Enjoy your time in public service. It may well be one of the most interesting and challenging times of your life.
From Donald Rumsfeld
It isn't making mistakes that's critical; it's correcting them and getting on with the principal task.
Look for what's missing. Many advisors can tell a President how to improve what's proposed or what's gone amiss. Few are able to see what isn't there.
Plan backwards as well as forward. Set objectives and trace back to see how to achieve them. You may find that no path can get you there. Plan forward to see where your steps will take you, which may not be clear or intuitive.
When asked for your views, by the press or others, remember that what they really want to know is the President's views.
You will launch many projects, but have time to finish only a few. So think, plan, develop, launch and tap good people to be responsible. Give them authority and hold them accountable. Trying to do too much yourself creates a bottleneck.
Think ahead. Don't let day-to-day operations drive out planning.
If the staff lacks policy guidance against which to test decisions, their decisions will be random.
In politics, every day is filled with numerous opportunities for serious error. Enjoy it.
I don't do quagmires.
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