Nearly 100% of innovation-from business to politics-is inspired not by "market analysis" but by people who are supremely pissed off by the way things are.

Gandhi and Mandela and Churchill and JFK and Reagan and Thatcher and Sarkozy and Franklin and Washington set the tone to an incredible degree-their "personal style" was their "brand." ("It" starts with personal style of the tip-top leadership team. Sorry to be politically insensitive, but who would give a hoot about Tibet if it weren't for the look and style of the Dalai Lama?) Boss at any level: You're either on the "it" boat-or not.

Remember: You are the only human being in the world who can help this particular customer at this particular moment in time.

Unless you walk out into the unknown, the odds of making a profound difference in your life are pretty low.

It doesn't matter what product or service you're offering; there is unlimited ability to improve the quality of anything.

Execution Excellence! (Show up on time! Leave last!)

Almost all quality improvement comes via simplification of design, manufacturing... layout, processes, and procedures.