Benjamin Holk Henriksen - The Mind of a Leader I: The Complete Transcripts

Title Page

THE MIND OF A LEADER I

Based on Niccol Machiavellis The Prince

- The Complete Transcripts -

by

Benjamin Holk Henriksen

&

Fredrik Lassenius

Publisher Information

Published in 2014 by

Andrews UK Limited

www.andrewsuk.com

The rights of Benjamin Holk Henriksen and Fredrik Lassenius to be identified as the authors of this work have been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1998

Copyright 2014 Benjamin Holk Henriksen & Fredrik Lasseniu

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the publisher, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser. Any person who does so may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

The views expressed within this book do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher. Andrews UK are not liable for any direct, indirect, special, consequential or incidental damages arising out of the use of information contained within this publication

Foreword

34 famous international leaders and experts within: Business, Politics, Art, Sport, Organized Crime, Philanthropy, and Health Care are united in a timeless and universal documentary about leadership, ethics and visions. The topics discussed in each chapter of The Mind of a Leader are closely related to the issues raised in the 26 chapters of Niccol Machiavellis controversial strategic masterpiece The Prince (Italy, 1513).

The Mind of a Leader I presents each chapter of The Prince in 26 chapters. The modern documentaries consist of interviews with influential leaders from all over the world based on modern interpretations of Machiavellis controversial thoughts. The projects reveals the involved participants personal views, and not their knowledge in terms of Machiavelli. This book, The Mind of a Leader I - the complete transcripts is the readable format of the documentary programs. Out of respect of the interviewees, and in order to convey as much authenticity of the interviews as possible, only minor corrections have been implemented.

The multi-cultural documentary series examines different aspects of modern leadership and encourages future leaders to be responsible and create an efficient, dynamic, and humane environment, while achieving ambitious goals. The Mind of a Leader offers general advice in regards to both individual and organizational success, global co-operations, human values, human resource issues such as motivation, implementation of changes, personal ambitions, etc. But The Mind of a Leader also aims to reveal some of the more sensitive issues an ambitious leader has to deal with in regard to the above. Questions such as, whether it is better to be loved or feared as a leader, or if it is ever acceptable to practice deceit or make human sacrifices for a greater good?

Imagine a documentary that, commencing in different cultures, circuitously questions the global balance of power, interpersonal relations (at work, leisure etc.) and questions to what extent manipulation and cynicism can be accepted...

The Mind of a Leader is an outstanding training and development tool. Each chapter features questions, conclusions and practical hands-on advice in regards to both individual and organizational success. A fascinating journey to the inside of successful modern organizations and leadership minds.

Inspiration, Training & Action!

Niccol Machiavelli

Niccol Machiavelli was born in Florence, Italy May 3. 1469. In 1498 he was appointed secretary and second chancellor to the Florentine Republic. In 1512, the Medici family regained power in Florence and Machiavelli was accused of conspiracy, arrested and tortured. With the intension of bringing him back into favor with the Medici family, Machiavelli then wrote The Prince, a guide to creating and holding on to a principality. Due to his controversial statements favoring a lasting regime over noble ideals, Machiavelli came to be widely regarded as the Devils servant. The Prince has become the bible of real politics. A frightening and useful source of inspiration...

Chapter 1: Fortune & Ability

In chapter I How many kinds of principalities there are, and in what manner they are acquired Machiavelli specifies that principalities are either new or they are hereditary. The new principalities are either entirely new or they are annexed to the hereditary state of the prince who acquires them. They are acquired either by the conquerors own army or by the arms of others, or by fortune or ability.

To what extent do Machiavellis thoughts apply to the roles and responsibilities of modern leaders from different countries, cultures and trades? What criteria determine success or failure? What is the impact of fortune and ability on a career?

Philip Kotler (USA)

Distinguished Professor of International Marketing,

Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University

Management Guru & Best Selling Author

You know, I cant imagine a career where luck and personal abilities did not both work, because lets take the following: in 1956 I received an invitation to go to Harvard for some post doctorial work in mathematics. It was a program that chose very carefully only 15 people teaching economics in business to train them to even a higher level of math and if that did not happen I would not have met Donald Jacobs, who was going to eventually be the dean of North Western University business school, and I would not have probably gotten into marketing, I would have stayed in economics and so on. So luck and coincidences play a lot cause that was not planned by me - it just happened.

Personal abilities, I have been always a left brain person. By that I mean a very analytical, studious in a sense, but engaged in the world seeing whats going on and then I developed my right brain side which is called the creative side and the one that synthesizes a lot of things, puts them together, builds new frameworks, so its a combination of luck and personal abilities.

Bengt Baron (Sweden)

Fmr. CEO & President, Vin & Sprit (Absolut Vodka)

Olympic Swimming Champion

Well I think of course its a combination I dont know whether its luck but I think there are several occasions of coincidence in ones working life, I mean I have never been an active career planner in any way, on the contrary I have been driven very much from the opportunities of taking on challenges and also trying to add to my own toolbox to learn more from every opportunity I have been given in my working life. And so far I have been quite lucky on the one hand getting provided with opportunities, and skillful enough to actually take the challenges and move on and in my works so far, touch wood, I have been successful enough to be given opportunities to move on. If we go back to the sporting life its a lot of hard work to build skills and to be prepared for that one day, but for that one day I think there is a significant amount of luck involved as well to actually be at your peak that one day. So I think it is a combination, I think I have been fortunate, but I also think its a skill to take on challenges and be brave enough to take on challenges.

Pat Boone (USA)

Entertainment Legend

Political Commentator

By the time I graduated at the age of 23 with honors from Columbia University I had my own network television show, very successful, on ABC television - the youngest guy ever to have his own show. I had a successful recording contract, a number of hit records, and already made several movies, successful films, performed for queens and royalty and millions of fans, and I had four children. At 23... And at that point I stopped and asked myself and prayed Am I going to take a teaching job now, like I thought I was going to do? No, I have got these contracts, I have to honor these contracts, three to five year, seven year movie deal. I better see where all this goes before I accept a teaching job or apply for one. So my point is I did not make all this happen, it happened to me and the doors opened and I feel it was clearly the response of God to my young prayer. That I wanted my life to be useful to him and to other people and so I have always had that sense that my talent is no great talent, I can carry a tune, I can sing and I enjoy it, and people have enjoyed it, but thats almost the platform that was given to me from which I could do other things that I consider more important in the long run than just entertainment.