Leading the Pack

Leaders stay a little more progressive.

The do so by:
Being a little more innovative.  A little more creative.
By taking that extra step.
Spending a little more effort.
Getting a little more accomplished.
Getting a few more results.

However, leaders can't run too far ahead of the pack without bringing others with them.  They need support from others to be successful themselves.  Leaders stay ahead but make sure others are with them.

It is a mistake to look too far ahead.  Only one link in the chain of destiny can be handled at a time.
Winston Churchill

Keep Moving Forward

Leaders are always going forward making progress in some fashion.  Sometimes in tiny steps, but often in quantum leaps.

A leader's group is the first to adopt new ideas, first to try new technologies, and first in efficiency and productivity.  They pay attention to percentage points of increase and decrease.  They pay attention to the score.

True leaders make things happen.

Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there.
Arthur Godfrey

Example

One Fortune 500 executive told his people, "You may do anything you see me doing."

People will emulate, consciously or subconsciously, their leaders, bosses, and managers.  If you are forward-thinking, innovative, and progressive, then your team or department will move consistently forward.

True leaders are also willing to roll up their shirt sleeves and do whatever is necessary to make a project succeed.  Their commitment and dedication in such a situation sets the example for all of their people.

True leaders are excellent role models.

The example of good men is visible philosophy.
English Proverb

Having Vision

To be able to visualize the completed project or task, the final goal and all of its rewards and consequences, is the ultimate test for true leaders.

In addition to visualizing "the dream," they must also be able to visualize each task that must be completed, and the integration of those tasks to successfully complete the project.  They must also be able to effectively communicate this vision to the group.

To true leaders, vision defines the final goal, and action is the path that leads to the vision.

We have always help to the hope, the belief, the conviction that there is a better life, a better world, beyond the horizon.
Franklin D. Roosevelt

Blame

When in a position of leadership, everything that occurs in your responsibility, even the errors.

Rather than spending effort in placing the blame on others, your job is to mitigate the damage, and to learn from the mistakes, take steps necessary to solve the issue, and make sure the problem does not recur in the future.

The buck stops here!
Harry S. Truman

Jealousy

True leaders focus on their own career and accomplishments.  Others, including those in competition with you, will also garner accomplishments and awards.

Rather than wasting energy on jealousy, share their joy of accomplishment.  Seek them out as friends and colleagues.  Learn from them.

Winners associate with winners!

Of all the passions, jealousy is that which exerts the hardest service and pays the bitterest wages.
Charles Cabet Colton

Excessive Pressure

Leaders prevent excessive pressure on both themselves and them members of their team.  Set realistic goals for yourself and your team.  You should be able to see the end in mind the means of achieving it.

If an unrealistic task is given, realize it and break it down to a realistic, seeable, achievable goal.  Expectations set the motivation of the group.  Excessive pressure on members serves no purpose and often kills initiative and creativity at all levels.

We are more often frightened than hurt; our troubles spring more often from fancy than reality.
Seneca.

Humility of a Leader

Don't be caught up in the power and prestige of your position.  Nothing is beneath a true leader.  You must always be willing to help your team and teammates, even in what may seem to be the most mundane tasks.

Remember that you and your fellow co-workers will occasionally make mistakes.  You know that, and they know that.  If you have an arrogant attitude, you can expect no help from your fellow teammates in preventing or correcting your errors or theirs.

To be vain of one's rank or place, is to show that one is below it.
Stanislas I

Leaders Don't Lose Their Temper

There is little in the world worthy of losing your temper.  Yet frustrations in every aspect of our personal and professional life are common and can be difficult to deal with.

As a leader, always try to stay in control.  Discuss problems openly with the people involved.  Be open in thought and firm in your demands, but remain in control.

Superiors, suppliers, peers, customers, teammates, and subordinates will sometimes (often times) be infuriating, but losing your temper will probably only compound the problem instead of solving it.

When angry, count ten before you speak.  If very angry, a hundred.
Thomas Jefferson.

Leaders of Today

True leaders have an understanding of the present, and a vision for the future.  To be successful as a leader in any industry, you must:

• Prepare to be a leader.
• Understand leadership.
• And then be prepared to assume the leadership role in your organization.

Your journey must not end here.  In fact, your journey will never end as a true leader.
Leadership is about reaching for the stars, and when you reach one, reach for the next one,  It's exciting, it's fun, and it's the essence of life.

The talent of success is nothing more than doing what you can do well. and doing well whatever you do.  Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Leadership Gurus 2011

The Best Leadership Gurus Voting for 2011:

by Orrin Woodward on Thu 16 Sep 2010 12:59 PM EDT

The voting is now taking place for the Top 30 and Top 25 Leadership Guru list.  I will attach the links if you would like to vote. Thanks in advance and keep leading and learning on your journey to success. God Bless, Orrin Woodward

http://leadershipgurus.net/index.html - Vote for Top 30
http://www.topleadershipgurus.com/index.php - Vote for Top 25

 

 

From the Leadership Gurus 2011 Poll:

Leadership Gurus is your ultimate compass in directing you to the world's Top 10 and Top 30 leadership gurus, leadership speakers and leadership trainers across the globe 2010. If you are looking for the best presenters in leadership, change management, leadership development, leadership training, change leadership, leading leaders, and MORE, then let Leadership Gurus International be your guide.

Who are the worlds Leadership Gurus?

Leadership Gurus International, combined with public feedback, independently rates leadership trainers and leadership speakers from Asia, the Americas, Australia and Europe to determine if they have attained “guru” status. Only those leadership speakers and trainers who have attained “guru” status are featured on this site. Each of them has also been bestowed the GURU Award of Excellence based on our criteria.

Vote for the Best Leadership Gurus 2011 here.

Read on and vote you will find wisdom from top Leadership Guru's and Leadership Trainers such as John Maxwell, Ken Blanchard, Orrin Woodward, Arthur F. Carmazzi, and Robin Sharma.

More on Reading

"A man who does not read has no advantage over the man who cannot read." - Samuel Clemens

If you're not a reader, then what Mark Twain is saying here should hit you like a cold slap in the face.  A lot of people you and I know almost proudly proclaim that they "haven't read a book since high school"!  Amazing! That's like saying "Let me tell you how stupid I really am. Even though I have the ability to read, I don't, and I'm proud of that!"

You have time to do what you choose to do. The more you read, the better you read -- and the more you enjoy it.  One of the most attractive elements of the MonaVie Team leaders is their passion for reading.  And it shows  - in their writing as they share their experinces and views with us in their books and on their blogs.


People who don't read cheat themselves. By not reading, you limit what you can achieve, make mistakes you could avoid, and miss opportunities that could improve your life. Soon, as the gaps in your knowledge will become apparent to you and to others. Think about that.
 
Why read?
Read to learn the lessons of history.
Read to keep up with the issues.
Read to understand why others succeed.
Read to avoid mistakes others have made.
Read for your personal enjoyment.
Read to familiarize yourself with what interests others.
Read to increase your value to an employer.
Read to improve your vocabulary.
Read good writing to learn to write well yourself.
Read to share wisdom with others.
Read to lead.

Read to improve your life. Whatever your circumstances, YOU created them by the accumulation of decisions you have made over time. Question: Would your decsions possibly have yeilded bettter results if you had had more and better quality information on hand when you made them? 

The great news is that your future decisions can be better decisions.  Why not make one now and decide to be a reader?

Reading

A vice-president of a Fortune 500 company was getting to know a newcomer in his division, so he asked him what he liked to read. "I'm not really interested in reading," the man said. To which the vice-president said, "Then you aren't really interested in succeeding around here."

Morton Blackwell of the Leadership Institute said: "People who don't read cheat themselves." In a speech titled "Read to Lead" Blackwell continued: "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." (emphasis mine)

Glad that's not the case with the leaders of MonaVie Team. As near as I can tell, the top 10 leaders devour 75-85 books a month between them and they've been doing that for the past 7-10 years.  How confident are you that the leaders in your organization are that committed to self improvement? 

Leaders are readers. Period.  If you're not a reader, you're NOT a leader.  You may be a manager, but you are no leader.  And if that bothers you (as it should) then start reading.  Find a mentor who you know is well read and ask for guidance in selecting books.  I suggest you begin with these 5:

The Magic of Thinking Big by David Schwartz, PhD
How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
How I Raised Myself from Failure to Success in Selling by Frank Bettger
How to Have Confidence and Power in Dealing With People by Les Giblin, and
Positive Personality Profiles by Robert Rohm, PhD


Don't like to read?  Then start with Read and Get Rich by Burke Hedges.  The info in this book will blow you away!  And if you haven't read the top 10 books ever written, he gives you the list. Any person who wants to be taken seriously would have these ten in his or her library - and will have read them!

So, how's your reading going?

Or have you just decided to not be taken seriously?

ACTION

A couple of great quotes:

"We cannot do everything at once, but we can do something at once."- Calvin Coolidge

"An idea not coupled with action will never get any bigger than the brain cell it occupied."- Arnold Glasow

One thing I've always admired about the MonaVie Team leaders is that they are men and women of action. They get things done. Because they take action, the MonaVie Team has become an idea whose time has come. There is no stopping it. It will become the biggest business on the planet.

That's pretty big.

Thanks for your example Team. Keep moving.

Code of Conduct

On page 140 of Jeffrey Marx’ book “Seasons of Life”, we find that Joe Erhmann’s code of conduct revolves around four masculinity traits which Joe claims form ”the moral and ethical foundation” of a man built for others. As I read, I couldn’t help but think of the MonaVie Team leaders - men truly built for others, who

Accept responsibility.
Lead courageously.
Enact justice on behalf of others.
Expect God’s greater rewards.

I encourage you to get the book to read what he has to say about these traits. It will be food for thought. I’ve personally watched many Team MonaVie leaders accept responsibility, lead courageously and enact justice. That’s what the Team is all about - teaching men to embrace these traits themselves by taking advantage of the Team training system which levels the playing field for anyone with the courage to want to improve their life.

As far as expecting God’s greater rewards, let me quote from the book as to what Joe meant by that. Here’s Joe explaining it to Jeff: (p145) “I think there is a time when God is going to reward people that were relationally just and lived a life filled with cause. You don’t need to “get it all” in this world. You can say “no” to an awful lot of things (italics his) so that you can be focused on other people. Ultimately, there is a day of reckoning. And that is for all eternity. You don’t have to have the biggest house, the biggest car, all that kind of stuff once you get there, and by knowing that, by expecting God’s greater rewards, you can free up your time and energy to be about other people, to be about your causes.”

A few years ago, two men - Dallin Larsen and Orrin Woodward decided to be about other people and to be about their cause – creating, with God’s grace and hard work, the best business on the planet. It's the best because it gives everyone an equal opportunity and a proven game-plan or receipe, that when followed, creates success.

When they got started, Dallin and Orrin didn’t necessarily expect great rewards; but they did decide to share whatever rewards came with others. Take a moment to research the MORE Project, and All Grace Outreach. They did expect that God would be true to his character and would be just. And of course, God is.

Because these men had great vision, were willing to take responsibility, lead courageously, and were willing to teach others to do the same, the MonaVie Team will one day be a household word.

Question: Are YOU a man built for others? Or maybe I should just ask, Are you a Man?

Here at last are the final 10 of the behavioral maxims so indelibly self-imprinted on our country's first President, and for that matter no doubt, countless other future leaders, many of whom are currently growing in abilities and stature on the MonaVie Team.

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 hope that as you read these 110 nuggets of wisdom over the past few weeks, they got you thinking. I'll wager that most you weren't exposed to these in your history classes in school. In fact, I'll bet you were taught few of the founding principles, and little if any of the truth about the founding of this great nation.

Would you like a better America? Then you must become a better American. And that starts with a better understanding of what made this country great.

As Orrin Woodward said in his article referenced above, "Few people will sit down and slog through a 250 page book on historical, political, religious, or even personal development anymore. I would love to see everyone do so, but in order to create the hunger, Chris and I wrote bite sized morsels to get people thinking in these areas and more."

Orrin was referring to his book, "Leadership and Liberty" which I highly recommend. You will find it easy to digest and very illuminating. Hopefully, it will stir your interest to discover truth!

The Next 20

Here are the next twenty 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 - especially #90 during flu season. Now, on to more Table Manners)


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 - 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.... Bet you say the same things to your kids!


I am amazed at how many people haven't been taught good table manners! I've seen some incredible things sitting across from "folks". One of my favs is "Lets see how much I can stuff in my mouth!" Why take small bites when you can put it all in there at once? Is this an efficiency move? Doesn't matter - its disgusting!


As we journey through life, one of the greatest skills we can improve upon is how well we relate with others. There have been some great books written about relatability: "How to Have Confidence and Power in Dealing with People" by Les Giblin and Dale Carnegie's "How to Win Friends and Influence People" are a couple of classics. And "Leadership Tidbits and Treasures" by Chris Brady and Orrin Woodward also spring to mind. Great books all.


But don't forget - your table manners tell a lot about you! Check yourself here!

The Young George Washington Speaks

I hope you've been examining these maxims from G. Washington's early development and applying them to your own life. I mean, that's why I've taken the time to put them here. As I said in my last post, it's our privilege and responsibility to improve and grow - at any age. As Orrin Woodward says, "Not everything that happens in life will be a bowl of cherries, but with greater understanding comes greater wisdom to live by."  How are you doing at gaining greater understanding?


Here are the next 20:
(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.



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.



Now, go back and read #s 65-70 and 73 again. I'll bet you know some folks who break #65 all the time - tearing people down with a snide comment and then defending themselves by saying they were "just kidding". Let me ask this: do you like being around them or being the target of their put-downs? No? Then do something about it!



Basic people skills like these are  sadly lacking in most of our socializing aren't they? Well, why not decide to be the pattern breaker? Yeah - YOU!



I recommend  that you read Orrin Woodward and Chris Brady's best selling book, "Launching a Leadership Revolution", particularly the section on servant leadership in the Level Three chapter. By the way, that chapter ends with a fascinating story about George Washington's servant leadership. Read that, and reflect back on these maxims that he made a part of his life.

George Washington - the next 20!

Here are the next twenty 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.

51st Wear not your Cloths, foul, unript or Dusty but See they be Brush'd once every day at least and take heed that you approach not to any Uncleaness.

52nd In your Apparel be Modest and endeavour to accomodate Nature, rather than to procure Admiration keep to the Fashion of your equals Such as are Civil and orderly with respect to Times and Places.

53rd Run not in the Streets, neither go too s]owly nor with Mouth open go not Shaking yr Arms kick not the earth with yr feet, go not upon the Toes, nor in a Dancing fashion.

54th Play not the Peacock, looking every where about you, to See if you be well Deck't, if your Shoes fit well if your Stokings sit neatly, and Cloths handsomely.

55th Eat not in the Streets, nor in the House, out of Season.

56th Associate yourself with Men of good Quality if you Esteem your own Reputation; for 'tis better to be alone than in bad Company.

57th In walking up and Down in a House, only with One in Company if he be Greater than yourself, at the first give him the Right hand and Stop not till he does and be not the first that turns, and when you do turn let it be with your face towards him, if he be a Man of Great Quality, walk not with him Cheek by Joul but Somewhat behind him; but yet in Such a Manner that he may easily Speak to you.

58th Let your Conversation be without Malice or Envy, for 'tis a Sign of a Tractable and Commendable Nature: And in all Causes of Passion admit Reason to Govern.

59th Never express anything unbecoming, nor Act against the Rules Moral before your inferiours.

60th Be not immodest in urging your Friends to Discover a Secret.

How about #56? And #58 and #59? I mean, they're all good, but some really stand out, don't they? For a bit different look at numbers 58 & 59 - which really speak to being pleasant around people, take the time to read Chris Brady's post of January 5th.

Remember as you read these, that Washington took them seriously enough to write down and follow at a young age. They had a major impact on his character development and his character was the foundation of his leadership abilities.

Our country is at a crossroads today. What do you think Washington would make of the professional politicians whose greed and lack of character have put us in this position? Remember that you have the power through your vote to change the cast of characters in Washington DC. You have the privilege and responsibility to educate yourself - to seek the truth and then do something about it. If you love this country and care about your children and grandchildren, here's a good place to start.

Happy New Year!   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.


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


23rd 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.


(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.)


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.


3st 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.


32nd: 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.


33rd 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.


What a great one to end this post!  I wish each of the politicians we have in office today would act with a measure of humility rather than lashing out when anyone dares oppose them - which marks them as having very little emotional intelligence (or should I just leave it as "little intelligence"? Yeah, I think I'll stick with that)


Now, if any of you had a thought of perhaps incorporating any of these into your New Year Resolutions, You might want to take a look at Chris Brady's New Years Eve post on his blog!  Good Stuff!  And while you're at it, check out Orrin Woodward's New Years Eve post as well. 


And, if you're at all interested in any of our first President's other personal papers or documents, here's a good place to start.