Archive for Quotes
Robert Townsend on Compromise
“Compromise and King Solomon Compromise is usually bad. It should be a last resort. If two departments or divisions have a problem they can’t solve and it comes up to you, listen to both sides and then, unlike Solomon, pick one or the other. This places solid accountability on the winner to make it work. [...]
Goodwill and the Win/Win, Part II — Intention and Action
Some more about starting with the Other Person’s Win: When we plan to help another person Win, does it matter whether we start with Intention or Action? The MBA part of my brain is laughing at the question: ”Dude — ‘Help Someone Win’ is a big enough leap for most business people. Don’t waste time [...]
Success and Contentment – Manfred Kets de Vries
I firmly believe that the unrelenting pursuit of outward success is one of today’s chief sources of unhappiness. …[P]eople driven by success are rarely satisfied, no matter how high they climb-no accomplishment gives lasting satisfaction. Whenever they reach one level of success, they imagine yet another, higher level. The income they once dreamed of now [...]
When we say “thank you”, we feed the soul.
“The deepest principle in human nature is the craving to be appreciated.” William James (1842-1910) When we say “thank you”, we feed the soul.
The Shadow Side of Performance
“In Working Ourselves to Death, Diane Fassel notes this shadow side: “Everywhere I go it seems people are killing themselves with work, busyness, rushing, caring, and rescuing… John O. Neikirk calls it ‘the pain others applaud’…. I call it the cleanest of all the addictions. It is socially promoted because it is seemingly socially productive” [...]
“Work and Play are the Same”
“Work and play are the same. When you’re following your energy and doing what you want all the time, the distinction between work and play dissolves. Work is no longer what you have to do or play what you want to do. When you are doing what you love, you may work harder and produce [...]
Just Enough Anxiety
“What exactly is just enough anxiety? It is the right level of anxiety—at any given moment in time—that drives you forward without causing you to resist, give up, or try to control what happens. It unleashes your productive energy and makes you want to do better. Just enough anxiety produces the optimal state of arousal [...]
Lead with Vision
When good companies succeed, the world becomes a better place. The world gets better for two reasons: first, because of the business that gets done; second, because of the way it gets done. Owners win, customers win, community wins, suppliers win, the environment wins. Leaders of good companies are inspired by visions that are greater [...]
Doing the Right Thing
Doing the right thing allows you to stop spending money on advertising. Dan Roach, Roach-Lamburg Roofing Dan came highly recommended by my realtor, who only recommends the best. Nearly all his work comes from referrals. That’s much more important than repeat business for a roofer — seeing how he sells a product that lasts for [...]
Loyalty, You Have to Earn
“You can buy a man’s time, you can buy a man’s physical presence at a given place; you can even buy a measured number of skilled muscular motions per hour or day. But you cannot buy enthusiasm; you cannot buy initiative; you cannot buy loyalty; you cannot buy the devotion of hearts, minds and souls. [...]
