Even the legendary King Arthur would have been awash with humility kneeling before the porcelain god, searching for a jewel-encrusted solution to his kingdom’s problems. Were he dismissive of the company he kept at his side, perhaps Arthur would not be the legend that he is today. Continuing my comments on Steve Farber’s third-book outline.

• Choose wisely. Barry Schwartz, author of The Paradox of Choice, argues that consumers are less satisfied with making decisions when aware of other options. Jonah Berger posits that consumers perceive brands with more variety as category leaders and thus are more likely to buy from those brands. Choosing wisely means making snap, focused decisions, and only looking back to let history inform judgment.
• Tithe your time. According to research by Stanford professor Jeffrey Pfeffer, time is money when you’re paid by the hour. In fact, even when not paid by the hour, thinking about your salary in hourly terms can influence you to work more, harder, and longer hours to “make up for lost time.” Tithing your time is about ensuring that you are attending to your personal affairs, viewing your life as an investment in the future.
• Give it all away. What makes a good leader? David Thomas believes that instilling a spirit of learning in others is vital, “In today’s environment, hoarding knowledge ultimately erodes your power. If I know something very important, the way I’m going to get power is by actually sharing it.” Liberate your insight from its prison for the road to thought leadership is not paved alone.
• Celebrate dramatically. “A community is like a ship; everyone ought to be prepared to take the helm,” wrote Henrik Ibsen for his play An Enemy of the People. Communities grow around common visions, not common goals or common interests. People want a flag around which to rally, and they want to rally. When you celebrate dramatically, you are empowering people to fly your colors as their colors, proliferating passion for progress.

Steve Farber, a local bestselling author and speaker on leadership, recently announced his commitment to write a third book. Even more recently, he presented an overview of the third book, tentatively titled Greater Than Yourself. Steve wants his readers to send in their thoughts about his proposed commandments. I will oblige his request since he is practically a neighbor!

• Expand your identity. Most people talk about brochures, logos, and advertising when they talk about identity, but identity has more to do with the relationships developed with the people involved with you and your organization. Expanding your identity means cultivating meaningful relationships with people in, and beyond, your circle of friends.
• Shift your perspective. Google CEO Eric Schmidt said in an iinnovate interview, “You don’t learn very much when you yourself are talking.” Shifting your perspective is a not matter of changing your opinion. Shifting your perspective is all about empathy, or the ability to understand someone’s point of view from their perspective. What do paintings look like to the blind? What do symphonies sound like to the deaf? What do diamonds feel like to the indigent? What does food taste like to the starving?
• Elevate your intentions. A recent study (within the last two years) suggested that entrepreneurs are primarily motivated by the acquisition of wealth and the accrual of power. The most effective strategy then is one that positively effects the bottom line. But a narrow concentration on fortune and status can lead to ethical, leadership, and interpersonal disasters. Elevate your intentions by transcending material motivations and embracing your moral compass.
• Commit to your legacy. “No legacy is so rich as honesty,” wrote William Shakespeare for his comedy All’s Well That Ends Well. Indeed, relationships are founded on the wealth that is trust between people. A simple, single act of dishonesty could unseal a decades-old friendship or throw a mighty empire into chaos and ruin. When you commit to your legacy, you are not committing to being remembered after you perish and have no further thoughts on the matter; you are committing to being remembered while you live.