The Code of the Executive: Forty-
Seven Ancient Samurai Principles
Essential for Twenty-First Century
Leadership Success by Don
Schmincke
A Book Which Enhances One's Personal And Professional Lives.
Management advisor Don Schmincke believes leaders can thrive in the
third millennium by utilizing principles developed during the first. They
originate in a moral code known as Bushido that was followed by samurai
warriors in ninth-century Japan and formalized by Daidoji Yuzan as the
Code of the Samurai some seven centuries later. Now updating them as
The Code of the Executive, Schmincke points out parallels between past
and present and suggests this connection is a natural. In those days, he
writes, the shogun was regulatory government, feudal barons the hard-
driving CEOs, real estate their business, and samurai the executives hired

to oversee it all. These samurai relied upon their rigid ethical guide to
discharge both professional and personal responsibilities favorably,
Schmincke notes, and todays corporate leaders can succeed by similarly
following its teachings. Dividing fundamentals into categories such as
Personal Principles, Roles and Responsibilities, and Education and
Development, he shows how ancient wisdom on cooperation, integrity,
accountability, sacrifice, power, and so on can apply to contemporary
situations. On Respecting Personnel, for example, he suggests
reasonable argument be used to gain agreement on serious infractions--
while for trivial issues it is better to be indulgent and patient and not sweat
the insignificant. --Howard Rothman
Personal Review: The Code of the Executive: Forty-Seven
Ancient Samurai Principles Essential for Twenty-First Century
Leadership Success by Don Schmincke
THE CODE OF THE EXECUTIVE, by Don Schmincke The Code of the
Executive ("The Code") is a long overdue, yet ancient, wake-up call for all
executives but most especially for CEOs. The philosophy expounded in
these moral, ethical and business precepts, called principles in the book,
will enhance the personal as well as professional lives of those executives
who follow the philosophy. The way is arduous for the executive who does
so but the benefits are great. Inner growth, success and security in one's
professional life await the intrepid executive. "The Code" puts forth a
philosophy of responsibility, for individual executives and for
organizations. A way of thinking and behaving is posited. Ethical and
healthiest growth for the organization is at the forefront, yet the CEO is the
symbol of the organization and must be supported as strongly. "The
Code" asks all executives to give their organizations and their CEOs the
utmost in loyalty and duty. Even more so, the CEO of an organization is
required to give a greater amount of his or her life to the organization in
return for greater benefits than the lower level executives enjoy. By
following the precepts in "The Code" an executive can climb in the
organization while being an aid to the real success of the organization.
Those who wish to one day become an executive will also find their way
made much smoother by following these precepts. In one's private
life, the lessons of "The Code" are available to repair or build and enhance
lasting relationships, to gain control over your ego, mind and life, and to
balance your life between the inner and outer person, between an ideal
and the ego. These lessons are similar in most cases, and the same in
some cases, as the precepts handed down by Jesus, Buddha,
Mohammed, the Boy Scouts, and many more whose philosophies
betokened a peaceful and balanced humanity. When I first read "The
Code," I disagreed with most of what I read, until I read about half of the
book. Then, I "got" it and was able to move my ego aside as I read. I had
been reading with a modern mindset. I was thinking that people owed only
as much loyalty as a paycheck would buy and no more! Then I realized
that "The Code," besides being a business book, is a manual for those
seeking to belong to something greater than themselves (as we all are)
and who want to have their lives stand for something at the same time.

When "The Code" speaks of death, in the first chapter, it seemed
like it was asking too much of an executive, but the "death" it was
speaking of was the death of the ego and the philosophical idea that
"freedom's just another word for nothing else to lose." In other words, one
can only risk what one is willing to lose. Of course, preparation and self-
control make the risk, which is often necessary for success and growth,
tolerable. So, "The Code" builds, from the first precept to the last. Each
precept relies on the ones which come before for true appreciation of the
wisdom is being offered. In conclusion, I wholeheartedly recommend
that every executive, including all CEOs, read Don Schmincke's book,
THE CODE OF THE EXECUTIVE. It is a road map for ethical and
successful organizations, large, mid-sized and small. This is a very useful
tool for growth even for the sole-practitioner, who is the CEO of his or her
firm, or the head-of-household who wants to do the best possible job in his
or her 'organization'. As a New York attorney, and CEO of my own
firm, this book has become a golden treasure in my personal and
business library. THE CODE OF THE EXECUTIVE has, in a relatively
short period of time, proven itself to be a valuable asset in both my
personal and professional lives.
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