Lao Tzu

Tao in the world is like a river flowing home to the sea.

Why is the tao so valuable? Because it is everywhere, and everyone can use it. This is why those who seek will find.

Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength while loving someone deeply gives you courage.

If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading.

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

The best leaders are humble enough to realize their victories depend upon their people.

But real leadership comes from the quiet nudging of an inner voice. It comes from realizing that the time has come to move beyond waiting to doing.

I have a very simple rule when it comes to management: hire the best people from your competitors, pay them more than they were earning, and give them bonuses and incentives based on their performance. That’s how you build a first-class operation.

Effective leadership is putting first things first. Effective management is discipline, carrying it out.

If you wouldn’t follow yourself, why should anyone else?

I feel like the thing we can do is celebrate people doing great work and create more cultural momentum and awareness that this is an important thing in the world. So when the next economic crisis hits and people are talking about where to cut from the budget, science isn’t the thing.

A great leader has to be flexible, holding his ground on the major principles but finding room for compromises that can bring people together. A great leader has to be savvy at negotiations so we don’t drown every bill in pork barrel bridges to nowhere. I know how to stand my ground – but I also know that Republicans and Democrats need to find common ground to stand on as well.

Even as entrepreneurs, we rely on people to get things done. We may have the original idea, but moving it forward can involve hundreds of people. Every person becomes integral to the overall success.

If you aspire to be a leader of your own country, you must speak your own language, for God’s sake.

The function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers.

Don’t blame the boss. He has enough problems.

A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.

It’s easy to demonise people, you’re usually wrong about it, people are nicer than you think.

And give… give more credit to others and don’t assume they’re mean until you know they’re actually mean.

When the leader lacks confidence, the followers lack commitment.