What I have against M.B.A.s is the assumption that you come out of a two-year program probably never having been a manager - at least for full-time younger people M.B.A. programs - and assume you are ready to manage.

Learning is not doing; it is reflecting on doing.

An obsession with control generally seems to reflect a fear of uncertainty.

Empowerment is what managers do to people. Engagement is what managers do with people.

We're all flawed, but basically, effective managers are people whose flaws are not fatal under the circumstances. Maybe the best managers are simply ordinary, healthy people who aren't too screwed up.

An unsuccessful manager blames failure on his obligations; the effective manager turns them to his own advantage. A speech is a chance to lobby...a visit to an important customer a chance to extract trade information.

Corporations are social institutions. If they don't serve society, they have no business existing