In a world of uncertainty, we could all use a little advice. So we asked a host of influential leaders to share with us the wise words that changed their lives forever.

That is the setup for an article in the July issue of Fortune magazine called The Best Advice I Ever Got. I’ve been thinking how I would answer that question and can’t think of anything intelligent, but here are the bits I thought most interesting from the answers they got.

  • Jim Sinegal – A good manager must also be a good teacher
  • Lloyd Blankfein
    • Solicit your people’s opinions before you give them yours
    • People are influenced by how you carry yourself under stress
  • Tory Burch – Have a complete vision for the company
  • Scott Boras
  • Always serve the best interest of your clients
  • If you are really effective at what you do, 95% of the things said about you will be negative. Keep your head on straight, don’t get emotional, take the heat, and just make sure your clients are smiling.
  1. Jim Rogers – Most people don’t bother even doing the most basic homework.
  2. Meredith Whitney – Set realistic goals, achieve them, and recalibrate your goals so that you’re constantly moving forward, as opposed to setting dreamer-type goals that you’re going to get frustrated by.
  3. Shai Agassi – Agencies don’t do things. Entrepreneurs do things
  4. Colin Powell
    • Always try to do your best today, think about tomorrow, and maybe dream a bit about the future. But doing your best in the present has to be the rule.
    • You won’t become a general unless you become a good first lieutenant.
  5. Eric Schmidt
    • Get a coach
    • Rise one step higher, above the person on the other side of the table, and to take the long view
    • You’re letting it bother you. Don’t. – Bill Campbell
  6. Lauren Zalaznick – You don’t have to agree with the other person, but you do need to make sure that you both understand why you disagree.
  7. Tiger Woods – Keep it simple: If you want to [do something], figure out a way to do it
  8. Julian Robertson
    • If you give advice, it’s not nearly as well received as when it’s asked for.
    • When I ceased being a business bore — and quit pushing my views about the market on everyone — that people came to be more interested in any advice that I might have to give.