The most important decisions in organizations are people decisions, and yet only the military, and only recently, has begun to ask, "If we assign this general to lead this base, what do we expect him to accomplish?"

Listening is not a skill; it is a discipline.

Because its purpose is to create a customer, the business enterprise has two - and only these two — basic functions: marketing and innovation. Marketing and innovation produce results; all the rest are 'costs'.

Decision making is the specific executive task.

Working with people is difficult, but not impossible.

Education gives you neither experience nor wisdom.

People are effective because they say 'no,' because they say, 'this isn't for me.'