1. 15 Axioms Proactive thoughts on work, leadership, and life “The unexamined life is not worth living” Socrates

2. 15 Axioms Proactive thoughts on work, leadership, and life What About Corporate Values?

3. 15 Axioms Proactive thoughts on work, leadership, and life

4. 15 Axioms Proactive thoughts on work, leadership, and life

5. 15 Axioms Proactive thoughts on work, leadership, and life

6. 15 Axioms Proactive thoughts on work, leadership, and life 1850 - 1988 …..value our customers, clients, and employees; provide a service to society; help our agents and brokers succeed; and consistently return a moderate return (defined as 4-6% annually over time) for our shareholders.

7. 15 Axioms Proactive thoughts on work, leadership, and life …..value our customers, clients, and employees; provide a service to society; help our agents and brokers succeed, and consistently return a moderate return (defined as 4-6% annually over time) for our shareholders. 1991 - 2000 We will return 15% annually to shareholders; run a lean and efficient operation; provide our services to the right client and customer for our business.

8. 15 Axioms Proactive thoughts on work, leadership, and life The New York Times, March 1992 writing of this new CEO… “… the post he assumed in 1988, the company pulled out of automobile insurance in 28 states, sometimes at significant short-term cost. … More than 2,600 jobs have been eliminated in the last nine months, mostly through layoffs. At 59, this company veteran who climbed the heights over a 34-year career, conceded that his changes ``break a little china in and out of the company.`` Employees and former employees say that morale has slipped badly, that burnout is a threat to those left in company’s thinning ranks. Agents, smarting from the pinch on commissions, are moving from suspicion to sometimes-open antagonism.”

9. 15 Axioms Proactive thoughts on work, leadership, and life In 2001, the company reported a net loss from continuing operations of $292 million and earnings per share loss from continuing operations of $0.46. It took the next decade to return this company to it’s former respect and profitability by returning to values aligned with employees, clients, and consumers.

10. 15 Axioms Proactive thoughts on work, leadership, and life  1886 - today

11. 15 Axioms Proactive thoughts on work, leadership, and life  We believe our first responsibility is to the doctors, nurses and patients, to mothers and fathers and all others who use our products and services. … Our suppliers and distributors must have an opportunity to make a fair profit. We are responsible to our employees, the men and women who work with us throughout the world. … their actions must be just and ethical. We are responsible to the communities in which we live and work and to the world community as well. We must … pay our fair share of taxes. Our final responsibility is to our stockholders. … When we operate according to these principles, the stockholders should realize a fair return

12. 15 Axioms Proactive thoughts on work, leadership, and life GREAT !, but what about our personal values? Let’s list some of them…

13. 15 Axioms Proactive thoughts on work, leadership, and life Do they look like this?

14. 15 Axioms Proactive thoughts on work, leadership, and life Let’s test our values shall we… Entrepreneurial

15. 15 Axioms Proactive thoughts on work, leadership, and life “When your values are clear to you, making decisions becomes easier.” Roy E. Disney

16. 15 Axioms Proactive thoughts on work, leadership, and life Case Study…

17. 15 Axioms Proactive thoughts on work, leadership, and life This morning, you were told some confidential information by your boss, about a company by the name icDigital. Just last night your, sister-in-law Hannah, who works for icDigital had been over to your house for dinner. At one point in the conversation Hannah mentioned that although icDigital had a new, proprietary software product with patented technology, it had been struggling financially. She went on to explain that there are rumors icDigital might be acquired, but she didn’t know by which company. If the acquisition happened, Hannah was well positioned to benefit financially, but if it did not occur, she would almost certainly lose her job, as would many others. She explained that she wanted to hang in there with icDigital, but had begun a job search several months ago as a safeguard. She was currently weighing the only offer she had received from a company that had asked for an answer by the end of the week.

18. 15 Axioms Proactive thoughts on work, leadership, and life The information your boss shared with you was that your company had been considering an acquisition of icDigital But the deal was not moving forward. The final decision, however, wouldn’t formally be announced for 3 weeks. A few more details:

19. 15 Axioms Proactive thoughts on work, leadership, and life What will you do now?

20. 15 Axioms Proactive thoughts on work, leadership, and life Our values often times conflict…

21. 15 Axioms Proactive thoughts on work, leadership, and life “I am ashamed to think how easily we capitulate to badges and names, to large societies and dead institutions.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

22. 15 Axioms Proactive thoughts on work, leadership, and life