“A powerful new idea can kick around unused in a company for years, not because its merits are not recognized, but because nobody has assumed the responsibility for converting it from words into action. Ideas are useless unless used. The proof of their value is only in their implementation. Until then, they are in limbo.”
“All business success rests on something labeled a sale, which at least momentarily weds company and customer.”
“All too often, people believe that creativity automatically leads to innovation. It doesn’t. ”
“Almost all quality improvement comes via simplification of design, manufacturing… layout, processes, and procedures.”
“As a consumer, you want to associate with brands whose powerful presence creates a halo effect that rubs off on you.”
“Branding is about everything.”
“Business is about people. It’s about passion. It’s about bold ideas, bold small ideas or bold large ideas.”
“Celebrate what you want to see more of.”
“Change is not so much about being the first one to embrace a new idea, but being the first to forget an old one.”
“Design is so critical it should be on the agenda of every meeting in every single department.”
“Excellence comes from human beings doing things of value that customers find memorable.”
“Excellent companies provide two things simultaneously: tough environments and very supportive environments.”
“Excellent firms don’t believe in excellence – only in constant improvement and constant change.”
“Formula for success: under promise and over deliver.”
“Good managers have a bias for action.”
“Hire for attitude, train for skills.”
“If a window of opportunity appears, don’t pull down the shade.”
“If you’re not confused, you’re not paying attention.”
“In some organizations, they can succeed if they are simply good at making presentations to the board of directors or writing strategies or plans. The tragedy is that these talents mask real deficiencies in overall management capabilities. These talented performers run for cover when grubby operating decisions must be made and often fail miserably when they are charged with earning a profit, getting things done and moving an organization forward.”
“Innovation comes only from readily and seamlessly sharing information rather than hoarding it.”
“Leaders don’t create followers, they create more leaders.”
“Life is pretty simple: You do some stuff. Most fails. Some works. You do more of what works. If it works big, others quickly copy it. Then you do something else. The trick is the doing something else.”
“Management is about arranging and telling. Leadership is about nurturing and enhancing.”
“Many of the innovative companies got their best product ideas from customers. That comes from listening, intently and regularly.”
“Mastery is great, but even that is not enough. You have to be able to change course without a bead of sweat, or remorse.”
“Nearly 100% of innovation-from business to politics-is inspired not by “market analysis” but by people who are supremely pissed off by the way things are.”
“Organizations exist to serve. Period. Leaders live to serve. Period.”
“Regardless of age, regardless of position, regardless of the business we happen to be in, all of us need to understand the importance of branding. We are CEOs of our own companies: Me, Inc. To be in business today, our most important job is to be head marketer for the brand called You.”
“Reward excellent failures. Punish mediocre successes.”
“Since business is a “get-things-done” institution, creativity without action-oriented follow-through is a barren form of behavior. In a sense, it is irresponsible.”
“Test fast, fail fast, adjust fast.”
“The best leaders are the best notetakers, best askers, and best learners.”
“The greatest difficulty in the world is not for people to accept new ideas, but to make them forget old ideas.”
“The magic formula that successful businesses have discovered is to treat customers like guests and employees like people.”
“The scarce people are the ones who have the know-how, energy, daring, and staying power to implement ideas.”
“The simple act of paying positive attention to people has a great deal to do with productivity.”
“The thing that keeps a business ahead of the competition is excellence in execution.”
“The top athletes are consummate pros who work obsessively at their craft. Approach yours the same way.”
“There is no such thing as a minor lapse of integrity.”
“Unless you walk out into the unknown, the odds of making a profound difference in your life are pretty low.”
“You will be remembered, in the long haul, for the quality of your work, not the quantity of your work. No one evaluates Picasso based on the number of paintings he churned out.”