I Will Make You Happy!

"Buying is a profound pleasure."

Simone de Beauvoir

20th century French novelist

This should be the foundation of every salesperson's approach to their occupation.

Who's In Charge Of Me?

"Observe all men, thyself most."

Benjamin Franklin

18th century American statesman/philosopher

But we do just about the opposite don't we?

And not just observe but comment on, criticize, and reject the thoughts and actions of others.

Better to take care of the one person whose behavior we have some small chance of affecting.

Out Of The Mouths Of . . .

"Truth comes from the mouths of fools and children."

George  Lichtenberg

18th century German scientist

Of course not all "truth" but unfortunately enough that everyone other than all fools and some children will understand what this means.

Caught In Your Own Web

"Fiction is like a spider's web, attached ever so slightly perhaps, but still attached to life at all four corners."

Virginia Woolf

Late 19th/early 20th century British novelist

You create the fiction and it will forever be associated with you.

Are you OK with that?

You Will Be What You Do

"Vocations which we wanted to pursue, but didn't, bleed, like colors, on the whole of our existence."

Honore de Balzac

Early 19th century French novelist

This suggests to me that Monsieur Balzac yearned to be something other than a writer.

If so, ironic in that there are many non writers yearning to write.

Memo to all just starting your career:  

Sooner than you think you will "be" whatever you "do.  

Choose your career path carefully.

Seeing You Is Not Necessarily Liking You

"Fanatics are picturesque; mankind would rather see gestures than listen to reason."

Frederich Nietzsche

19th century German - Swiss philosopher

I don't know that we knowingly choose, or prefer, to watch fanatical, managerial behavior.

Demonstrative managers, whether or not they warrant watching, naturally catch our attention, but only in a way similar to when we drive by an accident.

We may be compelled to watch but that does not mean we condone.

Make sure you warrant being watched.

All Things To No One

"The one who pleased everybody died before they were born."

Proverb

You can't only focus on yourself but it is a good place to start.

I Work For (Fill In Your Company Name)

"The foolish sayings of a rich man pass for wise ones."

Spanish proverb

As well the foolish sayings of those who work for rich companies.

Simply working for a successful company does not itself make you successful.

Personal Responsibility

"There is no more sovereign eloquence than the truth in indignation."

Victor Hugo

19th century French poet, novelist

You know indignation aimed at you when you not only feel it, but believe it deserved as well.

But the important question is, what then?

What will you do to set things right?

Reinventing You

"We have it in our power to begin the world over again."

Thomas Paine

18th century English intellectual

And if we can reinvent the world, we should also be able to improve ourselves.

If you are having difficulty finding a job, you may need to begin you all over again.

If so, don't fear the challenge that represents.

Change is constant, these days at an accelerated pace.

Get started.

Close Follower?

"Be not the first by which a new thing is tried, or the last to lay the old aside."

Alexander Pope

17th century English poet

I understand the problems associated with being the "point" on the "arrow", but I think I'll continue to error on the side of too soon versus too late.

At least in business.

You?

Through You, Me

"Other men are lenses through which we read our own minds."

Ralph Waldo Emerson

19th century US poet/essayist

If we're paying attention.

In fact the reaction to us and our ideas coming from others, is a much better indicator of who we really are than most anything we come up with for ourselves.

Again, assuming we look for it.

Now That We Know What's Wrong . . .

"The powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse.  What will yours be?

Unknown

Most of us know how to complain, however, complaining is not contributing.

If problems are only identified, never solved, well . . .

Carrots and Sticks

"There are two levers for moving men, interest and fear."

Napoleon Bonaparte

Late 18th/early 19th century French general

Just as in business.

Which do you use most often?

Which are you more likely to respond to?

I Hope There's More

"Hope is a good breakfast but a bad supper."

Francis Bacon

Late 16th/early 17th century British statesman

Much success begins with hope, and, when that's all there is, much failure as well.

I Can't Believe You Don't Know That!

"Being ignorant is not so much a shame as being unwilling to learn."

Benjamin Franklin

18th century American statesman/inventor

Always?

A lot of technology marketers look down on those who don't know how to use technology products.

Many of these people are not stupid, when it comes to technology, they just don't care enough to learn more than they already know.

Shameful, yes, but for who?

The Good Lie?

"In human relationships, kindness and lies are worth a thousand truths."

Graham Greene

20th century English writer

It is a rare manager who never tells a lie, certainly when you include those meant to spare the feelings of others.

How about you?

Lie often?

That's Not Funny?

"No one is laughable who laughs at himself."

Lucius Annaeus Seneca

1st century BC Roman philosopher/playwright

Other than comedy, I don't see a lot of humor in business.

Mostly a lot of way too serious people.

What role, if any, should humor play in business?

I Have A Vision!

"A hallucination is a fact, not an error; what is erroneous is a judgement based upon it."

Bertrand Russell

20th century British logician

Hallucinations, illusions, unsubstantiated beliefs and the like, have their place in the creative process.

They are a way-station on the road to sound judgement.

Just be certain you consider rather than accept them as fact.

Being Of Great Does Not Make You Great

"If your decent is from heroic sires, show in your life a remnant of their fires."

Nicolas Boileau-Despreauex

Late 17th/early 18th century French poet

So many companies claim their past glory without exhibiting the qualities that made their "sires" what they were.

You can't continually be rewarded for what others did in the past.

Too Close To See The Value?

"Distance is a great promoter of admiration!!

Denis Diderot

18th century French philosopher

We do tend to admire those not close enough for us to see their flaws.

But it is your employees, the ones close to you, who will do the bulk of whatever it is you will accomplish.

Replace them if you absolutely cannot value them.

Reward them if you do.

That's So Lame!

"Resort is had to ridicule only when reason is against us."

Thomas Jefferson

Third president of the United States

Think about this the next time you find yourself demeaning someone or their ideas.