The gameplan for success:1. The Power of Attitude. The attitude you choose to assume toward life and everything it brings you will determine whether you realize your aspirations. What you are capable of achieving is determined by your talent and ability. What you attempt to do is determined by your motivation. How well you do something is determined by your attitude.
2. Tackle Adversity. You are going to be knocked down. I have been on top and I have been at the bottom. To achieve success, you are going to have to solve problems. If you react positively to them, you'll be stronger and better than ever. You can assume that your competitors have problems, too. If you react to setbacks more quickly and positively, you gain a distinct advantage. I've never encountered a person who achieved anything that didn't require overcoming obstacles. Expect them.
3. Have a Sense of Purpose. Understand what you are trying to do. Stay completely focused on your original and primary purpose. Do not be sidetracked. If you own a business, help customers get what they want. If you want a promotion, give your employers what they want, somebody who delivers a first-rate performance every day.
4. Make Sacrifice Your Ally. You can't be successful without making sacrifices. Most losing organizations are overpopulated with people who constantly complain about life's difficulties. They will drain your enthusiasm and energy. Take pride in making sacrifices and having self-discipline.
5. Adapt or Die. Things are always changing, so embrace the fact that your life and career are always in transition. Yes, you will achieve your goals, but don't fall into the mistake of thinking you don't have to do anything further. Even when you become number one, you will still need to stay focused on the fundamentals.
6. Chase Your Dreams. All great accomplishments start with a dream. Dreams fuel your enthusiam and vision. They give you a burning desire to get up in the morning and achieve.
7. Nurture Your Self-Image. A positive self-image grows out of having strong character. To be trustworthy, committed to excellence, and show care for others are the underpinnings of a successful person. These qualities are so important I devoted the last three steps to each of them.
8. Foster Trust. All relationships are based on trust. I can't begin to tell you how many people I have seen ruin tremendous opportunities because they didn't have the discipline and decency to do what's right. Continually ask yourself, "Is this the right thing to do?" Do what you feel is right regardless of peer pressure or personal desires; success and confidence will not be far behind.
9. Commit to Excellence. Do everything to the best of your ability. Everybody wants to be associated with people who set and maintain high standards. When you lower standards, you only invite mediocrity.
10. Handle with Care. Treat others as you would like to be treated—with concern and care.
From Coach Lou Holtz's book,
WINNING EVERY DAY
The gameplan for success:
The following character traits not only define our organizational characteristics, but help us meet our challenges head on.
"We communicate with purpose. We will synchronize words and actions, and assess results to ensure all understand our action and intent. Actions without corresponding words are open to interpretation. Words without corresponding action can ring hollow. Effective communication is fundamental to achieving desired effects in every domain. "
"An officer should be thoroughly acquainted with the U.S. Navy Regulations. These have been compiled throughout the years. They are based on the accumulated knowledge of generations of naval officers. Each article has some history behind it and has been purposely recorded to prevent repetition of an error. Certainly one cannot go wrong if he follows to the best of his ability those regulations. Of all the professional books available to the inexperienced officer, none is more valuable to him as the U.S. Navy Regulations."
"You cannot surge trust because trust will underpin everything that we do. Trust does not have a switch: you can't turn it on, you can't turn it off. It is something that takes time to build and must be worked cooperatively to maintain that trust. That trust is built on friendships, professional and personal, that expand over decades. It is being able to come together and work closely on a range of issues and operational environments."
"We believe the individual Marine is the most formidable weapon on today’s battlefield and will remain so tomorrow. Whatever the future holds, our emphasis on making Marines will NOT change."
Master Chief Petty Officer Ronald N. Schwartz passed away on 27 August 2007 following a fatal tractor accident near his home in Indiana. He had a distinguished career as a Cryptologic Maintenance Technician in the Naval Security Group. He served in USS BIDDLE, in The White House Communication Office, at Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, on the Staff of the Chief of Naval Education and Training, as an instructor at Naval Technical Training Center - Corry Station - Pensacola, Florida and as Command Master Chief for U.S. Naval Security Group Activity - Yokosuka, Japan.
“It is my desire to conserve, to the maximum practible extent, the DNI [Director of Naval Intelligence] organization and strength and if possible to get them more help. The greater the contractions of the Navy — the more important our DNI and Communications Intelligence become.”
"I think that the term 'shipmate' is something honorable and it's something that each one of you earns. It should be something to be very proud of." 
Leadership is the essence of our profession.
"Perhaps the most important characteristic of all for a person in any profession is INTEGRITY. In the Navy, integrity is absolutely essential or the person fails and the service fails."
"The essence of leadership is making people better. In most cases, people will sense what your expectations are and meet them. If you believe in your people, support them, and challenge them, they will almost always rise up to the occasion and perform superbly.
