A bit of history, a lot of advice.

• Author: Kristie, James
• Position: Editorial

A CHALLENGE EVERY EDITOR FACES is what to do about anniversary issues. We want to make them special for the reader, for the advertiser, and, yes, for all the individuals--from the owner to the intern--whose lives are invested in producing a top-flight publication.

I have been in a position to put out a 10th, 15th, 20th, and 25th anniversary issue of DIRECTORS & BOARDS. (That's either a case of career stagnation or, as I prefer to think, being in the right place for the right length of time.) It's always startling to face another milestone--this time, the journal's 30th anniversary and my 25th with D & B. But the real shock comes in having to decide again what to do for a distinctive anniversary issue.

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In thinking about the journal's position on the front lines of governance for three decades and the vast archive of board information compiled during that time, what came to me was the concept of a "tip sheet"--a compendium of some of the best advice that our authors have given over the years. Thus our theme, "Wisdom of the Ages," and the execution of that theme--snippets of good advice on what it takes to succeed in the boardroom.

A full-blown "Tip Sheet for Board Success" forms the centerpiece of this issue, but the bits of wisdom are liberally sprinkled throughout. The citations include the issue date and the authors' affiliations when their articles appeared. That's important for having the proper context for the authors and their advice--and the era of governance in which their advice was rendered.

The...