.

30th In walking the highest Place in most Countrys Seems to be on the right hand therefore Place yourself on the left of him whom you desire to Honour: but if three walk together the mid[dest] Place is the most Honourable the wall is usually given to the most worthy if two walk together.

Orrin Woodward has implemented the updated version of most of these into his life - with this caveat. He seldom wears the kind of hat in public which would require understanding #26 and #27.

I must admit some confusion with regard to #27! I'm sure if we had been around 200 years ago, someone would have made it clear to us as to when we could put our hats back on.

Orrin Woodard of Team - George Washington Maxims
Here are the next ten maxims of George Washington's "Rules of Civility and Decent Behaviour in Company and Conversation". I hope you enjoy them!

(Ferry Farm, c. 1744)

11th Shift not yourself in the Sight of others nor Gnaw your nails.

12th Shake not the head, Feet, or Legs rowl not the Eys lift not one eyebrow higher than the other wry not the mouth, and bedew no mans face with your Spittle, by appr[oaching too nea]r him [when] you Speak.

13th Kill no Vermin as Fleas, lice ticks &c in the Sight of Others, if you See any filth or thick Spittle put your foot Dexteriously upon it if it be upon the Cloths of your Companions, Put it off privately, and if it be upon your own Cloths return Thanks to him who puts it off.

14th Turn not your Back to others especially in Speaking, Jog not the Table or Desk on which Another reads or writes, lean not upon any one.

15th Keep your Nails clean and Short, also your Hands and Teeth Clean yet without Shewing any great Concern for them.

16th Do not Puff up the Cheeks, Loll not out the tongue rub the Hands, or beard, thrust out the lips, or bite them or keep the Lips too open or too Close.

17th Be no Flatterer, neither Play with any that delights not to be Play'd Withal.

18th Read no Letters, Books, or Papers in Company but when there is a Necessity for the doing of it you must ask leave: come not near the Books or Writings of Another so as to read them unless desired or give your opinion of them unask'd also look not nigh when another is writing a Letter.

19th Let your Countenance be pleasant but in Serious Matters Somewhat grave.

20th The Gestures of the Body must be Suited to the discourse you are upon.

Isn't this a great list so far? Only 90 more to go.

I've mentioned in these posts that I believe Orrin Woodward to be a man of great character. As I review these maxims, it is clear to me that Orrin, co-author of "Leading the Consumer Rebellion" and "Launching a Leadership Revolution" has implemented the updated version of most of them into his life.

I invite you to do the same.

Orrin Woodward of Team - Character by Design
In my last post good reader, I promised to share George Washington's "Rules of Civility and Decent Behaviour in Company and Conversation". Because these maxims were so fully exemplified in George Washington's life, biographers have regarded them as formative influences in the development of his character.

You'll remember that I thought it appropriate to capture these maxims again, both for my own self-improvement and for the edification of others who may be interested. Inasmuch as our subject is Character and most of us would agree that Washington's character was exemplary, might it not be of some value to explore it's foundations?

I've mentioned in these posts that I believe Orrin Woodward to be a man of great character. Years ago, Orrin made a study of Washington and this list, which is what piqued my curiosity. Here we are fortunate to glimpse a piece of Washington's studies at about age sixteen - about 262 years ago. I plan on implementing as many of these maxims as is appropriate for the present time into my life and I invite you to do the same.

We'll leave the language as Washington wrote it. Off we go then with the first ten:

(Ferry Farm, c. 1744)

1st Every Action done in Company, ought to be with Some Sign of Respect, to those that are Present.

2d When in Company, put not your Hands to any Part of the Body, not usualy Discovered.

3d Shew Nothing to your Frend that may affright him.

4 In the Presence of Others Sing not to yourself with a humming Noise, nor Drum with your Fingers or Feet.

5th If You Cough, Sneeze, Sigh, or Yawn, do it not Loud but Privately; and Speak not in your Yawning, but put Your handkercheif or Hand before your face and turn aside.

6th Sleep not when others Speak, Sit not when others stand, Speak not when you Should hold your Peace, walk not on when others Stop.

7th Put not off your Cloths in the presence of Others, nor go out your Chamber half Drest.

8th At Play and at Fire its Good manners to Give Place to the last Commer, and affect not to Speak Louder than Ordinary.

9th Spit not in the Fire, nor Stoop low before it neither Put your Hands into the Flames to warm them, nor Set your Feet upon the Fire especially if there be meat before it.

10th When you Sit down, Keep your Feet firm and Even, without putting one on the other or Crossing them.


More in my next post. I want to give us enough time to really think these through.

Orrin Woodard of Team - Character
My recent posts by DiMaio reminded me of George Washington's School Exercises: "Rules of Civility & Decent Behaviour In Company and Conversation". These maxims originated in the late sixteenth century in France and were popularly circulated during Washington's time. Washington wrote out a copy of the 110 Rules in his school book when he was about sixteen-years old and I have heard Orrin Woodward refer to them occasionally.  I thought it appropriate to temporarily suspend my DiMaio-ing and plunge further into a topic which is often spoken of but rarely explored in depth.

It is this topic of character. Forthwith, I thought it appropriate to capture these maxims again, both for my own self-improvement and for the edification of others who may be interested. Here goes.

This exercise, now regarded as a formative influence in the development of Washington's character, included guidelines for behavior in pleasant company, appropriate actions in formal situations, and general courtesies, such as: "Superfluous Complements and all Affectation of Ceremonie are to be avoided, yet where due they are not to be Neglected" (#25); "Think before you Speak" (#73); and "Rince not your Mouth in the Presence of Others" (#101).

Among the hundreds of volumes of Washington Manuscripts in the Library of Congress, two contain the school exercises of George Washington, written before he had reached the age of sixteen years. The one devoted to mathematics exhibits a wide range of subjects, combined with sureness and accuracy in working, and clearness and neatness of presentation. Few graduates of colleges to-day, unless they specialize in mathematics, become so well trained in that subject. The problems in surveying show that at sixteen Washington was fitted to earn his living in the field.

The second book begins with legal forms, such as every planter should know: bills of sale and exchange, contracts, conveyances, deeds, leases, and even wills. The middle portion contains a Christmas poem, and also one entitled "True Happiness," which strongly suggest that the boyish love poems attributed to his pen were taken from some book, now unknown. Probably they expressed his feelings at the moment, and he copied them.

The remaining ten pages of the second book are occupied by one hundred and ten "Rules of Civility and Decent Behaviour in Company and Conversation," about which much has been written and little is known. These maxims were so fully exemplified in George Washington's life that most biographers regard them as formative influences in the development of his character.

During the days before mere hero worship had given place to understanding and comprehension of the fineness of Washington's character, of his powerful influence among men, and of the epoch-making nature of the issues he so largely shaped, it was assumed that Washington himself composed the maxims, or at least that he compiled them. It is satisfying to find that his consideration for others, his respect for and deference to those deserving such treatment, his care of his own body and tongue, and even his reverence for his Maker, all were inculcated in him early on, by precepts which were the common practice in decent society the world over. These very maxims had been in use in France for a century and a half, and in England for a century, before they were set as a task for the schoolboy Washington.

Oh that we could rekindle a passion to once again consider these precepts "common practice in decent society"! I happen to believe that is in large measure what Orrin Woodward is doing with the Team - restoring character to society - and I say: Bravo!

More on the "Rules of Civility and Decent Behaviour in Company and Conversation" in my next post.

Orrin Woodard of Team & Robert Kiyosaki

In his wonderful book, "Cashflow Quadrant", Robert Kiyosaki disagrees with people who say "It takes money to make money." As early as page 8, Kiyosaki says, "... It takes a dream, a lot of determination, a willingness to learn quickly, the ability to use your God-given assets properly and to know which sector of the Cashflow Quadrant to generate your income from."

I have studied the leader of the Team, Orrin Woodward, and watched as he took this advice seriously over the past six years. He has produced an incredible lifestyle because he has produced an incredible system that anyone can follow to produce similar, equal or better results. Many are on that path today.

And still Orrin dares to dream big. He has incredible determination and self-discipline, devours books to feed one of his greatest God-given assets - his insatiable mind - and generates his income from the "B" & "I" side of the Quadrant.  Orrin is the co-author of a national best-selling book entitled "Leading the Consumer Rebellion" and one of the finest books on Leadership ever written: "Launching a Leadership Revolution". He followed Kiyosaki's advice! Imagine that!  

Orrin found a man with better results than he had, listened to him and did what he suggested.

It worked.

For the past several weeks, I've shared my view of Orrin Woodward's leadership with respect to the 14 Leadership Traits from Robert DiMaio of the Leadership Institute. DiMaio has also compiled a list of 14 Leadership Principles which is a little different view of those qualities which make up an effective leader. So for the next few weeks, we'll take a look at this list as I believe it can produce further insight into what makes Orrin Woodward such an effective and skillful leader. As I have previously done, I'll paraphrase DiMaio unless I quote him directly.

To quote DiMaio: "Leadership principles are general guidelines for what leaders should do. When you're in a difficult situation and don't know what to do, consult the following 14 leadership principles. They will help point you in the right direction. If you follow them closely, you will be well on your way to being an effective leader. "

DiMaio's Leadership Principle #1. Be technically and tactically proficient.

Learn everything you can about how to do what you do proficiently. Know your responsibilities and their requisite skills inside out. Learn the necessary leadership skills so you can teach others how to win. Set out to make yourself so knowledgeable that others turn to you for advice. To develop this principle, you should:

- Educate yourself in leadership skills.
- Keep up with current events and how those events relate to your profession.
- Find and associate with capable leaders. Study how they act, and learn from them.
- Broaden your own knowledge by reading about people outside your immediate field. You can learn a great deal from the perspectives of leaders in other arenas.
- Apply your knowledge of leadership at every opportunity.
- Think about the behaviors and responsibilities of those who have achieved greater success than you. Mentally prepare yourself to assume their level of success and beyond.

These points describe the process in which Orrin Woodward and all the leaders on the Team are involved. Orrin has been an avid student of leadership for several years and he implements what he learns.  He's not only a great example for all of us to follow, he's also written a book on Leadership detailing his experience. Soon to appear at major bookstores across the country - be on the lookout for "Launching a Leadership Revolution", which will no doubt become a best seller as did his first book, "Leading the Consumer Rebellion".

Orrin Woodward - Judgement
DiMaio's Leadership trait #14. Judgment.

Judgment is the ability to weigh facts logically, to consider possible solutions and to reach sound decisions. Judgment includes common sense. To develop the trait of judgment you can:

- Do not yield to impulse. Think about the possible effects of what you're about to do.
- Try to visualize the situation from another person's perspective.
- When in doubt, seek good counsel.

I have never seen Orrin Woodward leap to a conclusion. On the contrary, he never makes a major decision without considering all three of the above. That's a comfort and a great example!


So now we've taken a quick look at 14 different Leadership Traits. Does all this sound like a lot to live up to? It should, because it is. Good leaders live up to the standards exemplified by these traits.

If we think about leaders who have failed or disappointed us, most of their faults can be traced to deficiencies in leadership traits.

Orrin Woodward has always taught (primarily by example) that as leaders, who we are is the foundation upon which our business and political ideas are supported. If we fail to cultivate our character, we run the risk of becoming insignificant and trivial.

Because of Orrin's leadership, this Team will become the greatest business this planet has ever seen.

But that's just my opinion.

Why don't you check it out for yourself?

Orrin Woodard of Team - Loyalty
DiMaio's Leadership trait #13. Loyalty.

Loyalty is the quality of faithfulness to your principles, your team-mates, your organization, your country. This does not, however, mean that you are a "yes" man." As Morton's 21st Law of the Public-Policy Process says, "An ounce of loyalty is worth a pound of cleverness." To practice loyalty you should:

- Remember loyalty is a two-way street. Be loyal to those above and below you.
- Stand up for your organization and its members when they are unjustly attacked.
- Discuss your organizational problems and the problems of your co-workers only with those who can help solve the problems. Don't gossip.

Sounds a lot like the commandment to treat others the way we wish to be treated, doesn't it? Well, that's how Orrin Woodward conducts his life. I have never met a man more committed to his principles, his team-mates, his organization and his country. Because of Orrin's example, I can say with authority that the entire leadership team feels and behaves the same way. This is a good thing to be a part of!