Be the hunter, not the hunted: Never allow your unit to be caught with its guard down.
James MattisRead
You can overcome wrong technology. Your people have the initiative, they see the problem, no big deal ... you can't overcome bad culture. You've gotta change whoever is in charge.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Technology can be adapted, but a negative culture requires leadership change to improve.
James Mattis emphasizes the importance of culture within an organization, stating that while technology can be reformed and improved, a toxic or ineffective culture is more challenging to shift. To foster a positive environment, leadership must be held accountable and potentially changed, as the leadership sets the tone for organizational values and behavior.
Themes
CultureLeadershipTechnologyChangeInitiative
In practice
Example use cases
In a corporate training session discussing cultural transformation.
More from James Mattis
All quotes βI would happily storm hell in the company of these troops ... how strongly they have demonstrated to the world that free men and women can fight like the dickens.
James MattisRead
For the mission's sake, our country's sake, and the sake of the men who carried the Division's colors in the past battles - who fought for life and never lost their nerve - carry out your mission and keep your honor clean. Demonstrate to the world there is "No Better Friend, No Worse Enemy" than a U.S. Marine.
James MattisRead
You cannot allow any of your people to avoid the brutal facts. If they start living in a dream world, it's going to be bad.
James MattisRead
We've backed off in good faith to try and give you a chance to straighten this problem out. But I am going to beg with you for a minute. I'm going to plead with you, do not cross us. Because if you do, the survivors will write about what we do here for 10,000 years.
James MattisRead
Demonstrate to the world there is "No Better Friend, No Worse Enemy" than a U.S. Marine.
James MattisRead
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