Excellent firms don't believe in excellence - only in constant improvement and constant change.
Management is about arranging and telling. Leadership is about nurturing and enhancing.
Swipe from the best, then adapt.
Don't let the vision be shot through with holes, but be damn sure some of your best and brightest are shooting at it -- with bazookas as well as sniper's rifles.
One percent improvement in 1,000 things is better than 1,000% improvement in one thing.
If a window of opportunity appears, don't pull down the shade.