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| Overview |
"If you want to be successful, it is this simple. Know what you are doing, love what you are doing. And believe in what you are doing." -- Will Rogers When Chad Smith became Principal Chief, the Cherokee Nation was a chaotic and dysfunctional entity. By the end of his tenure, 12 years later, the Nation had grown its assets from $150 million to $1.2 billion, increased business profits 2,000 percent, created 6,000 jobs, and dramatically advanced its education, language, and cultural preservation programs. How could one team influence such vast positive change? The Cherokee Nation's dramatic transformation was the result of Smith's principle-based leadership approach and his unique "Point A to Point B model"--the simple but profound idea that the more you focus on the final goal, the more you will accomplish . . . and the more you will learn along the way. In other words, "look at the end rather than getting caught up in tanglefoot." In Leadership Lessons from the Cherokee Nation, Smith combines Cherokee wisdom handed down from generation to generation with a smart leadership approach that takes today's very real issues into consideration. He explains why this leadership approach works and how you can apply it to your own organization, whether business, government, or nonprofit. Learn all the lessons that drive powerful leadership, including how to:
More than a simple how-to leadership guide, Leadership Lessons from the Cherokee Nation offers a holistic approach to the subject--how to become a powerful leader inside and direct your energy outward to accomplish any goal you set your mind to. Praise for Leadership Lessons from the Cherokee Nation: "These are lessons that can be applied to every organization. Principal Chief Smith's book on leadership is sound and provides steps for every business and organization to improve." -- Frank Keating, President and CEO, American banker's Association, and former Governor of Oklahoma "An indelible chronicling of time-proven elements for tribal and organizational success; just as applicable today as they were a thousand years ago." -- Jay Hannah, Cherokee Citizen, Executive Vice President of Financial Service, BancFirst, and former Chairman of the 1999 Cherokee Constitution Convention "A remarkable account of how the Cherokee Nation reached a pinnacle of success by incorporating common elements of planning, group action, and sharing credit for that success." -- Ross Swimmer, former Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation 1975-1985 and former Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs, US Department of the Interior "Chief Smith shares stories with lessons that work in business; it is not where we are, but where we aspire to go that counts." -- Harold Hamm, Chairman and CEO, Continental Resources, Inc. "Chief Smith shares from a Cherokee perspective how to get from where you are to where you want to go." -- Archie Dunham, Independent Non-Executive Chairman, Chesapeake Energy, and former Chairman, ConocoPhillips "Outlines the reasons for the Nation's amazing growth and stability during [Chief Smith's] term. His principles of organization, leadership, and caring make sense; they work in all organizations." -- David Tippeconnic, CEO, Arrow-Magnolia International, Inc., and former President and CEO, CITGO Petroleum Corp. |
| About the author |
Chad Smith, the Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation from 1999-2011, has been a powerful force in building businesses and working toward self-sufficiency for Native American Nations. He has devoted the majority of his adult life to rebuilding the Cherokee Nation and helping Cherokees learn how to help themselves. |
| Table of contents |
PART ONE- LESSONS LEARNED I. '''' '''' Introduction - Where do you start? Opening Statement? Cherokee Nation Sovereignty and history Green Roof - Who should take care of my mama? II. ''' '''''' '''''' Learn from All I Observe- Lesson - What is the first lesson Going to Water - Learn from All I Observe Solar Envelope - Forced to Look Dufus -What I don't know that I need to know Drawing Outside the lines - They are not my Lines Learn from All I Observe- One democratic universal right III. ''''''' Leadership - The Ability to go from Point A to Point B If you don't know where you are going any road will take you there Cherokee government and need for simple concept - Go back to fundamentals Leadership - Get you some Horses and Fishes Attributes - What does your leadership look like? Leadership by example-'I admire any man that can rise above his surroundings' Touching lives - In six decades Goodwill Trailer - Work done well Redbird Smith - Protect his people The Cherokee gift - Jimmy McCoy- Our turn to step up Fern Holland-Honor the wisdom of our women Konrad Holmes - Pursuing a worthy goal Sequoyah Basket Ball teams - Very little excuse Special Olympics - Indomitable spirit Message- Everyone is a leader IV. '''' Point B - Where you Want to Go. Where and What is Point B History Course - Why did we believe we could not do that? 100 year plan - We won't even be here then Sequoyah High School Graduation - Want something Public Defender - Glimpse of Life First lawyer I met - If he can do it Brain storming - What if Articulate the Vision-'If you want to be successful, it is this simple. Know what you are doing, love what you are doing. And believe in what you are doing' Cultural Tourism - Tell our Story Declaration of Designed Purpose- What was Point B for the Cherokee Nation? Right to Succeed Letter - Define ourselves Christmas all year long- It is the small things Point B is reachable- 'Actual knowledge of the future was never lower, but hope was never higher. Confidence will beat prediction anytime' Who would have thought? Youth Choir - Positive unintended consequences Hard Rock - On the back of a napkin Sequoyah High School - Become the School of Choice V. '''''' Point A- Where you are-' Never in our history was we willing to blame someone else for our troubles.' Road Map - - Journeys start with a GPS History Course - Why did we believe we could not do that Crossroads Letter - What are the epidemics we face Responsibility Letter - Accept responsibility with pride VI. ''' '''' '''''' '' '''' Between Point A and B - Challenges and Opportunities, 'We all want to get to town and stir up a rooster tail of dust behind us but we have to slow down for the turns, detours, potholes and bumps in the road.' Road Map and GPS - How does a map work Principles- 'Live in such a way that you would not be ashamed to sell your parrot to the town gossip.' Four Directions - Emulate the Messengers Patriot vs. Looter - Be a patriot Politicians or Statesmen - Ag'iners have one track minds Job Growth - A kindly man cannot help his neighbor Guiding Principles - What directs your decision making Plan-'When planning for a year, plant corn. When planning for a decade, plant trees. When planning for life, train and educate people.' Graduate Assistant - Treat me a like a child Desired Outcomes - What do you want at the end of the day The Pod - Nothing over 32 inches high Structure ' Take the Court Clerks Flowers Principal Based Leadership Organizational Structure - Lack of Control Process-'Individual responsibility could be masked in corporate personality, which'had no body to kick nor soul to damn.' Whose Decision Is It - One of two piles VII. ''' '''' '''''' '' '''' Preparation-' What do you call someone who speaks three languages? Trilingual. What do you call someone who speaks two languages? Bilingual. What do you call someone who speaks one language? American Think in Other Languages - Five fingers Say No to English Only Letter - Promote intelligence Don't Let Oklahoma be Bullied by English Only - Language is intelligence Cherokee Messenger - Exercise leadership Interest Analysis - What drives people? Tippeconic's Doctrines - Don't fall in love with an asset Branding - Do you see what you get? Progress-'Even if you are on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there.' Metrics - Are we there yet Balanced Score Cards Plant- '' the world is more malleable than you think and it's waiting for you to hammer it into shape.' Plant and Grow the Seeds of Inspiration Tradition of the Seed Corn - Think about the future Planting the Seed Corn - We do this for so our children can help themselves Julian's Essay - Starts with identity Proceed Undaunted ''An invincible determination can accomplish almost anything, and in this lies the great distinction between great men and little men.' Proceed Undaunted ' Don't Throw a rock at every dog that barks at you Five Minutes That Can Change a Life - Ten things at bed time Raising the Bar - Leave a legacy Summary VIII. '''''''' Closing Message PART TWO ' Appendices Appendix A: Commitment Message at the Inauguration of Chad 'Corntassel' Smith as Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation, August 14, 1999 Appendix B: Cherokee Nation State of the Nation, 'Sga du gi'- the Community Focus, September 2, 2000 Appendix C: Cherokee Nation State of the Nation, 'Embrace and carry forward the great Cherokee legacy,' September 1, 2001 Appendix D: Cherokee Nation State of the Nation, 'Building one Fire', August 31, 2002 Appendix E: Cherokee Nation State of the Nation, 'Critical Crossroads', August 30, 2003 Appendix F: Cherokee Nation State of the Nation, 'Where there is no vision, the people perish', September 4, 2004 Appendix G: Cherokee Nation State of the Nation, 'Full force and effect', September 3, 2006 Appendix H: Cherokee Nation State of the Nation, 'Planting the Seed Corn', August 30, 2008 Appendix I: Cherokee Nation State of the Cherokee Nation, 'Going from Point A to Point B', August 31, 2009 Appendix J: Cherokee Nation State of the Cherokee Nation, 'Happiness and Healthiness is found in Maturity', September 4, 2010 |
