Illustrative Anecdotes

The power of illustrative anecdotes often lies not in how well they present reality, but in how well they reflect the core beliefs of their audience. - David P. Mikkelson 


Depending on the audience, it may be more the hopes and dreams.


(Other posts on Persuasion) 

Exceptional Cases

General principles should not be based on exceptional cases. - Robert J. Sawyer 


The trap in inductive logic.

(Other posts on Logic) 

Stand up and Lead

If you stand up and be counted, from time to time you may get yourself knocked down. But remember this: A man flattened by an opponent can get up again. A man flattened by conformity stays down for good. - Thomas J. Watson  


You can't lead sitting down.


(Other posts on Leadership) 

The Eagle, Ben Franklin, and the Turkey

Franklin’s Letter to His Daughter (excerpt)

“For my own part I wish the Bald Eagle had not been chosen the Representative of our Country. He is a Bird of bad moral Character. He does not get his Living honestly. You may have seen him perched on some dead Tree near the River, where, too lazy to fish for himself, he watches the Labour of the Fishing Hawk; and when that diligent Bird has at length taken a Fish, and is bearing it to his Nest for the Support of his Mate and young Ones, the Bald Eagle pursues him and takes it from him.

“With all this Injustice, he is never in good Case but like those among Men who live by Sharping & Robbing he is generally poor and often very lousy. Besides he is a rank Coward: The little King Bird not bigger than a Sparrow attacks him boldly and drives him out of the District. He is therefore by no means a proper Emblem for the brave and honest Cincinnati of America who have driven all the King birds from our Country . . .

“I am on this account not displeased that the Figure is not known as a Bald Eagle, but looks more like a Turkey. For the Truth the Turkey is in Comparison a much more respectable Bird, and withal a true original Native of America . . . He is besides, though a little vain & silly, a Bird of Courage, and would not hesitate to attack a Grenadier of the British Guards who should presume to invade his Farm Yard with a red Coat on.”

The Future

People ask me to predict the future, when all I want to do is prevent it. Better yet, build it. Predicting the future is much too easy, anyway. You look at the people around you, the street you stand on, the visible air you breathe, and predict more of the same. To hell with more. I want better. - Ray Bradbury 


To change the future people have to change their thinking; that is the problem.


(Other posts on Thinking) 

The Way to Succeed

The way to succeed is to double your error rate. - Thomas J. Watson 


One learns by doing not fretting.


(Other posts on Success) 

Programmers

Computer programmers tend to write programs for programmers. They should first get a job managing people where they can learn to deal with people who are dyslexic, or color blind, or dogmatic, or contrary, or resistant to change, or any of the other variations of the human personality. People use computers; not the other way around. - Lyle


(Other posts on Computers)

Knowledge Value

Knowledge is the only instrument of production that is not subject to diminishing returns. - John Maurice Clark 


Maintain your worth - educate yourself.


(Other posts on Learning) 

Real Security

If money is your hope for independence you will never have it. The only real security that a man will have in this world is a reserve of knowledge, experience, and ability. - Henry Ford 


Having those things will probably make you as well.


(Other posts on Money) 

Content as Enemy

Books have the same enemies as people: fire, humidity, animals, weather, and their own content. - Paul Valery 


The same could be said for blogs, e-books, You Tube videos and movies - just the content part though.


(Other posts on Achievement)