lead/manage
“Managers do things right, leaders do the right things.” - Warren Bennis
want versus need
“Customer development isn’t asking customers what they want; it’s seeking to understand what they need, how they work, where their pain points and highest priorities are. Customers may not be able to articulate what they want, but they can’t hide what they need.” — Cindy Alvarez
complexity
“Any damn fool can make it complex. It takes a genius to make it simple.” — Ray Dalio
education
“We receive three educations, one from our parents, one from our school masters, and one from the world. The third contradict all that the first two teach us.” - Baron de Montesquieu
self discovery
“Become who you are by learning who you are.” - Pindar
cost
“Nothing is more costly that something given free of charge.” - a popular saying in Japan
logic
“It’s a fool who looks for logic in the chambers of the human heart.” - the Coen Brothers (O, Brother Where Art Thou)
permanence
“From the days of old there is no permanence. The sleeping and the dead, how alike they are, they are like a painted death. What is there between the master and the servant when both have fulfilled their doom?” - The Epic of Gilgamesh
assume postive intent
One of the Fundamentals at MSRE is to assume positive intent. This quote from James Clear really sums this thought up well.
"When working with people, assume good intentions. When listening to people, interpret their words in a generous way. You will occasionally get burned and mistreated by always assuming the best in others, but it is a far better way to live than the opposite." - James Clear
favors
“People want to feel that they deserve their good fortune. The receipt of a favor can become oppressive: It means you have been chosen because you are a friend, not necessarily because you are deserving. There is almost a touch of condescension in the act of hiring friends that secretly afflicts them.” - Robert Greene
the key to transforming yourself
I have been a huge reader of Robert Greene’s content recently. This is a great introduction to his work and a powerful message on how to transform yourself/life.
the strongest sense
“The truth is generally seen, rarely heard.” - Gracian
start with the end in mind
“Experience shows that, if one foresees from far away the designs to be undertaken, one can act with speed when the moment comes to execute them.“ - Cardinal Richelieu
unchecked capitalism
“They build fortunes poisoning their offspring
And hand out prizes when someone patents a cure.” — Father John Misty (lyrics from his song Pure Comedy)
habit
“Habit is a mighty ally….The habit of fear and anger, or the habit of self-composure and courage.” - Steven Pressfield (Gates of Fire)
profit from experience
Writers who have delved into human nature, ancient masters of strategy, historians of human stupidity and folly, kings and queens who have learned the hard way how to handle the burdens of power--their knowledge is gathering dust, waiting for you to come and stand on their shoulders. Their wit can be your wit, their skill can be your skill, and they will never come around to tell people how unoriginal you really are. You can slog through life, making endless mistakes, wasting time and energy trying to do things from your own experience. Or you can use the armies of the past. As Bismarck once said, "Fools say that they learn by experience. I prefer to profit by others' experience." - Robert Greene
knowledge
“There is much to be known, life is short, and life is not life without knowledge. It is therefore an excellent device to acquire knowledge from everybody. Thus, by the sweat of another's brow, you win the reputation of being an oracle.” Baltasar Gracián
plans
"Plans are worthless, but planning is everything." — Dwight D. Eisenhower
necessary
“It is necessary to be very strong against something.” Ernest Hemingway