I finished reading this new book that I am a co-author of called Pinnacle of Influence, How the World’s Greatest Thought Leaders Became Global Gurus, and wanted to give both a shout-out to the authors and add a few of my favourite snippets of their inspirational words.  Here are some short phrases or quotes from each chapter (in order) that stuck out as inspirational for me:

Chapter 1 – Mastering the Art of Leadership by Dr. Marshall Goldsmith

“Leadership is not an inborn trait, but a skill set that can be cultivated and refined.”

“Traditionally, feedback…focuses on what went wrong, not what can lead to future success.”

“The true art of leadership lies in the ability to turn vision into a reality, challenges into opportunities, and individuals into high-performing teams.”

Chapter 2 – How a Thought Leader Thinks by Ron Kaufman

“How can I respect the past, work in the present, and contribute to a better future?”

“…encouraging others is a powerful form of service.”

“Becoming a thought leader requires a combination of expertise and vision.”

“Thought leaders cannot be leaders if they only think in isolation.”

Chapter 3 – A Rhapsody in Failure by Arthur Carmazzi

“The power of our Life Symphony is affected by the type of music we hear.  We live up to the expectations of our environment.”

“…credibility is the currency for earning listener’s trust.”

“If a problem can be solved with money, it’s not a problem, it’s an expense.”

“Failure is not the opposite of success, mediocrity is.”

Chapter 4 – Transforming From an Expert to a Thought Leader by John Mattone

“…our lives are not about us.”

“Great leadership is about having a passionate drive to change the world for the better…”

“If you want others to be happy, be courteous, compassionate, and altruistic.”

Chapter 5 – Positioning in Negotiations – What Matters by Greg Williams

“Timing can be a blessing and curse in a negotiation.”

“…he added, “Don’t you want to look good to the other people in the bar?” …and magically, he got to shine more shoes.”

“In a negotiation, the way you position yourself and your offer will determine how you and it are perceived.”

Chapter 6 – Rising to Distinction by Jonathan Low

“(quoting Simon Sinek:) “people don’t buy what you do, they buy why you do it.”

“Communication is the heartbeat of connection.”

“Community isn’t just about the people we meet; it’s a rich soil where growth, learning, and inspiration can thrive.”

“…the pinnacle of influence is not a summit conquered alone; it’s a horizon that expands as we grow together.”

Chapter 7 – Triple Win Leadership Coaching by Will Linssen

“…as human beings, we have more in common than our personalities, principles, or passports would indicate.”

“The future here is the past somewhere else.”

“It is the client who determines the coaching engagement’s success at the outset.”

“…organizational success and social impact can go hand-in-hand.”

Chapter 8 – The Key to Extraordinary by me, Ric Phillips, MBA

I think it would be odd if I wrote my favourite inspirational quotes from my own chapter!  If you have any, feel free to add them in the comments.  I’ll simply give another thank you to my mentors that are mentioned in my chapter, Dr. Marat Ressin, Mark Bowden, Tony Robbins and also mention my company 3V Communications and the non-profit organization that I helped start, NCCA Canada.

Chapter 9 – Breaking the Chains by David Snyder

“Everything human beings do is in response to a feeling.”

“All leaders walk the hero’s journey in one form or another.”

“Just because you can do something does not mean you should…”

“This world…is engineered to make you grow through trial and effort.”

“When people do not want change, they have to create an enemy.”

Chapter 10 – World Influence Mastery by Dr. Peter Chee

“(quoting Aristotle): Where your talents and the needs of the world cross, there your calling can be found.”

“Having an unblemished reputation goes a long way to establishing yourself as someone with integrity who not only gets things done, but also gets things done the right way.”

“You should discard the innate fear you have when approaching someone great to support you on your journey.”

Chapter 11 – Five Fundamental Lessons on my Journey by Dr. Giti Caravan

“My family was the harbor, my mentors were lighthouses, and my peers were fellow sailors braving the stormy seas with me.”

“…the importance of leaving our comfort zone, not as a betrayal of our initial calling but as an expansion of our identify and purpose.”

“Growth has pain, but the pain is rewarding.”

“I learned to balance work and life by saying ‘no’ when necessary and setting boundaries to protect my time and energy.”

Chapter 12 – How Grace Builds Community by John Baldoni

“Within the community, there is the freedom to belong as well as the responsibility of belonging.”

“Grace enables leaders to navigate adversity and confrontation with dignity, creating an environment for open dialogue rather than argumentation.”

“Community arises from people of shared interest coming together for the greater good.”

This book is available on Amazon in both kindle and paperback.  😊