ACCIDENTAL SUCCESS: THE OXYIEST OF ALL MORONS

"The method of the enterprising is to plan with audacity and execute with vigor."

Christian Nevell Bovee

19th century American author/lawyer

However, rarely is one done not to mention both.

Successes are much rarer than failures for good reason.

PROCEED WITH CAUTION QUICKLY

"Even moderation ought not to be practiced to excess."

Unknown

It is difficult to know when too much or too little actually is, and certainly impossible to always know.

AFRAID TO BE AFRAID?

"He who fears to suffer, suffers from fear."

Proverb

You could also say he (or she) who fails to risk, risks failure.

There are no sure things; identify what is important to you and go after it.

UNTIL THEY LIGHT NO MORE.

"We waste our lights in vain, like lamps by day."

William Shakespeare

Late 16th/early 17th century British poet/playwright

Not all our "lights", every day, but enough to know there is a finite number we shouldn't waste.

GENERATIONAL ARROGANCE

"The distinction between the past, present and future is only a stubbornly persistent illusion."

Albert Einstein

20th century German-Swiss-U.S. scientist

The next time you feel your generation is unique, consider what Mr. Einstein might have said about that.

I'M REASONABLY CERTAIN THIS IS TRUE

"The true triumph of reason is that it enables us to get along with those who do not possess it."

Voltaire

18th century French writer/historian

Well, not always (enables), but even having the ability to attempt to reason with an unreasonable person is an advantage.

WHAT YOU MAKE IS NOT WHO YOU ARE

"No man's fortune can be an end worthy of his being."

Francis Bacon

16th century British statesman/philosopher

It is a form of self imposed slavery to equate your self-worth to how much money you, or the company you work for, makes.

LESS IS MORE

"The wise person has long ears and a short tongue."

German proverb

It is better to have said less than necessary than it is to say more.

(UN) MAKING AN ASS OF YOURSELF

"If an ass goes traveling it will not come home a horse."

Proverb

True, but unlike the ass who cannot change what he is, we humans can.

(I don't make these up but if I did, this would be near the top.)

I HATE THAT

"Nothing can be loved or hated unless it is first known."

Leonardo da Vinci

Late 15th/early 16th century Italian painter/sculptor/architect

And still we love and hate so much while knowing so very little.

MORE THAN WHAT YOU THINK, WHAT YOU DO

"The real antichrist is he who turns the wine of an original idea into the water of mediocrity."

Eric Hoffer 

20th century American philosopher/author

And who among us has not done this?

Doing justice to original thought is often more difficult than was having original thought in the first place.

NEW AND IMPROVED

"So long as a person is capable of self-renewal they are a living being."

Henri Frédéric Amiel

19th century Swiss writer

I propose an edit.

So long as a person attempts self-renewal they are a living being.

Without the attempt, being capable is of little value.

Keep trying and let the outcome take care of itself.

THE SALESPERSON'S CREED

"Buying is a profound pleasure."

Simone de Beauvoir

20th century French novelist/essayist

After completing a sale, hearing this from the buyer should be the goal of everyone who calls themselves a salesperson.  

By the way, everyone is a salesperson for something.

Everyone!

EFFORT ABOVE ALL ELSE

"The best is the enemy of the good."

Voltaire 

18th century French writer/historian

Another quote exhorting us to be the best, which is often impossible to achieve.

However never impossible to try to achieve.

WHO WERE YOU AGAIN?

"If you would not be forgotten as soon as you are dead, either write things worth reading or do things worth writing."

Benjamin Franklin

18th century American statesman/scientist/philosopher

Even tougher in business.

Your company will be dead if it doesn't stay in the public's consciousness and for that to happen you must continually give reason to warrant being remembered.

Not an easy task.

GIT 'ER DONE!

"Talk doesn't cook rice."

Chinese proverb

How much "rice" have you cooked as opposed to having talked about cooking?

IF YOU ONLY KNEW

"Knowledge of what is does not open the door directly to what should be."

Albert Einstein 

Late 19th/early 20th century German-Swiss-U.S. scientist

Or could be.

What you think you know might be enough to keep you from learning what you don't.

DELAY, MAYBE, BUT NOT AVOID

"To shun one's cross is to make it heavier."

Henri Frédéric Amiel

19th century Swiss writer

Which implies, if it is your "cross", you have no option but to "bear" it.

So get on with it.

VOCATIONAL HAZARDS

"Look around the inhabited world; how few know their own good, or knowing it, pursue."

John Dryden 

17th century British poet/dramatist/critic

Many of us become whatever comes along first, whatever "pays the bills".

Since we often then spend a lifetime doing whatever that is, shouldn't our first job be doing the best job we can deciding what our job will be?

As difficult as it is important to do.