You're watching...

Colin Powell's life lessons

Details

  • Description

    General talks career, Iraq in new book

  • Duration 3:43
  • Date

Clips

Also in this playlist...

Editor's Picks

Auto-advance: ON

Auto-advance

Transcript

This transcript is automatically generated

New book it worked for me in life and leadership the former secretary of state shares many of the life experiences that have shaped his impressive career.

-- you -- back that with a former secretary of state general Colin Powell that security advisor general and what thirteen.

You're about two dozen of them and fellow writing an article about me and he needed to hope to close the article for Parade Magazine.

And when my assistants and asked the -- -- little scraps of paper governor's.

Desk glass.

And -- the guy did and I picked first thirteen it came to mind and -- clean.

Yeah this team rules that you have in your life why -- -- and you're putting your advice to people in your book about it and their religious things I jotted down over the years as I had experience is yours is screwed something up and I -- -- And that's -- -- war and -- for 22 years.

Question we have been sending them out.

And so when I started this next book the book and -- now I just sort of dissembling stories.

And I had -- finally why I think those thirteen rules and the very first chapter of the book.

Okay is there's nothing cohesive about it you can jump in anywhere read -- -- want to know index you can't look yourself out.

Look -- what I know what that's like.

You're number one.

Think -- your life but it -- as bad -- you think it will look better in the morning but the number to get mad but then get over it -- can you tell a story in the book about how that.

Then upon guy from France you wanted to strangle -- Abortion and -- -- Dominique -- -- the French foreign minister and I had terrible fights in 2003 at the United Nations.

And Americans were furious with the French you know we're not gonna call French Fries anymore when I -- drink French wine.

And that I was as mad at that -- as anybody we have a lot arguments but I had to remember that I might need.

-- and I might -- the French.

So he was an adversary but don't make an enemy that's the lesson and that's right have adversaries have fights but don't.

Avoid making and don't make an adversary and enemy when you can make -- atmosphere at the -- Fran how it paid off is very clear the Iraq war in the aftermath he was reading your side with -- whether -- -- other things you surprised you.

In helping you out with -- Aristide.

Only because she didn't burn the bridges that don't burn bridges you don't have to -- -- man to walk across from again so one of your girls is also share the credit -- and I'm wondering if you learned that from family life or from all of your years.

The military it was -- but over the course of my life and my family was very loving caring family but in the military you're -- early on.

When you do something well make sure the troops get the credit and when you screwed up your problem.

Try to do better train the troops human beings want to be recognized human beings want to think -- valued.

And lots of stories in the book where I'd say the simplest.

Simplest thing to do of the human beings just which arm around -- -- -- -- -- good job.

Sat.

Show empathy for human beings who once stories about I would walk in the garage of the State Department.

Wandering around is looking to what's going on -- my department has more than flying around the right places it's what I mean you garage.

And contract employees who parked the cars through there and and as -- had to decide who's the first second third and in the line to get out.

And they've looked at each other and finally said the secretary it's pretty simple if when you come in you -- your window.

You look at how you smile of us.

And you say good morning how are you your first not a candidate at.

It isn't brain surgery to have a look I've and don't have to -- do have to read a book.

How about thank you very much thanks very much everybody who you can -- nitrate CU.

-- --