The door to a balanced success opens widest on the hinges of hope and encouragement.  ~Zig Ziglar

General Colin Powell, the son of immigrants from Jamaica and retired Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, represents an extraordinary American success story. I’ve had the privilege of coming to know General Powell on a personal basis and I would like to say the qualities that impress me most are his consistency, integrity, intellectual capacity, genuine friendliness and his ability to balance confidence with humility.

He tells the story of how his first job was scrubbing floors at a Pepsi Cola plant and that he always gave it his absolute best, which he’s continued to do all of his life. From his life experiences, Gen. Powell has put together these thirteen rules he lives by and I believe that, regardless of what your mission in life might be, they will certainly be applicable in your life as they are in mine.

1. It ain’t as bad as you think. It will look better in the morning.
2. Get mad, then get over it.
3. Avoid having your ego so close to your position that when your position falls, your ego goes with it.
4. It can be done!
5. Be careful what you choose. You may get it.
6. Don’t let adverse facts stand in the way of a good decision.
7. You can’t make someone else’s choices. You shouldn’t let someone else make yours.
8. Check small things.
9. Share credit.
10. Remain calm. Be kind.
11. Have a vision. Be demanding.
12. Don’t take counsel of your fears or naysayers.
13. Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier. (In the military, one always looks for ways to increase or multiply your forces.)

Obviously, all of us do not have the drive, mind and determination of a Colin Powell, but I believe if each of us will apply these thirteen rules, all of us will come closer to being AT THE TOP!