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.

Look for what's missing. Many advisors can tell a President how to improve what's proposed or what's gone amiss. Few are able to see what isn't there.

They had forces in flow that would have been able to increase a substantial number above the ultimate 150,000 that went into Iraq.

Don't be a bottleneck. If a matter is not a decision for the President or you, delegate it. Force responsibility down and out. Find problem areas, add structure and delegate. The pressure is to do the reverse. Resist it.

If you are not criticized, you may not be doing much.

Don't begin to think you're the President. You're not. The Constitution provides for only one.