If I Don't Smile, No One Around Me Will

My most important self-discipline as a chairman is not health or time management — it is my own smile. If I am not smiling, the people around me will never smile. A leader's expression becomes the organization's weather: if I cloud over, meetings cloud over, then the workplace, and eventually even customers feel it.

Being in good spirits is not a personality trait for me; it is executive work. This is not about forced smiles — those are always seen through. It is about continuously placing yourself in a state of genuine excitement; if your work design kills excitement, fix the design. A company that makes everyone smile begins with one real smile.

I have decided to remain that first one.

What do you work for?