Billionaire Sam Zell: "The 1% work harder."

[Cleita]

82. On the occasions I had to work as an assistant/secretary to the CEO of

certain companies I noticed how hard they worked.

One of the attributes of a successful executive they told me was a clean desk because they knew how to delegate. I even worked for one who made me write all his correspondence and all he did was sign it. His staffers did all his work.

Otherwise I guess getting up and getting dressed in the morning was the most effort most of them did. The rest of the day was spent talking on the telephone, having "business" lunches often in a country club. Some afternoons were spent on the golf links or playing racquetball. They were driven everywhere in a town car or limo.

Their heaviest weight was the responsibility of making decisions, but actually most of the decisions were made by the boards of directors and he followed them. I know because I often had to sit through those meetings taking notes.

Yes, it's good to be king.