"This is certain, that a man that studieth revenge keeps his own wounds green, which otherwise would heal and do well." ~ Francis Bacon When you are consumed by bitterness, it spreads within you like a disease. Such bitterness may appeal temporarily to others who, fooled by grief, drawn in by sympathy or preoccupied by …
Tag: gregg hake
Protect and Serve
Of all the things that can be in the course of a day, the two most important in my mind relate to protection and service. What is there to protect? In an nutshell, that which is sacred. Sacred things must be protected from the coarseness of the world. Sacred things cannot be destroyed, however, they …
Dignity of the Artist
"The dignity of the artist lies in his duty of keeping awake the sense of wonder in the world. In this long vigil he often has to vary his methods of stimulation; but in this long vigil he is also himself striving against a continual tendency to sleep." ~ Marc Chagall There is a tremendously …
The Ability to Simplify
"The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak." ~ Hans Hoffman It is good practice to make a regular review of the systems you use to govern the factors and administer the details of your world, whether at work or at home. What may have been fitting weeks, …
Anticipatory Service
In a recent company meeting my team and I discussed the means by which we can work together to provide exemplary service to our clients. One of the many ideas that emerged centered around the concept of anticipatory service, a phrase that I discovered while reviewing the Ritz-Carlton Gold Standards. Anticipatory service cannot be scripted, …
The Warrior Spirit
Every so often you meet someone who embodies the warrior spirit. You know the type. They are rugged, dogged and intrepid, and they possess a remarkable capacity to overcome obstacles and move through difficulties that would crush the ordinary man. Such men are rarely bellicose in nature, in fact, they tend to be pacifists at …
The Martial Virtues
"Vigilance in watching opportunity; tact and daring in seizing upon opportunity; force and persistence in crowding opportunity to its utmost of possible achievement - these are the martial virtues which must command success." ~ Austin Phelps You cannot be vigilant if you are upset by your immediate circumstances or worried about what might happen in …
The Spirit of Ownership
In my professional career I have noticed that there are two types of people: those who approach everything as owners and those who face their life’s work as hirelings. The former develop habits that make them ideal candidates for actual ownership and they also tend to position themselves in relation to the opportunities that come …
The Service Culture
My uncle and I went on a consulting trip in Thailand several years ago and I had two particularly memorable moments that epitomized to me the spirit of outstanding service. Both occurred at the Mandarin Oriental in Bangkok, which I recall at the time was rated the #1 luxury hotel not just in Thailand but …
Gracious Living
One of the hallmarks of an effective parent, manager or leader is the attitude of graciousness. Gracious living is much more than a technique, in fact, it is a general approach to living that gives evidence of a refined relationship to life itself. What is life, anyway? Is it something that you have or something …
Gregory Hake 