The Best Leaders are Insatiable Learners

Nearly a quarter century ago, at a gathering in Arizona, John W. Gardner — a legendary public intellectual and civic reformer — delivered a speech that may be one of the most quietly influential speeches in the history of American business. Surprisingly, this speech was not about money nor power. Rather, it was on “Personal Renewal” — “the urgent need for leaders who wish to make a difference and stay effective to commit themselves to continue learning and growing.” This piece takes a deeper look at the nuggets of wisdom in Gardner’s timeless speech.