The greatness of Napoleon, Caesar or Washington is only
moonlight by the sun of Lincoln. His example is universal and
will last thousands of years…He was bigger than his country -
bigger than all the Presidents together…and as a great character
he will live as long as the world lives.” - Leo Tolstoy, The
World, New York, 1909 In honor of President’s Day, I went and
saw Steven Spielberg's great movie “Lincoln” this past weekend.
As it has for many, the movie exceeded my very high expectations
for it. The film's core narrative - President Lincoln's efforts
to get the 13th amendment abolishing slavery through Congress
before the end of the Civil war - offered a treasure trove of
leadership wisdoms applicable to our modern day. The movie
paints a basic leadership dilemma in stark relief, namely what
is the proper balance between morality and expediency? Between
"being right" and being effective, and to what degree do moral
ends justify messy means? Lincoln, through the leadership role
into which he was uniquely t