When Floyd sold Sweathogs and we reformed our team after a few years apart, he required me to carry a journal at all times – a place where I could take notes, shape projects, solve problems, and capture the principles that made it possible to rebuild our company.

I have filled up many journals over the years, but the one from this period in time I wouldn’t sell for any price. It is filled with treasured insights, triumphs, and tragedies. Revisiting this book every once in a while reinforces how timeless the lessons he taught me are, and always refreshes my attitude about leadership. 

Here are just a few of his thoughts. 

He had just spent 30 minutes helping a truly rude and egotistical manager, turned to me, and said, “If I would make myself available for someone I don’t even like, imagine what I’d be willing to do for you.”

We were teaching the three styles of management (The X style - tell, the O style – beg and hope, and the X disguised as O – team) and he described them this way. “There’s tough and there’s love, and then there is tough love. Straighten them out, but don’t give up on them.” 

We always had fun taking those psychological profiles, but one day profiled me by saying, “Your inner disposition is to avoid conflict and confrontation. Leadership is about being effective in confronting people you have to shape. It isn’t easy, but it’s always necessary.”

The book, Unreasonable Hospitality, states that sarcasm never works when managing people. Here’s how Floyd said. It, “Snotty never gains respect. If you’re shaping people, they have to like and respect you, and part of respect is fear. There’s a difference between tough and snotty.”

He was also very aware of his own strengths and weaknesses. “I shine at being an entertainer, which might be the least useful or effective characteristic of a leader.”

And I always loved this one about change. “People hate change. Call it evolution instead. Change is difficult to sell because people are myopic about opportunity. Leaders have to be able to spot opportunity, act on opportunity, and get others to buy in despite myopia.” 

As you read that last quote were you thinking, Floyd used the word myopia? Yes, he did. I wrote these quotes down word for word.  I had to look it up, it means nearsightedness and lack of imagination. Floyd might have been a 9th-grade dropout, but he was educated and eloquent.

Which one resonated with you the most?