Manage Like Abraham Lincoln Quotes

“The next time you’re brainstorming business ideas, keep in mind – “the devil is in the details.” Often times, the smallest things, lead to the biggest rewards.”
― Nicholas L Vulich, Manage Like Abraham Lincoln

“Lincoln on Ambition   "Every man is said to have his peculiar ambition. Whether it be true or not, I can say, for one, that I have no other so great as that of being truly esteemed of my fellow-men, by rendering myself worthy of their esteem."   Some men desire money, some power, Lincoln’s ambition was to be worthy of esteem by his fellow men. What’s your ambition?”
― Nicholas L Vulich, Manage Like Abraham Lincoln

“Don’t let worries hold you back   Slavery was a big issue in Lincoln’s life, and a clergyman back in Springfield once asked him, “What was to be his policy on the slave issue…” Lincoln replied, “You know Father B., the old Methodist preacher? And you know Fox River and its freshets? Well, once in the presence of Father B., a young Methodist was worrying about Fox River, and expressing fears that he should be prevented from fulfilling some of his appointments by a freshet in the river.” Father B. checked him in his gravest manner. Said he: “Young man, I have always made it a rule in my life, not to cross Fox River till I get to it.” “And,” said Mr. Lincoln, “I am not going to worry myself over the slavery question till I get to it.”
― Nicholas L Vulich, Manage Like Abraham Lincoln

“In the early years of his Presidency, Lincoln was widely lampooned and torn apart by the press, and many of the people around the country. But, his soldiers never doubted him. Lincoln always made time for the common soldiers. He walked among them, shook their hands, told stories to them, and took time to comfort them when they were sick or wounded. In return, they respected and admired the president. If you’re a leader, and you are not personally visiting and working with all of your employees, from the lowest to the highest level, you’re missing the boat.”
― Nicholas L Vulich, Manage Like Abraham Lincoln

“You need to inspire confidence   During the war, many politicians and businessmen would visit with the soldiers at the military hospitals. One gentleman visiting the military hospital in Washington couldn’t help overhearing a wounded soldier talking loudly and laughing about President Lincoln. The man followed the trail of laughter to the wounded soldier, and told him, “You must be slightly wounded?” “Yes,” replied the soldier, “very slightly – I have only lost one leg, and I’d be glad enough to lose the other, if I could hear some more of “Old Abe’s” stories.”
― Nicholas L Vulich, Manage Like Abraham Lincoln

“heads of his audience. Of course, there are times you can go out there, and use a lot of those five dollar words, and everyone will understand you, but you better save that talk for an IT convention, or the like. And, the truth is, most of them probably wouldn’t mind if you dumbed it down a little, and made things more interesting.”
― Nicholas L Vulich, Manage Like Abraham Lincoln

“People still do that today. Many business people feel compelled to use elaborate Power Point presentations to drive home their point. Between the slides, and their high faluting words, most of it flies right over people’s heads. There’s a reason newspapers and mass magazines write their stories at the fifth grade level. Everyone can understand it. Remember this the next time you’re giving a talk to the troops, or a sales pitch to that big client, keep it simple. Don’t use a five dollar word, when a five cent word will get your point across just as well.”
― Nicholas L Vulich, Manage Like Abraham Lincoln

“Keep it simple stupid   One day Lincoln gave his law partner some advice on how to approach people. “Billy, don’t shoot too high – aim lower, and the common people will understand you. “They are the ones you want to reach – at least, they are the ones you ought to reach. “The educated and refined people will understand you anyway. If you aim too high, your idea will only be over the head of the masses, and only reach those who need no hitting.”
― Nicholas L Vulich, Manage Like Abraham Lincoln

“People make fun of you for one reason: They want to get your temper flaring. If you can show them it doesn’t bother you, the games over.”
― Nicholas L Vulich, Manage Like Abraham Lincoln

“It would just freak them out, because there was nothing else they could say.”
― Nicholas L Vulich, Manage Like Abraham Lincoln

“At the start of my business career, I managed a convenience store. People would get screaming mad when I refused to sell them beer or cigarettes. I mean these people would just blow their tops, screaming at the top of their lungs to f—k off, and die. They’d tear you and your mom, and uncle and aunt, and anybody else that they could think of apart. And, every time, I’d just look them in the eye, give them a big old smile, and say, “Thank-you, have a nice day!”
― Nicholas L Vulich, Manage Like Abraham Lincoln

“So many people get mad when someone says something about them. Those of us who were bullied in elementary school know the secret to handling this: If you laugh with them, they eventually look for another target.”
― Nicholas L Vulich, Manage Like Abraham Lincoln

“don’t want to live.”   I’ve also heard the story where the man has a knife, or a really big stick. The take away is the same: There are always going to be people who want to make fun of you for one thing, or another. It’s a lot easier to laugh with them, than argue against them.”
― Nicholas L Vulich, Manage Like Abraham Lincoln

“Back in the early days of the personal computer, IBM was the industry leader. In the early eighties they had just released the personal computer, and it was taking the business world by storm. They were so sure the profit was all in the hardware, and software was just a minor accessory. In their carelessness, they sold the software that ran their computers to an unknown Harvard dropout named Bill Gates, and they learned the hard way, the computer business is driven by applications, not by the hardware.”
― Nicholas L Vulich, Manage Like Abraham Lincoln

“the devil’s in the details.”
― Nicholas L Vulich, Manage Like Abraham Lincoln

“Back in the early days of his career as a frontier lawyer, Lincoln was engaged in an important trial. It was a really hot day. His opponent was arguing his case, and as he paced around he was starting to sweat, so the man removed his jacket and vest. The lawyer’s shirt buttoned in the back, not in the front, as was customary. Lincoln was quick to notice the discrepancy, and said to the jury – “Gentlemen of the jury, having justice on my side, I don’t think you will at all be influenced by the gentleman’s pretended knowledge of law, when you see he does not even know which side of his shirt should be in front.” Lincoln’s story drew a laugh from the jury and the audience, and won him the case.”
― Nicholas L Vulich, Manage Like Abraham Lincoln