Let's Make a Deal

"Deal making beats working.  Deal making is exciting and fun, and working is grubby.  That's why you have deals that make no sense."  Peter Drucker

People versus Strategy

I have ranked a company's management team above its strategic plans because a great team with a flawed plan will always defeat the best of plans in the hands of an average management team.  Author Michael Treacy
(Unfortunately, as a result of putting together a strategic plan most management team believes that they are great, flawed plan or not.)

Intelligence plus intuition

"You don't have to be fast to be a good base runner.  You just have to be knowledgeable and have a good read of the fielders."  Ken Korach (Oakland A's baseball announcer)

Keep Smiling

"Laughter is the shortest distance between two people."  Comedian Victor Borge

The Prez was originally an Oakland A's fan

President Obama was an Oakland A's fan.  If the A's can put together a winning season, maybe "was" can be changed back to "is."

A winning managment style by none other than the Oracle of Omaha

From Berkshire Hathaway 2009 Annual Report:  "Most of our managers, however, use the independence we grant them magnificently, rewarding our confidence by maintaining an owner oriented attitude that is invaluable and too seldom found in huge organizations. We would rather suffer the visible costs of a few bad decisions than incur the many invisible costs that come from decisions made too slowly – or not at all – because of a stifling bureaucracy."

A case of not listening...

In a particular football game, Bear Bryant, legendary coach for Alabama told his qb to run the ball to take time off the clock to maintain a six point lead.  Knowing the defensive opponent would expect a running play, the qb instead chose to pass the ball.  Unfortunately, he throws an interception to the fastest guy on the field playing for the opponent, but miraculously chases him down and tackles him short of the end zone.  Alabama's defense holds on and denies the opponent from scoring, thus preserving the victory.

After the game, the opposing coach asks Bear Bryant, "What's this business about your qb not being a runner?  He ran down my speedster from behind!"  Bear Bryant responded, "Your man was running for six points.  My man was running for his life."

Stop listening to nay sayers

A Munich schoolmaster told Albert Einstein that he would "never amount to be much."
Thomas Edison was considered "unteachable" as a youngster.