Organization doesn't really accomplish anything. Plans don't accomplish anything, either. Theories of management don't much matter. Endeavors succeed or fail because of the people involved. Only by attracting the best people will you accomplish great deeds.
Interpretation
Success depends on the quality of people, not just on plans or theories.
This quote emphasizes that the success of any effort or organization is fundamentally rooted in the people who are part of it. No amount of planning or management theory can compensate for a lack of talent, passion, and dedication in the team involved. Colin Powell suggests that to achieve greatness, it is essential to surround oneself with capable and motivated individuals.
In practice
During a leadership seminar, use this quote to highlight the importance of building a strong team.
Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier. I am talking about a gung-ho attitude that says 'we can change things here, we can achieve awesome goals, we can be the best. 'Spare me the grim litany of the 'realist;' give me the unrealistic aspirations of the optimist any day.
One of the fondest expressions around is that we can't be the world's policeman. But guess who gets called when suddenly someone needs a cop.
Success is the result of perfection, hard work, learning from failure, loyalty, and persistence.
If you get the dirty end of the stick, sharpen it and turn it into a useful tool.
High-quality early-childhood programs and health coverage have expanded, and the number of mentoring relationships for at-risk youth has risen dramatically. That progress is encouraging, but it's not evenly distributed.
As I've thought about gay marriage, I don't see any reason not to say that [couples] should be able to get married.
Leadership can't be fabricated. If it is fabricated and rehearsed, you can't fool the guys in the locker room. So when you talk about leadership, it comes with performance. Leadership comes with consistency.
I have implicit faith in Sun Yat-sen, not because I am his blind follower, but because he really arouses the deepest respect in everybody. I do not know of another person in China who has such a broad and international outlook, whose ideas are so constructive, and who has such deep faith and confidence in his own mission.
This fulfils my ambition. I still have my father's robe as Chancellor. I shall be proud to serve you in this splendid office.
I’d like them to say that Shirley Chisholm had guts. That’s how I’d like to be remembered.
Day by day, we are meant to continue the work of building a nation that better reflects the values, honors the diversity, and lives up to the aspirations of every single one of its citizens.
Hence the saying: The enlightened ruler lays his plans well ahead; the good general cultivates his resources.
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