Harold S. Geneen

“The worst disease which can afflict business executives in their work is not, as popularly supposed, alcoholism; it's egotism.”

“Managers in all too many American companies do not achieve the desired results because nobody makes them do it.”

“In the business world, everyone is paid in two coins: cash and experience. Take the experience first; the cash will come later.”

“Every company has two organizational structures: The formal one is written on the charts; the other is the everyday relationship of the men and women in the organization.”

“If your desk isn't cluttered, you probably aren't doing your job.”

“We must not be hampered by yesterday's myths in concentrating on today's needs.”

“It is an immutable law in business that words are words, explanations are explanations, promises are promises-but only performance is reality.”

“Management manages by making decisions and by seeing that those decisions are implemented.”

“It's better to take over and build upon an existing business than to start a new one.”

“I don't believe in just ordering people to do things. You have to sort of grab an oar and row with them.”

“He suffered from paralysis by analysis.”

“Facts from paper are not the same as facts from people. The reliability of the people giving you the facts is as important as the facts themselves.”

“The best way to inspire people to superior performance is to convince them by everything you do and by your everyday attitude that you are wholeheartedly supporting them.”