IN ADDITION TO WHAT YOU KNOW, KNOW HOW!

"Information's pretty thin stuff unless mixed with experience."

Clarence Day, 20th century American cartoonist.

How much of what you believe you know how to do, but have never done, turns out well?

Knowledge alone isn't enough.

YOU'LL GET OUT MORE THAN YOU PUT IN

"Plough deep while sluggards sleep."

Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) American statesman/scientist/philosopher.

Not one of Mr. Franklin's more erudite quotes but the point's still valid, if not always taken.

Those less inclined to work hard than those who do will also be less likely to succeed.

THE BARE MINIMUM

"If people should ever start to do only what is necessary millions would die of hunger."

Georg C. Lichtenberg (1742-1799) German scientist, satirist and anglophile.

Many do only what they perceive as necessary, simultaneously wondering why they're not more successful.

There's no wonder about it.

An occasional lazy day, sure, just not an entire lifetime.

WANT TO DELIVER SATISFACTION?

"I am easily satisfied with the very best."

Winston Churchill (1874-1965) British politician.

We can always argue about what is and isn't the "very best" but the message here is, set out to deliver whatever that is for whatever you do.

Do that and you'll more often than not produce your very best possible.

POTENTIAL

"What lies behind you and what lies in front of you, pales in comparison to what lies inside of you."

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) U.S. poet/essayist/lecturer

Something you may never experience.

Potential is only that; you have to do something to make it something.

GIT 'ER DONE!

"Talk doesn't cook rice."

Chinese proverb

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

Doing What You Say?

"Patience when teased is often transformed into rage."

Proverb

"Teasing" can take many forms.

For example repeatedly promising and failing to fulfill those promises.

And as to "rage"?

How about being fired for not doing what you said you would?

Or "fired" by a customer who is no longer willing to buy your product, having been disappointed in what you previously sold them?

What Have You Done?

"Genius does what it must, and talent does what it can."

Edward G. Bulwer-Lytton

19th century English politician

Suggesting that we call those who do extraordinary things, genius, regardless of what an intelligence test might say about them.

Actually, a pretty good definition I think.

What Do You Have To Do To Make It?

"I don't care too much for money, money can't buy me love."

John Lennon

20th century musician

In business money buys things and the time of others, but not necessarily results.

What else is necessary to achieve business goals?

Plan To Act, But Above All Else, Act

"Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try."

Unknown

I'm a planning consultant and firmly believe in the need for action based on plans; but at some point, emphasis must shift to action.

Many may think they meet the action criteria suggested in this quote because they've made "the decision to try".   But that alone is only half of it.

A decision to do something without a date for when that something will happen, or worse, one that never happens, is useless.

What You Do, Not What You Say

"Every man is the son of his own works."

Miguel de Cervantes

16th century Spanish writer

Our words say what we will do, but what that actually turns out to be is how others will judge us.

Put Up Or Shut Up Time

"Our major obligation is not to mistake slogans for solutions."

Edward R. Murrow

20th century American newsman

And now, the day after the US elections . . .

Memo to those elected:  What have you got?

Committee Effectiveness

"To get something done, a committee should consist of no more than three people, two of whom are absent."

Robert Copeland

I've been on a few committees where I wish this had been true, including some where the outcome would have been better had I been one of the two not there.

But in general, the effectiveness of a committee has more to do with the ability of its members and the clarity of its mission.  

Get that wrong and even a committee of one will fail.

Managerial Arrogance: Justified?

"Early in life I, I had to choose between honest arrogance and hypocritical humility. I chose honest arrogance and have seen no occasions to change."

Frank Lloyd Wright
20th century American architect

When Mr. Wright (see the irony in his name given his statement?) said that, he had long since proved he could do as well if not better than he said he could do.

But what about the rest of us?

Is the case for your managerial ability based on what you've done, or what you say you will do?

Results: Nothing Less!

"Difficulty is the excuse history never accepts."

Edward R. Murrow

Often I heard from employees and kids why something expected would not be happening.

I found it difficult to explain that no matter the reason, our client, the teacher, coach, etc., wouldn't care why something they were told would happen, wasn't going to as they assumed.

However, as Mr. Murrow said, the fact that I found getting this point across to be difficult, did not relieve me of the responsibility to do so.

In the end, reward goes to those who perform rather than those who explain why they don't and that is just as true for us adults as it is for our kids.