So as through a glass and darkly_x000D_ The age long strife I see_x000D_ Where I fought in many guises,_x000D_ Many names - but always me.
George S. PattonRead
There is no such thing as luck, merely opportunity meeting preparedness. George S. Patton Jr.
Interpretation
Luck is not random; it results from being prepared when opportunities arise.
The quote by George S. Patton Jr. emphasizes the idea that what people often refer to as 'luck' is actually a consequence of being prepared to seize opportunities when they present themselves. It suggests that success comes not from chance, but from careful preparation and the ability to act when the right moment occurs.
In practice
Use this quote in a motivational speech about achieving success in business.
So as through a glass and darkly_x000D_ The age long strife I see_x000D_ Where I fought in many guises,_x000D_ Many names - but always me.
A man must know his destiny… if he does not recognize it, then he is lost. By this I mean, once, twice, or at the very most, three times, fate will reach out and tap a man on the shoulder… if he has the imagination, he will turn around and fate will point out to him what fork in the road he should take, if he has the guts, he will take it.
There is only one tactical principle which is not subject to change. It is to use the means at hand to inflict the maximum amount of wound, death, and destruction on the enemy in the minimum amount of time.
The fixed determination to have acquired the warrior soul, to either conquer or perish with honor, is the secret of victory.
I am the best damn ass-kicker in the whole U.S. Army!
Do not try to make circumstances fit your plans. Make plans that fit the circumstances.
In the beginning I just wanted to survive. For the first three years, we made zero revenue. I remember many times when I was trying to pay up, the restaurant owner would say, 'Your bill was paid.' And there would be a note saying, 'Mr. Ma, I'm your customer on the Alibaba platform. I made a lot of money, and I know you don't, so I paid the bill.'
People think that at the top there isn't much room. They tend to think of it as an Everest. My message is that there is tons of room at the top.
I'm the one who has made all the sacrifices. Those are my American records, not the country's.
Good results is not an entitlement. It has to be earned and earned each individual working day via the lens of humility.
I will certainly not join politics. I would like to be remembered as a clean businessman who has not partaken in any twists and turns beneath the surface, and one who has been reasonably successful.
Values cannot be speedily forgotten if it is inconvenient or commercially expedient. Values have to have meaning and longevity; otherwise they are valueless. You cannot embrace innovation up to a point or only sometimes. Branding demands commitment; commitment to continual re-invention; striking cords with people to stir their emotions; and commitment to imagination. It is easy to be cynical about such things, much harder to be successful.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.