Even though President Abraham Lincoln was in office during one of the most turbulent times in American history, he became famous for his ability to use humorous stories and anecdotes to make a point. His talent often saved difficult situations from escalating to deep divisions.

To explain why he used stories so frequently, Lincoln said: “I believe I have the popular reputation of being a storyteller, but I do not deserve the name in its general sense, for it is not the story itself, but its purpose, or effect, that interests me.”

Lincoln explained: “When I tell a funny story, it has the same effect on me that I suppose a good square drink of whiskey has on an old toper. It puts new life into me. The fact is, I have always believed that a good laugh was good for both the mental and the physical digestion.”

One tale Lincoln was fond of telling on himself was about two Quaker women in a railway coach who were overheard in a conversation about Lincoln and Jefferson Davis, president of the Confederacy.

“I think Jefferson (Davis) will succeed because he is a praying man,” said the first.

“And so is Abraham a praying man,” said the other woman.

“Yes,” said the first, “but the Lord will think Abraham is joking.”

Lincoln was determined from his teenage years onward to advance his general knowledge. He pursued a rigorous program of reading, study and self-improvement, often by the light of an oil lamp. Lincoln’s law partner would later describe his ambition as “a little engine that knew no rest.”

In 1841, 20 years before he became president, Lincoln doubted whether his life would amount to anything. He confided to a friend, “I would be more than willing to die, except that I have done nothing to make any human remember that I have lived.” His bouts of melancholy were well-known, but even during those challenges, he maintained a wry sense of self-deprecation.

When others tried to insult Lincoln, as during his famous debates with Sen. Stephen Douglas, the orator pointed out that Lincoln used to run a store where you could buy whiskey. But Lincoln turned the tables quickly: “It is true what Mr. Douglas said, that I did run a grocery store, and I did sell goods including whiskey.

“But I remember in those days, Mr. Douglas was one of my best customers. Many a time I have stood on one side of the counter and sold whiskey to Mr. Douglas on the other side. But the difference is that I have left my side of the counter, but Mr. Douglas still sticks tenaciously to his.”

Lincoln had to endure much vicious criticism as president. He accepted that it went with the job, explaining: “If I were to try to read, much less answer, all the attacks made on me, this shop might well be closed for any other business. I do the very best I know how, the very best I can, and I mean to keep doing so until the end. If the end brings me out all right, what is said against me won’t amount to anything. If the end brings me out wrong, 10 angels swearing I was right would make no difference.”

Amid multiple challenges of the Civil War, Lincoln once told a group of scaremongers the story of a young boy who accompanied his father on a hunting trip. While sleeping on the mountainside, the boy awoke to see a meteor shower. Frightened by the sight, he ran to his father and woke him up, pointing at the sky.

The father looked at his son patiently and said, “Son, don’t be concerned with shooting stars. Keep your eyes instead on the fixed stars that have long been our guides.”

The moral of that story is as true today as it was 160 years ago.

The president was once criticized for referring to the Confederates in kind terms. A woman asked him how he could speak so generously of his enemies when he should rather destroy them.

But in characteristic fashion, Lincoln demonstrated his strategy. He answered her, “Why, madam, do I not destroy them when I make them my friends?”

Isn’t it interesting how the more things change, the more they stay the same? We are still learning from Abraham Lincoln.

Mackay’s Moral: America is a better place because Abraham Lincoln helped shape it.

I wouldn’t be where I am today without Larry King. I’ll never forget the first time I met Larry. I was in New York to tape a television commercial for my first book, “Swim With the Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive.” I was a total unknown, a first-time author.

There, on the set, in living color, was Larry King, holding up his latest book and taping his own commercial.

We were introduced briefly when he finished. Then it was my turn on set. Ten minutes later, the director said we were done, and I headed for the elevator, where I saw Larry waiting. We made a little small talk on the way down. His stretch limo was curbside. I started to hail a cab.

He motioned to me and said: “Which way are you headed, kid?” and offered me a ride to my hotel.

I had five minutes to make an impression. Half the people might talk about themselves. The other half might mention how much they love Larry. However, my father taught me an important networking rule -- What can I do for the other person? How can I add value to his or her life?

I didn't know Larry's background. I didn't know a single characteristic, interest or goal that he and I had in common. Except the reason we had both gone to the studio.

I said: “Mr. King, I hope I'm not overreaching here, but I assume you, like I, showed up at that studio because we'd both like to sell a ton of books.”

Larry said, “That’s why I write ‘em, kid.”

The limo had now pulled up outside the entrance to my hotel. I may not have known anything about Larry, but I had done my homework on the publishing business. My self-designed, self-taught course had taken nearly six months. I had talked with over 30 authors, a slug of literary agents, a dozen publishers, a few promotional firms and six lawyers.

I proceeded to spill my guts on the book industry, and Larry told his driver to turn off the engine. He was now on the edge of his seat just staring at me and taking notes. Even the driver turned around to listen.

I gave Larry seven ideas over the next 20 minutes, and he invited me to be on his “Larry King Live” show on CNN the same week. I sold 50,000 copies of “Swim With the Sharks” that week alone. The Oprah Winfrey people saw me and put me on her show. Another 50,000 books sold. Then it was “Good Morning America,” and the rest is history.

Larry had me on his show for almost every book I’ve written, and we became very close friends. I was amazed when he told me he never read any author’s books before interviewing them. He wanted things to be fresh.

Even with all his celebrity, I never saw him refuse an autograph or photo, whether we were at breakfast, lunch, dinner or a social gathering.

Events with Larry were always memorable. He invited my Roundtable group to his Beverly Hills home, where he proceeded to entertain us with story after story. We learned that he always wanted to be a stand-up comedian.

But I think the highlight of our friendship was when he emceed a milestone birthday party for me in Las Vegas.

Larry loved boxing and Muhammad Ali. He once wrote in his column in USA Today that meeting Muhammad was “the biggest thrill in my life ... I couldn’t sleep last night ... chills running up and down my spine.”

One night I was having dinner with Larry in New York, and I brought Muhammad with me as a surprise. Suddenly a woman came up and said, “Oh, Mr. Mackay, I’ve read all your books ... Can I have your autograph?” Larry went nuts and said,

“Don’t you know who this is? This is Muhammad Ali. Don’t you want his autograph?”

I looked at Larry and said, "You bit it hook, line and sinker." I paid her $50 to come up and ask for my autograph. We were still laughing about that years later. But the point is don’t be boring. Don’t be predictable.

Larry’s curiosity about the world around him was legendary. His ability to draw people out was evident on every show. His loyalty made him a treasured friend.

It was sheer coincidence that our paths crossed that day. And I thank my lucky stars for that chance meeting.

Mackay's Moral: In networking, you're only as good as what you give away.

“How do you explain the relativity of time?” a professor was asked.

“Well,” she replied, “if I am rushing to catch a plane, and the check-in clerk is so slow that I miss my flight, the extra two minutes don’t mean much to him, but they sure make a difference to me. That’s relativity.”

Time is one gift that we are all given equally. Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, 52 weeks a year. The only variable is how many years we each have. And that alone is reason enough to make every minute count.

Have you ever wondered where all your time goes?

The average person spends seven years in the bathroom, six years eating, four years cleaning house, five years waiting in line, two years trying to return phone calls to people who aren’t there, three years preparing meals, one year searching for misplaced items and six months waiting at red lights.

That’s why prioritizing your time should be a top priority.

February is National Time Management Month, a perfect time to develop a plan to ensure that everything you do is moving you in the direction of your goals and limiting the distractions that prevent you from realizing them. Do a quick audit of your day to consider whether you’re working hard or smart.

I’m a time-management freak, so anything I can do to save time is important to me. That includes returning phone calls at the end of the day, being specific in leaving messages when I’m available to prevent telephone tag, calling ahead to confirm an appointment and even the best place to park to get going quickly. Time is money. I can get more money, but I can’t get more time.

The value we place on each minute of every day will have a cumulative impact on the remainder of our lives. Maybe that’s why Ben Franklin said, “Waste neither time nor money, but make the best use of both.”

Peter Drucker, the late management guru, said, “Time is the scarcest resource, and unless it is managed, nothing else can be managed.

“Everything requires time,” he added. “It is the only truly universal condition. All work takes place in time and uses up time. Yet most people take for granted this unique, irreplaceable and necessary resource.”

My friend Wally “Famous” Amos sent me this story years ago. A man was working on a Saturday when he realized how he had lost track of his life’s priorities, including spending time with his family. He did a little arithmetic and figured the average person lives about 75 years. He multiplied 75 times 52 and came up with 3,900, which is the number of Saturdays that the average person will live. With his age, he figured if he lived to age 75, he would have 1,000 Saturdays left, so he went to a toy store and bought 1,000 marbles and went home and put them in a large jar.

Every Saturday after that, he took one marble out and threw it away. He found that watching the marbles diminish helped him really focus on the important things in life.

There’s nothing like trying to gauge your time here on Earth to get your priorities straight. When every minute is precious, you learn to use them to the fullest. As humorist Bob Murphey said, “The only person to succeed while horsing around is a bookie.”

A little boy, late for school, asked God to help him get there on time. He ran, stumbled and breathlessly said, “God, I asked you to help me, but don’t push me.”

Don’t let your time push you. Take the time to manage your time.

Mackay’s Moral: You can save time, but you can’t bank it.