Quotable Quotes: Hodgepodge
by Miki Saxon
Today is a bit of a hodgepodge.
Richard Branson is one of my favorite people; I like reading about him and he’s played a part in several posts I’ve written. Branson was focused on business opportunities, but this comment applies just as well to other areas, such as hiring.
“A good idea for a new business tends not to occur in isolation, and often the window of opportunity is very small. So speed is of the essence.”
Back in the day word that Microsoft had turned its attention to a product or service sent waves of trepidation through founders and investors alike, much as Google does today. I was reminded of that when I read an old comment by Ralph Nader. Funny thing is that Microsoft is still making the same noises.
“John D. Rockefeller wanted to dominate oil, but Microsoft wants it all, you name it: cable, media, banking, car dealerships.”
Nader was referring to Rockefeller senior; I prefer John junior, probably because his thinking so perfectly sums up what I keep saying, ‘people perform up (or down) based on the quality and skill of their management.’
“Good management consists in showing average people how to do the work of superior people.”
Several centuries ago John Mason pointed out the difference between a fool and a wise man.
“The wise man has his foibles, as well as the fool. But the difference between them is, that the foibles of the one are known to himself and concealed from the world; and the foibles of the other are known to the world and concealed from himself.”
Add social media to that mix and the number of fools increases exponentially.
Warren Buffet understands the fragility of reputation.
“It takes 20 years to build a reputation and only five Minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you will do things differently.”
The problem is that for too many people social precludes thinking.
I hope you enjoyed my hodgepodge. Have a wonderful rest of the weekend.
Flickr image credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/grigoriprime/4902494653/
