It is an absolute fact that when you step back far enough, the simple wisdom needed to successfully run your business – interact with and support your people, make customer-centric decisions, do business planning, solve problems and get the best outcomes – can be found in many places, history for one.
An Art Markman article at Fast Company.com does a wonderful job of illustrating that — “Ultimately, in your search for solutions to modern problems, it is important to recognize that most of these issues are just old problems dressed up in new clothing. Taking a broader perspective on these issues can allow you to draw on the wisdom of the past.” The article is a quick read and I encourage you to check it out.
But — as we are a culture of sound bites and bumper stickers, my twist on this is to look for wisdom in short quotes from many different sources across the ages.
The following is not the ultimate list of advice by any stretch of the imagination, but consistently applying even these seven expressions or “truths” from authors across generations could take you a long way toward achieving more success in your business and personal life. They certainly could influence what you do, where you are headed and how you get there:
- “It is our responsibilities, not ourselves, that we should take seriously.”
— Peter Ustinov, British actor and writer - “Do or do not. There is no try.”
— Yoda, Star Wars character - “Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.”
— Theodor Seuss Geisel, aka Dr. Seuss, American author - “Be sure you put your feet in the right place, then stand firm.”
— Abraham Lincoln, 16th U.S. President - “It always seems impossible until it’s done.”
— Nelson Mandela - “How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes!”
— Maya Angelou, American poet and memoirist
And finally — at least for now…
- “It’s what we learn after we know it all that really counts”
— Coach John Wooden, UCLA
Best regards,
Rod