You can't do the right thing and be effective without some courage

I wasn't in the Boys Scouts growing up. [Too busy with basketball and baseball. ]

But a story earlier this week in the business section of USA Today gave me a new appreciation of the Scouts organization and what it stands for.

It's a Q&A with Robert Mazzuca, head of the Boy Scouts. A couple of highlights:

- A Scout vows to be trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent (respectful). "The day that trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent become obsolete, I'll turn out the lights."

- "You can't do the right thing and be effective without some courage."

- "I don't care what fancy techniques you use, integrity is integrity. Loyalty is loyalty. Being trustworthy is a bedrock issue. You can put cosmetics on it, but either you are or you aren't."

- "If you're not proactive in defining yourself, somebody else will."

- "We accept any faith, but they have to embrace some faith. In the middle of faith are the principles of good and the kinds of things that are good lessons for business. Most good business leaders are men of faith. The idea that we live a life of faith and don't hide from a life of faith is an important part of who we are."

- "Personal responsibility. Taking responsibility for your actions is a hallmark of a good leader."