Archive for November, 2002

Nov 29th 2002 Adam Smith, Wealth of Nations, 1776

Every individual necessarily labors to render the annual revenue of the society as great as he can. He generally neither intends to promote the public interest, nor knows how much he is promoting it … He intends only his own gain, and he is in this, as in many other cases, led by an invisible hand to promote an end which was no part of his intention.
— Adam Smith, Wealth of Nations, 1776

No Comments » Posted by Administrator / Economics and Personality / Behavior

Nov 26th 2002 Francis Bacon

We are much beholden to Machiavelli and others that write what men do, not what they ought to do.
— Francis Bacon

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Nov 23rd 2002 Mark L. Sirower, head of the M&A practice at BCG

Paying with stock is a strong signal that not only do you think your shares are overvalued but that you are not totally confident about the success of the deal.
— Mark L. Sirower, head of the M&A practice at BCG

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Nov 20th 2002 George Bernard Shaw

I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the community, and as long as I live it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can. I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work the more I live. Life is no ‘brief candle’ for me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for a short moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations.
— George Bernard Shaw

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Nov 17th 2002 Howard Zinn (Philosopher)

To have hope, one doesn’t need certainty, only possibility.
— Howard Zinn (Philosopher)

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Nov 14th 2002 Anonymous

Those who can’t laugh at themselves leave the job to others.
— Anonymous

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Nov 11th 2002 Rudy Ruggles

“Our” stories are more effective (authentic) than “their” or even “my” stories.
— Rudy Ruggles

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Nov 9th 2002 Rudy Ruggles

Experience enables people to understand and internalize ideas.
— Rudy Ruggles

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Nov 2nd 2002 James Champy

When financial pressures and capital markets demand improved financial performance, the most common reaction is a reduction in force — that’s a layoff. I’m sorry to report that many managers choose layoffs as an expedient way to improve performance and satisfy capital markets. The result for the company is half the people doing twice the work. Capital markets may see some short-term profit improvement, but customers experience service degradation, and employees lose energy and inspiration. Real process change — not just cost reduction — is necessary to sustain real performance improvement. Capital markets should not be fooled by expediency, nor should they be selfish in expecting to be the only beneficiaries of corporate change. Yet that’s what happens when companies choose only layoffs as a way to fix a problem. Customers and employees must also benefit if a change is to achieve long-term earnings improvements.
— James Champy

No Comments » Posted by Administrator / Management and Stock Market