Earlier today, I found myself mesmerized by an online book named If I knew then: Advice on careers, finance, and life from Harvard Business School's Class of 1963.
As the name describes, a list of Harvard Graduates from the class of 1963, on their 50th anniversary of 
graduation, offer advice on a number of topics ranging from careers, business, marriage, leadership, happiness, wealth and several others. I thought this might come in useful as a resource in leading and inspiring others.
Business
Ralph Linsalata
"Never use the pronoun “I” except when taking responsibility for a problem or mistake. When success occurs, it should always be “we” or “they.”
Communication with all employees is critical. Strategies must be explained repeatedly — as many as 20 times — before most people really understand them.
The right culture is also critical. It takes a long time and an exceptional amount of effort to change a bad culture. Most companies fail because they do not have the right culture.
All competitive advantages last for a very short time. You have to be paranoid to stay as the leader of a successful company."
Judy Ley Allen
"Surround yourself with the smartest, most ethical people you can find. Set clear goals, communicate them clearly, and delegate."
Happiness & Success
Artie Buerk
"When I entered Harvard Business School, I was staggered by the ability of classmates (especially Ivy-Leaguers) to talk. Everyone seemed trained to be very articulate. In my mind, people were given two ears and one mouth for a reason: one should listen many more times than one should talk.
Active listening requires understanding what you are hearing, asking follow-up questions, and watching body language. The better one listens, the better one learns.
As one ages, it seems that people tend to talk more about themselves and less about the people they are talking to. Listen more and talk less for success."
John A. Fabian
"The most successful lives are those people who have had a very positive impact on a great many other people."
Marriage & Family
Ralph Linsalata
"Tell your spouse and children that you love them every day, no matter how you feel.
Do not bring your problems home with you.
Realize the joy that comes from helping your spouse and children excel in their fields of interest and enjoy themselves.
Develop within your family a sense of obligation to help others.
Spending quality time with your family — not just time — is critical.
Choose a spouse who will understand and support you, and one for whom you will do the same. Life is much better if you can help each other grow and expand your knowledge, experiences, friends, and capabilities."
Gerald (Jerry) Wolin
"When raising children, make sure they grow up to be independent. Too many of us want to make life easy on our kids and save them from anguish. That is not always the best course of action."
Donald P. Nielsen
"Marriage is an 80–20 partnership, on both sides. If you each understand that, you always go out of your way to please your spouse. When both partners do that, you have a happy marriage.
The greatest gift you can give your children is to love one another."
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It's hard for any of us to imagine 50-years into the future–especially when we're young and inexperienced. This is one of the reasons it's so important to learn the lessons of those who have more experience. As you lead and coach the young agents under your care, share these insights and the insights of others who have gone before us. It will not only enrich your coaching experience, but it may also make you a better person in the process.
Editor's Note: This article was written by Dr. David Mashburn. Dave is a Clinical and Consulting Psychologist, a Partner at Tidemark, Inc. and a regular contributor to WorkPuzzle.
