Thomas Watson, Jr. Quotes

Would you like me to give you a formula for success? It's quite simple, really. Double your rate of failure.

The worst possible thing ... was to lie dead in the water with any problem. Solve it, solve it quickly ... If you solved it wrong, it would come back and slap you in the face, and then you could solve it right.

The only sacred cow is an organisation should be its basic philosophy of doing business.

There's a fine line between eccentrics and geniuses. If you're a little ahead of your time, you're an eccentric, and if you're too late, you're a failure, but if you hit it right on the head, you're a genius.

Don't make friends who are comfortable to be with. Make friends who will force you to lever yourself up.

When someone gives the hospital a gift of $5 and you know he can afford less than that, thank him profusely. When someone gives the hospital a gift of $5,000 and you know he could afford five times that, say "that will help."

Good design is good business.

None of us can hope to get anywhere without character, moral courage and the spiritual strength to accept responsibility.

The higher the monkey climbs, the more he shows his ass.

Put First Things First! These four words cover an entire philosophy which can be applied with profit by every business leader, by every executive and by every employee.

I believe the real difference between success and failure in a corporation can be very often traced to the question of how well the organization brings out the great energies and talents of its people.

Within us all there are wells of thought and dynamos of energy which are not suspected until emergencies arise.

If you aren't playing well, the game isn't as much fun. When that happens I tell myself just to go out and play as I did when I was a kid.

Repentance is a grace of God's Spirit whereby a sinner is inwardly humbled and visibly reformed.

If you stand up and be counted, from time to time you may get yourself knocked down. But remember this: A man flattened by an opponent can get up again. A man flattened by conformity stays down for good.

Great design will not sell an inferior product, but it will enable a great product to achieve its maximum potential.

The future of this business is far beyond the vision of any of us.

In order to be a success in business, there is one thing you must do. You cannot be successful without it. That is WORK. I have not told you anything new. Everyone knows that you cannot be successful in anything without work. Why does not everyone work? Because some lack the one thing that makes men want to work - ENTHUSIASM. That is something no one can give you. You must acquire it yourself, and the only way that you can become enthusiastic about anything is to have a thorough KNOWLEDGE of it. You have never seen an enthusiastic man who was lazy.

Always remember that your personality is your big asset. Do not try to emulate another person. Real personality comes from the heart.