Orrin Woodard of Team - A Goal
In the book "Conversations With Millionaires" Mike Litman interviewed Jim Rohn who had an intersting take on becoming a millionaire. In their conversation Rohn said,"When I was 25 years old, my mentor said, 'I suggest Mr. Rohn, that you set a goal to become a millionaire.' I was intrigued by that. You know, it's got a nice ring to it - millionaire. Then he said, 'Here's why.' I said, 'Gosh, you don't need to teach me why. Wouldn't it be great to have a million dollars.' Then he said, 'No, then you'll never acquire it. Here's why. Set a goal to become a millionaire for what it makes of you to achieve it.'"

Lets go over that again. "Set a goal to become a millionaire for what it makes of you to achieve it."

Wonderful advice. And I've watched Orrin Woodward on his journey. I'll go into more detail about this in my next post.

Orrin Woodard of Team - Reading

As I considered Orrin Woodward's voracious appetite for books, (the man reads 2-3 books each week and has done so since we made our acquaintance some six years ago) I was reminded of these pithy comments regarding the subject, made by a prodigious reader himself, Morton Blackwell of the Leadership Institute:


"Some people bluntly say they don't read.

Others offer an excuse: They would read if only they had the time.

I will also be blunt: People who don't read cheat themselves. By not reading, they limit what they can achieve, make mistakes they could avoid, and miss opportunities that could improve their lives. Finally, as the gaps in their knowledge become apparent, they must reconcile themselves to not being taken seriously."


Well said Mr. Blackwell.

So dear reader, I wonder....
Are you being taken seriously?

Orrin Woodward of Team - Listening
Ran across this paragraph on listening today which put me in mind of Orrin Woodward, co-author of "Launching a Leadership Revolution".

"In our time-starved society, attentiveness and listening skills seem to have fallen to the wayside. In order to make those with whom you communicate feel important, brush up on your listening skills. Make sure to give the speaker your undivided attention: regardless of how great you are at multi-tasking, treating an individual as a "task" is not a good idea. Eye-contact, nodding in agreement, asking leading questions and using your face to provide feedback also contribute to a positive communication experience that will foster the growth of the relationship."

Sound advice. I wonder if anyone is listening...

Orrin Woodward & Ronald Reagan
One of my favorite Ronald Reagan quotes:

"You and I have a rendezvous with destiny. We will preserve for our children this, the last best hope of man on earth, or we will sentence them to take the first step into a thousand years of darkness. If we fail, at least let our children and our children's children say of us we justified our brief moment here. We did all that could be done." - Ronald Reagan

Reminds me of Orrin Woodward. 

I can unconditionally happily say, Orrin Woodward is doing "all that can be done."

Orrin Woodward & Herb Kelleher
Here's a quote from Herb Kelleher, CEO of Southwest Airlines on Leadership:

"I'd describe leadership as servanthood. The best leaders, I think, have to be good followers as well. You have to be quite willing to accept other people's ideas even when they are in conflict with your own. You have to be willling to subjugate your ego to the needs of your business. You have to be willing to take risks for your people. If you won't fight for your people, you can count on your people not fighting for you."

An accurate description of Orrin Woodward and many of the other leaders on the Team as well.

Orrin Woodard of Team - Washington's Final 10 Maxims

Here are the final 10 of the behavioral maxims so indelibly self-imprinted on our country's first President, and without doubt, upon many other of our Country's leaders, not among the least of whom is Orrin Woodward of the Team.

(Ferry Farm c.1744)

101st Rince not your Mouth in the Presence of Others.

102nd It is out of use to call upon the Company often to Eat nor need you Drink to others every Time you Drink.

103rd In Company of your Betters be not longer in eating than they are lay not your Arm but only your hand upon the table.

104th It belongs to the Chiefest in Company to unfold his Napkin and fall to Meat first, But he ought then to Begin in time & to Dispatch with Dexterity that the Slowest may have time allowed him.

105th Be not Angry at Table whatever happens & if you have reason to be so, Shew it not but on a Chearfull Countenance especially if there be Strangers for Good Humour makes one Dish of Meat a Feast.

106th Set not yourself at the upper of the Table but if it Be your Due or that the Master of the house will have it So, Contend not, least you Should Trouble the Company.

107th If others talk at Table be attentive but talk not with Meat in your Mouth.

108th When you Speak of God or his Atributes, let it be Seriously & [wt.] Reverence. Honour & Obey your Natural Parents altho they be Poor.

109th Let your Recreations be Manfull not Sinfull.

110th Labour to keep alive in your Breast that Little Spark of Celestial fire Called Conscience.

Well, there they are. A few additional table manners and bringing the list to a close, a final strong three regarding spirituality. I need not elaborate, but I cannot resist imploring you dear reader, to pay the closest attention to #110.

I am thankful that our first (and in my humble opinion, our finest) president did, and that my friend, Orrin Woodward does as well.

Orrin Woodward of Team - Washington's Maxims Continued
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)

91st Make no Shew of taking great Delight in your Victuals, Feed not with Greediness; cut your Bread with a Knife, lean not on the Table neither find fault with what you Eat.

92nd Take no Salt or cut Bread with your Knife Greasy.

93rd Entertaining any one at table it is decent to present him wt. meat, Undertake not to help others undesired by the Master.

94th If you Soak bread in the Sauce let it be no more than what you put in your Mouth at a time and blow not your broth at Table but Stay till Cools of it Self.

95th Put not your meat to your Mouth with your Knife in your hand neither Spit forth the Stones of any fruit Pye upon a Dish nor Cast anything under the table.

96th It's unbecoming to Stoop much to ones Meat Keep your Fingers clean & when foul wipe them on a Corner of your Table Napkin.

97th Put not another bit into your Mouth til the former be Swallowed let not your Morsels be too big for the Gowls.

98th Drink not nor talk with your mouth full neither Gaze about you while you are a Drinking.

99th Drink not too leisurely nor yet too hastily. Before and after Drinking wipe your Lips. breath not then or Ever with too Great a Noise, for its uncivil.

100th Cleanse not your teeth with the Table Cloth Napkin Fork or Knife but if Others do it let it be done wt. a Pick Tooth.

There you have it - the ten having to do with table manners. And we wondered where our parents came up with their rules for the dinner table. Can't you hear them? .....Get your elbows off the table....don't blow on your soup.....don't talk with your mouth full....

I'm sure that Orrin & Laurie Woodward are passing these along to their children today -- as are all of us.

Orrin Woodward of Team - Washington's Maxims
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)

81st Be not Curious to Know the Affairs of Others neither approach those that Speak in Private.

82nd Undertake not what you cannot Perform but be Careful to keep your Promise.

83rd When you deliver a matter do it without Passion & with Discretion, however mean the Person be you do it too.

84th When your Superiours talk to any Body hearken not neither Speak nor Laugh.

85th In Company of these of Higher Quality than yourself Speak not til you are ask'd a Question then Stand upright put off your Hat & Answer in few words.

86th In Disputes, be not So Desireous to Overcome as not to give Liberty to each one to deliver his Opinion and Submit to the Judgment of the Major Part especially if they are Judges of the Dispute.

87th Let thy carriage be such as becomes a Man Grave Settled and attentive to that which is spoken. Contradict not at every turn what others Say.

88th Be not tedious in Discourse, make not many Digressigns, nor repeat often the Same manner of Discourse.

89th Speak not Evil of the absent for it is unjust.

90th Being Set at meat Scratch not neither Spit Cough or blow your Nose except there's a Necessity for it.

All great - but especially #89.

Thanks Orrin Woodward for your leadership and for being a great example of all these maxims for the Team.

Orrin Woodward & George Washington - Next Ten
Here are the next ten maxims of Washington's "Rules of Civility and Decent Behaviour in Company and Conversation" which I hope, you are enjoying AND applying.

(Ferry Farm, c. 1744)

71st Gaze not on the marks or blemishes of Others and ask not how they came. What you may Speak in Secret to your Friend deliver not before others.

72nd Speak not in an unknown Tongue in Company but in your own Language and that as those of Quality do and not as the Vulgar; Sublime matters treat Seriously.

73rd Think before you Speak pronounce not imperfectly nor bring out your Words too hastily but orderly & distinctly.

74th When Another Speaks be attentive your Self and disturb not the Audience if any hesitate in his Words help him not nor Prompt him without desired, Interrupt him not, nor Answer him till his Speech be ended.

75th In the midst of Discourse ask [not of what one treateth] but if you Perceive any Stop because of your coming you may well intreat him gently to Proceed: If a Person of Quality comes in while your Conversing it's handsome to Repeat what was said before.

76th While you are talking, Point not with your Finger at him of Whom you Discourse nor Approach too near him to whom you talk especially to his face.

77th Treat with men at fit Times about Business & Whisper not in the Company of Others.

78th Make no Comparisons and if any of the Company be Commended for any brave act of Vertue, commend not another for the Same.

79th Be not apt to relate News if you know not the truth thereof. In Discoursing of things you Have heard Name not your Author always A Secret Discover not.

80th Be not Tedious in Discourse or in reading unless you find the Company pleased therewith.

Some fine reminders about speaking. Orrin Woodward has put them all to use.

Orrin Woodward of Team - 7th Ten Washington Maxims
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)

61st Utter not base and frivilous things amongst grave and Learn'd Men nor very Difficult Questians or Subjects, among the Ignorant or things hard to be believed, Stuff not your Discourse with Sentences amongst your Betters nor Equals.

62nd Speak not of doleful Things in a Time of Mirth or at the Table; Speak not of Melancholy Things as Death and Wounds, and if others Mention them Change if you can the Discourse tell not your Dreams, but to your intimate Friend.

63rd A Man ought not to value himself of his Atchievements, or rare Qualities of wit; much less of his riches Virtue or Kindred.

64th Break not a Jest where none take pleasure in mirth Laugh not aloud, nor at all without Occasion, deride no mans Misfortune, tho' there Seem to be Some cause.

65th Speak not injurious Words neither in Jest nor Earnest Scoff at none although they give Occasion.

66th Be not froward but friendly and Courteous; the first to Salute hear and answer & be not Pensive when it's a time to Converse.

67th Detract not from others neither be excessive in Commanding.

68th Go not thither, where you know not, whether you Shall be Welcome or not. Give not Advice without being Ask'd and when desired do it briefly.

69th If two contend together take not the part of either unconstrained; and be not obstinate in your own Opinion, in Things indiferent be of the Major Side.

70th Reprehend not the imperfections of others for that belongs to Parents Masters and Superiours.

I hope you are studying these as much as I am. I'm quite sure that Orrin Woodward, co author of "Leading the Consumer Rebellion" and "Launching a Leadership Revolution" has these noted in a book in his library and I'll bet he can put his hands on it in less than 30 seconds.