I had the great opportunity to talk with Retired General Colin L. Powell on behalf of Home Business® Magazine at the Bakersfield, California, 13th Annual Business Conference held on October 11, 1997. I also met him at the Peter Lowe Success Seminar at the Rose Garden in Port land, Oregon. He has a great personal success story and is a role model for millions, whether or not they work from home.

Since the general's retirement in 1993, he has embarked on a second career as an author, spending almost 2 years working out of his home in McLean, VA, putting together his book, My American Journey.

The Powells live in a large colonial mansion, complete with a pool and a three-car garage. Inside, an eagle statue—a thank-you gift from Prince Bandar of Saudi Arabia after the Gulf War—dominates the entry hall. The spacious living room is decorated in shades of white and yellow; the formal dining room seats ten. Dozens of family photos adorn the wood-paneled library.

Powell first captured the public's attention as the top U.S. military officer responsible for our forces during the 1991 Persian Gulf War. A handsome man, 6 feet 2 inches tall, he won five combat medals in Vietnam, including the Bronze Star. He also became one of the nation's youngest four-star generals. We appreciate this opportunity to share our conversation with one of Americans most distinguished citizens, Colin Powell.

HB: How have you been operating your business since you entered civilian life?

Powell: Upstairs, what was once my wife Alma's sewing room is now an office and exercise room. I have another office with several employees located in Alexandria, Virginia. Since retiring, I've started a second career as an author and a third career as Chairman for Youth Volunteerism.

HB: As the author of My American Journey, how much time did it take to put the book together?

Powell: For 21 months Joseph Persico, my co-author, and I worked together in a basement office in my home in suburban McLean, VA. Each day, Persico, tape recorder running, asked questions and I provided detailed verbal and written responses. In the fall of 1995, it was time to promote my book. It was the mother of all book tours. In a period of five weeks, I went to 25 cities around America, as well as London and Paris, and signed 60,001 books. 2,000-4,000 books a day. I gave interviews everywhere, approximately 20 interviews a day.

HB: A challenge for all home-based entrepreneurs is maintaining a balance between home and work. What message would you like to share about balancing business and family?

Powell: In the book My American Journey, I was trying to tell my life story but the message that got communicated was one of family and values. One's vision first and foremost rests on values. Values because values are the conscience of a society. Values that must be lived; not just preached. Children learn values by watching their parents in their homes. Values which are then reinforced in their churches and in their places of worship, in the schools and in the communities in which they live. Values fuel families, families that are bound together by love and commitment. Families that then have the strength to withstand the assaults of contemporary life, to resist the images of violence and vulgarity that flood into our lives every day. Families that come together as communities to defeat the scourge of drugs and crime and incivility that threaten us.

HB: How important is community service and volunteerism in achieving more balance and meaning in one's life?

Powell: Community service is one good way anyone can achieve more balance and fulfillment in their lives. I am Chairman of America's Promise — the Alliance for Youth. 15 million youngsters are not currently on the road to success. We want to keep them safe from drugs and crime. Corporate America is coming forward. Bill Gates of Microsoft is donating $200 million dollars to put more computers in America's libraries. Larry Ellison of Oracle is giving $100 million dollars of computer equipment to adopted schools in this country. It is a grand alliance for young people. They are the future and we cannot leave them behind.

HB: What basic message did you receive from your parents and what would you say were the keys to your success?

Powell: They raised two children to whom they gave a precious gift, a set of core beliefs. A value system founded on a clear understanding of the difference between right and wrong and a belief in the Almighty. They taught us Integrity, kindness and Godliness were right. Lying, violence, intolerance, crime and drugs were wrong and, even worse than wrong, they were shameful. In my family we were taught that hard work and education were the keys to success. My sister and I were taught to believe in ourselves. We might be considered poor, but we were rich in spirit. But, stick with it, because in America, justice will eventually triumph and the powerful, searing promise of the founding fathers will come true. We were taught by my parents to always, always, always believe in America.

HB: One quality that successful home-based entrepreneurs share is that they must strive to be better leaders. Will skills required by effective leaders going into the 21st century differ from those of the 20th century?

Powell: I don't know that leadership in the 21st century will be essentially different from the leadership shown by Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, and their colleagues 200 years ago. Lead er ship will al ways require people who have a vision of where they wish to take "the led." Leader ship will always require people who are able to organize the efforts of others to accomplish the objectives that flow from vision. And leadership will always put a demand on leaders to pick the right people. Leadership also requires motivating people and pushing the vision down to every level of an organization.

HB: How do you recommend dealing with changes in adversarial relationships and putting them to your ad vantage?

Powell: Look at our old enemies who are now our competitors. They did what we told them to—they stopped building guns and facing us in stalemates. Instead, they are competing with us in democratic systems and open markets. But even more than as competitors, we should see our old enemies as emerging markets. Information and technology allow you to do more "niching." Industry is discovering that the power of the computer allows you to appeal to smaller and smaller markets.

HB: No interview is complete without asking if you are thinking about the year 2000 presidential race?

Powell: Yes. I think it will be an exciting race, and one that I look forward to watching from the sidelines. I am happy to stay in civilian private life and make contributions regarding volunteer work that helps young people.

HB: Any closing comments you would like to share with our readers?

Powell: First and foremost, the government should stay out of the way of the free enterprise system (emphasis added, ed.). Let wealth be created because it is from wealth that the whole society grows. It is from wealth that good jobs and opportunities flow. Governments do have a responsibility to society but keep it as limited as possible. I began my career by deciding to become a soldier. I dedicated 35 years, 3 months, 22 days and 8 hours to the profession of soldiering. The first 28 years was the cold war and the strategy of containment. In the final 7 years, the value system changed and democracy and the free enterprise system prevailed. This is an opportunity to watch history being made, and to prosper from it.

Colin Powell's 13 Rules of Life

from My American Journey (Random House).

1. It ain't as bad as you think. It will look better in the morning.
2. Get mad, and then get over it.
3. Avoid having your ego so close to your position that when your position falls, your ego goes with it.
4. It can be done!
5. Be careful what you choose. You may get it.
6. Don't let adverse facts stand in the way of a good decision.
7. You can't make someone else's choices. You shouldn't let someone else make yours.
8. Check small things.
9. Share credit.
10. Remain calm. Be kind.
11. Have a vision. Be demanding.
12. Don't take counsel of your fears or naysayers.
13. Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier.