Every company, every boardroom in which I sit, has a plan, and they have objectives, goals, and a process. And to make it work, the pressure and incentive have to come from the top.
Vernon JordanRead
I'm here because I stand on many, many shoulders, and that's true of every black person I know who has achieved.
Interpretation
Acknowledging the contributions of others in one's achievements.
This quote highlights the importance of recognizing and valuing the support, sacrifices, and legacies of those who came before us. It underscores that personal success is often built upon the foundation laid by a community of people who have contributed to one's journey, particularly within the context of the black experience in America.
In practice
In a graduation speech, acknowledging teachers and mentors who helped you along the way.
Every company, every boardroom in which I sit, has a plan, and they have objectives, goals, and a process. And to make it work, the pressure and incentive have to come from the top.
But there will come a time and a place to give back, and each individual will recognize that time and place.
If I'd had a great level of success early on, who knows how I would have responded. I might have been a complete jerk.
Most people would succeed in small things if they were not troubled with great ambitions.
If the company depends entirely on you - your creativity, ingenuity, inspiration, salesmanship or charisma - nobody will want to buy it. The risk and the dependency are too great.
My career got off to a very shaky start when I dropped out of school at the age of 18. Despite my lack of academic credentials, I got a job as a fashion assistant at 'Harper's & Queen.'
I never buy anything unless I can fill out on a piece of paper my reasons. I may be wrong, but I would know the answer to that ...I'm paying $32 billion today for the Coca Cola Company because... If you can't answer that question, you shouldn't buy it. If you can answer that question, and you do it a few times, you'll make a lot of money.
A lot of times I'll see guys who are nowhere near the level of the board they're riding. They might love surfing and love how it looks, but you really have to work your way up. It takes eating a little humble pie at first, and stepping back to equipment that might be a bit slow, but do it.
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