I have written about Don Miguel Ruiz’s book, The Four Agreements, and how those ancient principles are as applicable to business as they are to our lives in general.

This is, in my experience, the case for all solid advice.

As leaders, our values, norms and what we stand for, does not change as we cross the threshold from our private lives into the boardroom.

Being true to ourselves means carrying our passions and values into everything we do – our vulnerability and transparency makes us better leaders.

As such, just as in The Four Agreements, the words of Mother Theresa bear up to scrutiny as we challenge ourselves to be the best, most honest-with-ourselves leaders we can be:

People are often unreasonable, illogical and self-centered;

Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish ulterior motives;

Be kind anyway

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and true enemies;

Succeed anyway

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;

Be honest anyway,

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;

Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;

Be happy anyway,

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;

Do good anyway,

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;

Give the world the best you’ve got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God;

It was never between you and them anyway.

(Thanks to Brian Black for giving me the idea for this post! Please send me your blog ideas!)