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	PRESS COPY OF REMARKS FOR THE GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT & BUSINESS COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES WASHINGTON DC MAY 8, 1988

20 MINUTES

Thank you, Dean Loeser.

I enjoy speaking on college campuses. I’ve spoken to more than 80,000 students and graduates in past five years.

What I see with today’s young people is a new entrepreneurial spirit, a return to free market principles. Students look the same from coast to coast. You have the same goals; to achieve a good standard of living and a good quality of life, and to live in a free country. And I detect you have a dislike for the bureaucracy. You are the leaders of tomorrow, not 59-year-olds like me.

There is more opportunity to succeed today than ever. Both the public and private sectors are cutting bureaucracy, downsizing for efficiency. They’re returning to the basic principles that made this country great.

Students ask me how to succeed. They’re looking for just a few real quick tips. I may have them for you.

I follow a simple philosophy that has served me well in both business and family. From that philosophy I can give you a few tips.

In making decisions, learn to analyze well. Assess your risks and prospective awards. Remember that there’s no substitute for good research. Never become emotionally involved in business decisions, because emotions can cloud common sense. After you have made your analysis, be ready to make decisions. That’s the most important quality in a good leader. Avoid what I call the “Ready-aim-aim-aim-aim” syndrome.

Be a team player. You cannot lead if you aren’t willing to play on the team.

Be patient. I have to remind myself and our people at Mesa about the old adage “Patience is a great virtue.”

Be realistic. Dream, yes, but don’t be a day dreamer.

Learn from mistakes. Remember the doors that got your fingers the first time.

When you can, keep government out of business, except to ensure a free market. I’m a global economy advocate. Competition is the name of the game. Especially avoid protecting business leaders from market forces. our business leaders are paid well to compete and should not be protected from competition.

Stay fit. This is very important to your success. To stay competitive, you must be fit. People ask why I worry so much about staying fit. Like everything else in my life, there’s a very simple answer; I don’t want to get old and feel bad!

Practice moderation. Balance your family life and your work. The key is organization. There’s plenty of time for play, but you must plan it. If you’re organized, you’ll find time for everything. You can take as big a bite of the apple as you want: That’s what’s great about America.

Keep success as well as failure in perspective. Don’t ever get where you can’t go back to eating hamburger. We’re learning that lesson today in Texas.

Most important, always play by the rules. Never think you have to cheat to win; you don’t even need to bend your principles. Life is a lot like sports. Cheating to win is a hollow victory, and if you cheat, pretty soon you won’t find anyone willing to deal with you.

There’s a lot of talk about an ethics crisis in America. There is no ethics crisis; it’s a leadership crisis. It all goes back to the top. You must lead by example.

I was asked a long time ago, “When will you pack it up? When will you quit?” I’ll give it up when it ceases to be fun.

In conclusion, if you stay fit, work hard, analyze well, organize your time and play by the rules, I promise you you’ll succeed and have fun doing it.

Thank you and good luck.