Continuing with my requests for famous quotations and sayings that might make it into the next edition of The Yale Book of Quotations, I’d like now to ask for memorable recent (or not-so-recent) words of wit or wisdom from business leaders.
Quotes Uncovered: Wisdom From Business Leaders
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who said this:
“in a hamburger war, be the guy selling ketchup”
“If the low-bidder were the best, he wouldn’t be the low-bidder.”
-Shaun Eli Breidbart
Executive Director
Ivy Stand-up
“If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses.”
-Henry Ford
“Hello. It’s my broker. What? Then buy, buy, buy! Oh, everyone’s buying? Then sell, sell, sell!”
-Al Czervik from the movie “Caddyshack,” played by Rodney Dangerfield
Quotes from middle managers everywhere:
We deliver the bullets & beans to the front lines.
We’re not getting enough helmets to the football.
The leaves are still on the tree.
The cement hasn’t dried yet.
It’s the long pole in the tent.
The redwoods are falling.
You don’t want to breath your own exhaust.
They’re just putting lipstick on a pig.
They’ve left very few arrows in the quiver.
The cake is already baked.
You need to water the roots.
Throw cushions on the ground to soften the landing.
You don’t know who’s swimming naked until the tide goes out.
No haircut is possible because they’re already bald.
A falling tide lowers all boats.
Even a blind squirrel finds nuts sometimes.
It’s like sweeping leaves on a windy day.
You need to prime the pump.
He won’t need roadside assistance.
You need to feed the front of the funnel.
If you hang out in the barbershop long enough, you’re gonna get a haircut.
Even a dead cat bounces if it’s dropped far enough.
He’s an empty suit.
Only dead fish go with the flow.
You need to play chess when the world is handing you checkers.
We have a lot of bricks but I can’t see tha shape of the building yet.
It gives us more tools in the tool box.
We need to eat our own dogfood.
We need to get all our ducks in a row.
We need to open our kimono with that group.
Don’t put the cart before the horse.
It’s all about the optics.
“If anybody in this country doesn’t minimise their tax they want their heads read because as a government, I can tell you, you’re not spending it that well that we should be donating extra.” – Kerry Packer, 1991
At the time, the late Packer was Australia’s richest man and was testifying before Parliament.
Not so recent:
“If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses.” – Henry Ford
Recent:
“I believe that if you show people the problems and you show them the solutions they will be moved to act.” – Bill Gates
“If women didn’t exist, all the money in the world would have no meaning.”
- Aristotle Onassis (1906-1975)
Nobody ever got rich by overestimating the intelligence of the public. Louis B Meyer?