General Colin Powell

                   Winning Advice from a True Leader: an Exclusive Interview

 

 

              I had the great opportunity to talk with Retired General Colin L. Powell on behalf of Home

              Business® Magazine at the Bakers field, Calif or nia, 13th Annual Busi ness Conf er ence

              held on October 11, 1997. I also met him at the Peter Lowe Success Sem inar at the Rose

              Garden in Port land, Oregon. He has a great personal success story and is a role model for

              millions, whether or not they work from home.

 

              Since the general's retirement in 1993, he has embarked on a second career as an author,

              spending almost 2 years working out of his home in McLean, VA, putting together his book,

              My American Journey.

 

              The Powells live in a large colonial mansion, complete with a pool and a three-car garage.

              Inside, an eagle statue-a thank-you gift from Prince Bandar of Saudi Arabia after the Gulf

              War-dominates the entry hall. The spacious living room is decorated in shades of white

              and yellow; the formal dining room seats ten. Dozens of family photos adorn the

              wood-paneled library.

 

              Powell first captured the public's attention as the top U.S. military officer responsible for our

              forces during the 1991 Persian Gulf War. A handsome man, 6 feet 2 inches tall, he won five

              combat medals in Vietnam, including the Bronze Star. He also became one of the nation's

              youngest four-star generals. We appreciate this opportunity to share our conversation with

              one of Americans most distinguished citizens, Colin Powell.

 

              HB: How have you been operating your business since you entered civilian life?

 

              Powell: Upstairs, what was once my wife Alma's sewing room is now an office and exercise

              room. I have another office with several employees located in Alexandria, Virginia. Since

              retiring, I've started a second career as an author and a third career as Chairman for Youth

              Volunteerism.

 

              HB: As the author of My American Journey, how much time did it take to put the book

              together?

 

              Powell: For 21 months Joseph Per sico, my co-author, and I worked together in a basement

              office in my home in suburban McLean, VA. Each day, Persico, tape recorder running, asked

              questions and I provided detailed verbal and written responses. In the fall of 1995, it was

              time to promote my book. It was the mother of all book tours. In a period of five weeks, I

              went to 25 cities around America, as well as London and Paris, and signed 60,001 books.

              2,000-4,000 books a day. I gave interviews everywhere, approximately 20 interviews a day.

 

              HB: A challenge for all home-based entrepreneurs is maintaining a balance between home

              and work. What message would you like to share about balancing business and family?

 

              Powell: In the book My American Journey, I was trying to tell my life story but the message

              that got communicated was one of family and values. One's vision first and foremost rests

              on values. Values because values are the conscience of a society. Values that must be lived;

              not just preached. Children learn values by watching their parents in their homes. Values

              which are then reinforced in their churches and in their places of worship, in the schools

              and in the communities in which they live. Values fuel families, families that are bound

              together by love and commitment. Families that then have the strength to withstand the

              assaults of contemporary life, to resist the images of violence and vulgarity that flood into

              our lives every day. Families that come together as communities to defeat the scourge of

              drugs and crime and incivility that threaten us.

 

              HB: How important is community service and volunteerism in achieving more balance and

              meaning in one's life?

 

              Powell: Community service is one good way anyone can achieve more balance and

              fulfillment in their lives. I am Chairman of America's Promise - the Alliance for Youth. 15

              million youngsters are not currently on the road to success. We want to keep them safe

              from drugs and crime. Corp o rate Amer ica is coming forward. Bill Gates of Microsoft is

              donating $200 million dollars to put more computers in Amer ica's libraries. Larry Ellison of

              Oracle is giving $100 million dollars of computer equipment to adopted schools in this

              country. It is a grand alliance for young people. They are the future and we cannot leave

              them behind.

 

              HB: What basic message did you receive from your parents and what would you say were

              the keys to your success?

 

              Powell: They raised two children to whom they gave a precious gift, a set of core beliefs. A

              value system founded on a clear understanding of the difference between right and wrong

              and a belief in the Almighty. They taught us Integrity, kindness and Godliness were right.

              Lying, violence, intolerance, crime and drugs were wrong and, even worse than wrong, they

              were shameful. In my family we were taught that hard work and education were the keys to

              success. My sister and I were taught to believe in ourselves. We might be considered poor,

              but we were rich in spirit. But, stick with it, because in America, justice will eventually

              triumph and the powerful, searing promise of the founding fathers will come true. We were

              taught by my parents to always, always, always believe in America.

 

              HB: One quality that successful home-based entrepreneurs share is that they must strive to

              be better leaders. Will skills required by effective leaders going into the 21st century differ

              from those of the 20th century?

 

              Powell: I don't know that leadership in the 21st century will be essentially different from the

              leadership shown by Thomas Jef ferson, George Wash ing ton, and their colleagues 200

              years ago. Lead er ship will al ways require people who have a vision of where they wish to

              take "the led." Leader ship will always require people who are able to organize the efforts of

              others to accomplish the objectives that flow from vision. And leadership will always put a

              demand on leaders to pick the right people. Leadership also requires motivating people and

              pushing the vision down to every level of an organization.

 

              HB: How do you recommend dealing with changes in adversarial relationships and putting

              them to your ad vantage?

 

              Powell: Look at our old enemies who are now our competitors. They did what we told them

              to-they stopped building guns and facing us in stalemates. Instead, they are competing

              with us in democratic systems and open markets. But even more than as competitors, we

              should see our old enemies as emerging markets. Informa tion and technology allow you to

              do more "niching." In dus try is discovering that the power of the computer allows you to

              appeal to smaller and smaller markets.

 

              HB: No interview is complete without asking if you are thinking about the year 2000

              presidential race?

 

              Powell: Yes. I think it will be an exciting race, and one that I look forward to watching from

              the sidelines. I am happy to stay in civilian private life and make contributions regarding

              volunteer work that helps young people.

 

              HB: Any closing comments you would like to share with our readers?

 

              Powell: First and foremost, the government should stay out of the way of the free enterprise

              system (em phasis added, ed.). Let wealth be created because it is from wealth that the whole

              society grows. It is from wealth that good jobs and opportunities flow. Governments do

              have a responsibility to society but keep it as limited as possible. I began my career by

              deciding to become a soldier. I dedicated 35 years, 3 months, 22 days and 8 hours to the

              profession of soldiering. The first 28 years was the cold war and the strategy of

              containment. In the final 7 years, the value system changed and democracy and the free

              enterprise system prevailed. This is an opportunity to watch history being made, and to

              prosper from it. HBM

 

 

              Colin Powell's 13 Rules of Life

 

              from My American Journey (Random House).

 

                   1. It ain't as bad as you think. It will look better in the morning.

                   2. Get mad, and then get over it.

                   3. Avoid having your ego so close to your position that when your position falls,

                   your ego goes with it.

                   4. It can be done!

                   5. Be careful what you choose. You may get it.

                   6. Don't let adverse facts stand in the way of a good decision.

                   7. You can't make someone else's choices. You shouldn't let someone else make

                   yours.

                   8. Check small things.

                   9. Share credit.

                   10. Remain calm. Be kind.

                   11. Have a vision. Be demanding.

                   12. Don't take counsel of your fears or naysayers.

                   13. Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier.

 

 

              Colin Powell's Biography

 

              April, 1937- Colin Luther Powell born in Harlem, New York.

              June 1958- Distinguished Military Graduate. Powell enters basic training at Ft. Benning,

              GA. Commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army

              August 1962- Powell marries Alma Johnson. The Powells have one son and two

              daughters.

              May 1971- Powell receives MBA from George Washington University

              December 1971- Powell selected by the President's Commission to serve as a 1972-73

              White House Fellow at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

              December 1978- Powell promoted to Brigadier General

              1986- Promoted to commanding general of the Fifth Corps in Frankfurt, Germany

              November 1987- President Reagan promotes Powell to National Security Advisor

              April 1989- Powell receives fourth star and takes over U.S. Forces Command

              August 1989- Powell offered chairmanship of Joint Chiefs of Staff

              January 17-February 28, 1991-Commander of forces in Desert Storm

              1991- President Bush awards Powell the Presidential Metal of Honor (Top U.S. civilian

              honor)

              1993- President Clinton presented Powell with a second Presidential Medal of Honor

              September 1993- Powell retires from the military

              September 1995- Powell publishes My American Journey

              April 21, 1997- General Colin Powell was featured in a cover story entitled, "Time's 25 most

              influential Americans."