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.

Excellence is not an aspiration. Excellence is what you do in the next five minutes.

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

The good news - and it is largely good news - is that everyone has a chance to stand out. Everyone has a chance to learn, improve, and build up their skills. Everyone has a chance to be a brand worthy of remark

Had Twitter been invented earlier, my books would have been shorter.

Authority never matches responsibility. That's one of the great myths and delusions of all times. Winning managers and individual performers at all levels know that effectiveness means building your own network and creating your own authority. Those who succeed always reach far beyond formal deputation, take initiatives, and take the heat when things go awry. That's true in the military in times of war, true for 200 person manufacturing firms, and true at giant automakers or software companies.

Vision is dandy, but sustainable company excellence comes from a huge stable of able managers.