What Are You Building?

"The boy gathers materials for a temple, and then when he is thirty, concludes to build a woodshed."

Henry David Thoreau

19th century American naturalist/poet/philosopher

Sooner or later compromise is a part of all our lives.

Better later than sooner.

Ready, Set, Doubt?

"It is always the same; once you are liberated you are forced to ask who you are."

Jean  Baudrillard

20th century French sociologist/philosopher

And for young people "liberation" comes with graduation and first jobs.

You feel you know your strengths and weaknesses.

Do you really?

It's Not About You

"To know how to hide one's ability is a great skill."

Francois de la Rochefoucauld

17th century French writer

Particularly in business.

Your company will only achieve through the efforts of many.

As capable as you might be your real task is to make sure you channel the collective ability of others rather than attempting to do everything yourself.

The Mean Person

"I consider myself an average man except in the fact that I consider myself an average man."

Michel Eyquem de Montaigne

16th century French philosopher

Actually, being average has its advantages when it comes to managing people, the majority of which are average.

Appearance: Empty Suits? Empty Jeans

"Dressing up is inevitably a substitute for good ideas. It is no coincidence that technically inept business types are known as "suits."

Paul Graham
Programmer, Venture Capitalist

"Inevitable" correlation between the way people dress and the likelihood of good ideas coming from them?

Really?

Back in the day, everyone wore suits; both those with bad as well as good ideas, just as today good and bad ideas (as well as good/bad programming and investment decisions) come from people wearing jeans and sandals.

Weight, presence or absence of hair, clothes, gender, ethnicity, age, etc., etc.; how (do) you factor that in when considering the likely ability of one to do the job you hire them to do?