In politics, every day is filled with numerous opportunities for serious error. Enjoy it

The most underestimated risk for a politician is overexposure

The Secretary of Defense is not a super General or Admiral. His task is to exercise civilian control over the Department for the Commander-in-Chief and the country

Know that the immediate staff and others in the Administration will assume that your manner, tone and tempo reflect the President's

Preserve the President's options. He may need them

Many people around the President have sizeable egos before entering government, some with good reason. Their new positions will do little to moderate their egos

See that the President, the Cabinet and staff are informed. If cut out of the information flow, their decisions may be poor, not made, or not confidently or persuasively implemented

Don't automatically obey Presidential directives if you disagree or if you suspect he hasn't considered key aspects of the issue

Walk around. If you are invisible, the mystique of the President's office may perpetuate inaccurate impressions about you or the President, to his detriment. After all, you may not be as bad as they're saying

Reduce the layers of management. They put distance between the top of an organization and the customers.