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From Darwin to Jay-Z: Eight Leadership Insights to Inspire Any CIO

By Dennis McCafferty on 2011-08-10


Not everyone seeks inspiration in a diverse group of thinkers that includes Charles Darwin, Sun Tzu, Jeff Bezos and Jay-Z. But author/business leader Ryan Blair’s path to success has hardly taken a conventional route. In his book "Nothing to Lose, Everything to Gain", Blair reveals how he went from living an idyllic life in an upper-middle-class neighborhood in Southern California to joining a gang and then shuffling in and out of juvenile detention centers. Through a life-changing mentorship, he focused his energies on entrepreneurship, going on to create and sell three companies for hundreds of millions of dollars (the first of which he started at age 21). In "Nothing to Lose," Blair shares thoughtful, motivational quotes from famous people both current and historical—reflections that can benefit CIOs and other leaders. Here eight highlights—including one from Blair— plus takeaways on how these translate to your life as CIO:

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"I’m not a businessman. I'm a business, man."

—Jay-Z, rapper/actor/entrepreneur

The CIO Takeaway:

Think of yourself and your career as a corporation. Are you improving core strengths and assets? How are you establishing yourself as a brand?

"An army everywhere is an army nowhere."

—Sun Tzu, military general/philosopher (Art of War)

The CIO Takeaway:

Don’t spread your resources too thin or overwhelm your teams. Focus on core strengths and exploit opportunities accordingly.

“Life is theater; everyone is an actor—some in the lead, some in the supporting cast.”

—Ryan Blair, entrepreneur

The CIO Takeaway:

A successful department is one where roles are clearly established and supported.

“The secret to getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking down your complex, overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks ... ”

—Mark Twain, author

The CIO Takeaway: Encourage teams to tackle tough, massive projects by outlining them in incremental, compartmental stages.

“Don’t fear your competitor; they’ll never send you money. Fear your customer.”

—Jeff Bezos, founder/CEO, Amazon

The CIO Takeaway:

Lose your customers and you’re finished. Think constantly about ways to best demonstrate your awareness and devotion to their needs.

"It's not the strongest that survive ... It's those most responsive to change."

—Charles Darwin, scientist

The CIO Takeaway:

Agile companies thrive in today’s rapidly shifting economy. What was dominant yesterday may be “done” tomorrow.

“If you spend too much time polishing your image, you’ll tarnish your character.”

—Dale Brown, former basketball coach, LSU Tigers

The CIO Takeaway:

Work on your reputation from within—focusing on rock-solid values— and your image will take care of itself.

"There is no finish line"

—Bob Goergen, entrepreneur

The CIO Takeaway:

Success is about savoring the journey, and realizing that your career and personal growth are always works in progress.

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