John Chambers, Cisco CEO and Chairman of the Board, is one of the most successful executives of the last twenty years, bringing his company from $70 million in annual revenue to approximately $46 billion since taking the role of chief executive officer in 1995.

In a LinkedIn blog post, Chambers shares the source of his inspiration and biggest lessons in company leadership. These things didn't come from his tenure at Indiana University, where he received his MBA, or from West Virginia, from where he received bachelor's degrees in business and law, but from the two people who raised him, his parents.

The two doctors taught him the importance of staying ahead of the curve and keeping long-term goals in mind. He stresses the importance of a long-term strategy and vision, emphasizing that complacency is the enemy.

Chambers admits it’s easy to get caught up in what’s exciting right now, instead of what will be exciting tomorrow. Because of this, he says 40 percent of Cisco's peers will not exist in a meaningful way 10 years from now. He knows that if it fails to continue to innovate, Cisco will share the same fate.

Click here to see Chambers' full blog.