The historian Ian Mortimer has argued that Edward III, king of England from 1327 to 1377, was the ideal sovereign—not because of his spectacular deeds or military triumphs, but because he continually sought to improve his governance of the realm. Before making any key decision, Mortimer says, Edward seems to have asked himself “What would a perfect king do now?” and then acted accordingly. It is easy for an absolute monarch to become complacent. But a commitment to personal excellence requires persistent self-assessment. That lesson applies to the esteemed Danish furniture company Niels Eilersen...
