We must reject all notions of 'reform' that serve up more of the same: more testing, more 'standards', more uniformity, more conformity, more bureaucracy.

In McKinsey's world, all of life is one of two things: strategy or organization.

Champions are pioneers, and pioneers get shot at. The companies that get the most from champions, therefore, are those that have rich support network so their pioneers will flourish. This point is so important it's hard to overstress. No support systems, no champions. No champions, no innovations.

The simple act of paying positive attention to people has a great deal to do with productivity.

...high end does not necessarily equal high price. It's a matter of attitude.

The whole secret to our success is being able to con ourselves into believing that we're going to change the world because statistically we are unlikely to do it.

I'm about as far from being a flag-waver - you won't find any American flag pins in my drawer - as someone can be.