Page 17 - How We Lead Matters

ries of Carlson colleagues, and I’ve often repeated the wise words of the cor-
porate and world leaders I have had the privilege of knowing. Somehow, in
the haste of life, these reflections weren’t being shared with some of the most
important people in my life.
One day, there will be a definitive history of Carlson, detailing the
growth of the Carlson brands: Radisson and Regent hotels and resorts,
Country Inns & Suites By Carlson, Park Inn and Park Plaza hotels, Regent
Seven Seas Cruises, Carlson Wagonlit Travel, Carlson Marketing, and T.G.I.
Friday’s restaurants. Carlson often has been described as one of the most suc-
cessful private companies in the United States for its longevity and global
reach. It certainly has provided me with great personal satisfaction to have
participated in its success for more than twenty years, the last ten as CEO.
The short stories contained within these pages are the ones that are
closest to me. They have stayed in my memory—surviving the successive
waves of the years—like the relics of a sand castle in the morning. They sur-
vive, I guess, because they tell my truths.
So although I started out to compile these remembrances for my grand-
children, I have come to realize that these stories, accompanied by a few
favorite poems and quotes, reveal the core principles and beliefs that have
guided my life and career. And they have served me well.
I hope that you will enjoy them for what they are: not the grand
expounding of a corporate leader but the lessons learned from the everyday
experiences of a mother, wife, and grandmother who happens to be a CEO.
Perhaps they will inspire you to take a moment to let those who are to fol-
low know you. Perhaps you will remind them that life is made up of a series
of days and choices and that how we lead matters.

MARILYN CARLSON NELSON
THANKSGIVING 2007

xvi Introduction