"Inspiration is for amateurs. The rest of us just show up and get to work." -- Chuck Close
Some might note a bit of cynicism in this quote, but I see a deeper meaning to it. Inspiration is wonderful, not doubt about it. And, without it, many wonderful things would not even get thought of… read more
"A good listener is not only popular everywhere, but after a while he gets to know something." Wilson Mizner
There is much more to this quote than the obvious and it’s well worthwhile to take note of. Two things are absolutely critical for leaders today: gathering data and influencing… read more
"The only way to make a man trustworthy is to trust him." Henry Stimson
If ever there were a quote to describe the alchemy and possibility of human relations, this is it. Just to be clear, this is not an invitation to become delusional. It is not an absolute, and I can assure you… read more
"It's so much easier to suggest solutions when you don't know too much about the problem." Malcolm Forbes
Basically, there are two types of people in meetings: Those who have something to say, and those who have to say something, and Forbes’s quote so beautifully describes the… read more
"Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose." -- Steve Jobs
Much has been, and will continue to be, written about this icon of creativity and accomplishment. I agree that not all references to Steve Jobs’s… read more
"Live as if you were already living for a second time and as if you had made the mistake you are about to make now." Viktor Frankl
Author, psychoanalyst and philosopher, Dr. Viktor Frankl was a giant in the field of studying the human condition and the causal connection we have to the… read more
"Absolute faith corrupts as absolutely as absolute power." Eric Hoffer
There is no better example of this concept than the Milgrim Experiment, which can be viewed on YouTube. In 1961, Yale professor, Stanley Milgrim conducted a series of experiments to study peoples’ reactions to… read more
“Strife is justice: The competition of individuals, groups, institutions, states, and empires constitutes nature’s supreme court.” Heraclitus, 535—475 BCE
To many, this may seem like a negative, even fatalistic perspective on one’s life. I get that, but like so many aphorisms, it also… read more
“I am not an Athenian, I am not a Greek, I am a citizen of the world.” Socrates
Socrates never wrote down any of his teachings, to that we owe a debt of gratitude to Plato and Xenophon. While this quote so aptly describes what I think is the proper mindset for the 21st century, it also… read more
“The greatest use of a life is to spend it on something that will outlast it.” William James
What a wonderful quote to pull us away from the transactionally-based, short-term thinking we all get bogged down in at times. We are so concerned with “making the numbers” this month, or this… read more
Pepper de Callier captures the essence of developing yourself and your career with a masterful approach. He does a great service to managers sharing his enduring passion, deep practical experience and wisdom.
