Devoted to Managers and those that seek to improve their management skills

"Success is having a flair for the thing that you are doing; knowing ... that you have got to have hard work and a sense of purpose."

There is a secret hidden in Margaret Thatcher's words that I want to draw out and take a look at.

Have you ever wondered when you see someone that is successful in their lives, and they seem to be colorful to the extent that they may even appear irresponsible? Undisciplined? That's what having what Margaret Thatcher calls "flair" can make someone look like. Occasionally it may even be true.

But overall, it's really an interesting trait to have. Many times those that have flair and magnetic personalities are able to lull their competitors into thinking they're inept or lazy; having more interest in fooling around that bearing responsibility.

This is something to consider if we have that type of personality, or we're doing business with someone like that. The vast majority of people are successful because they carry within themselves a sense of purpose, and are willing to work as hard as they need to to reach their destination.

While they may be showman along with it is only a byproduct of why a business or their leadership works. Many of the people I highlight and we talk about here have very flamboyant personalities. Some have been Richard Branson, Herb Kelleher and Steve Jobs.

When you come down to it though, when you know them or work with them, they're really into their businesses and understand them completely. They just run them with what Margaret Thatcher calls flair. Behind that flair is always a keen business mind and a locked-into purpose.

Sure they have fun and are very motivational, but you can be that and still fail. It's never the outward that makes someone, a key reason why we should never judge things as they appear, but rather look beneath to as they are.

Those that understand this can use their flair to get themselves underestimated, or can see through the hype to see a real competitor behind the charisma. Both are tools and insights we need as we're doing business. It doesn't hurt in marketing our businesses either.

Margaret Thatcher Resources:

Margaret Thatcher

Margaret Thatcher Foundation

Margaret Thatcher Quotes

The Best Quotes From Margaret Thatcher's 'Statecraft'

Margaret Thatcher & the Revival of the West

Margaret Thatcher Speech

Interview with Margaret Thatcher

Magaret Thatcher's Life in the Shadows

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