I never imagined I'd be working with government, or military or politicians or big companies. None of this stuff I'm doing was on any business plan anywhere ever.

Work hard to seem infallible and others will work to find our flaws. Admit our shortcomings and others will work to help us be infallible.

Systems and processes are essential to keep the crusade going, but they should not replace the crusade.

I have friends who are majorly into the cosplay culture and have urged me to go to a convention for no other reason than to meet others like me.

I don't care about preaching to the converted.

For values or guiding principles to be truly effective they have to be verbs. It's not "integrity," it's "always do the right thing." It's not "innovation," it's "look at the problem from a different angle." Articulating our values as verbs gives us a clear idea - we have a clear idea of how to act in any situation.

All the perks, all the benefits and advantages you may get for the rank or position you hold, they aren’t meant for you. They are meant for the role you fill. And when you leave your role, which eventually you will, they will give the ceramic cup to the person who replaces you. Because you only ever deserved a Styrofoam cup.