Every time we interact with another person at work, we have a choice to make: do we try to claim as much value as we can, or contribute value without worrying about what we receive in return?

Most people believe that great leaders are distinguished by their ability to give compelling answers. This profound book shatters that assumption, showing that the more vital skill is asking the right questions…. Berger poses many fascinating questions, including this one: What if companies had mission questions rather than mission statements? This is a book everyone ought to read—without question.

Procrastinate strategically... Procrastination may be the enemy of productivity but it can be a valuable resource for creativity.

Good guys are most likely to finish last, but also most likely to finish first.

This is what I find most magnetic about successful givers: they get to the top without cutting others down, finding ways of expanding the pie that benefit themselves and the people around them. Whereas success is zero-sum in a group of takers, in groups of givers, it may be true that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.

Being a giver is not good for a 100-yard dash, but it’s valuable in a marathon.

The more I help out, the more successful I become. But I measure success in what it has done for the people around me. That is the real accolade.