David Ogilvy's vision of a good leader

Thirty years ago when I got into advertising sales, I wanted to educate myself about my new industry. I hit the library and discovered "Confessions of an Advertising Man" by David Ogilvy. Since that time, Ogilvy has been one of my heroes. He was that rare person who excelled in all aspects of the business. He was an incredibly creative copywriter, a great sales person and an excellent manager/leader. His thoughts are as valuable today as they were back in the "Mad Man" era when he helped shape modern advertising. Here are his thoughts on what it takes to be a leader from the book : The Unpublished Ogilvy :

The qualifications I (David Ogilvy) look for in our leaders are these:

1. High standards of personal ethics.
2. Big people, without pettiness. 
3. Guts under pressure, resilience in defeat.
4. Brilliant brains--not safe plodders.
5. A capacity for hard work and midnight oil.
6. Charisma--charm and persuasiveness.
7. A streak of unorthodoxy--creative innovators.
8. The courage to make tough decisions.
9. Inspiring enthusiasts--with thrust and gusto.
10. A sense of humor

Not a bad list to look for or aspire to.

Thanks for reading!

Jim Busch