100+ Thoughts for managers in less than 20 words

Many of these are not my thoughts ...but some are ... 

1. Numbers can tell you who the customers are and what they do. But it will not tell you why - the desires and motivation. To know such nuanced and complex issues you need context and conversation. 
2. It is easier to say no in the beginning if you suspect you are on a wrong path
   than in the end after having traveled on the path 
3. The expression you were on your face
   is more important than the clothes you wear on your body
4. Salespersons are not needed to quote prices or deliver spiel.
   They are the bridge between the selling price and the perception of value.
5. In absence of follow-up coaching and reinforcement,
   87% of the skills imparted in the training are lost.
6. You can't sit in an office and learn what the world is going to do next year.
   You must get out into the world and learn it.
7. Bible says "ask and it will be given". Is it that simple?
   Yes, make a commitment, and life will begin giving you the answers
8. Everything in the world we want to do or get done,
   we must do with and through people
9. Don't be someone who gets paid by the hour.
   Aim to be the one who gets paid for the value you bring to each hour.
10. Your life can grow where you are planted right now.
    Do not wait to get re-planted to more fertile soil and a better climate!
11. Losers do what is tension relieving. ,
    Winners do what is goal achieving.
12. We must suffer from the pain of discipline
    or the pain of disappointment.  
13. Successful people ask better questions,
    and as a result, they get better answers
14. It's easier to resist at the beginning
    than at the end.
15. Things go usually wrong in the beginning
    and not at the end. 
16. If you must break the law, do it to seize power:
    in all other cases observe it. 
17. Mere wanting is not enough;
    you must hunger for it.
    Then it will happen.
18. People spend half their life for someone to help them
    before discovering it is a "self-help" project
19. The best thinking is in solitude.
    The worst is during the turmoil.
20. Subordinates may pay less attention to what you say
    but they always keenly observe what you do.
21. If there is no action
    you have not truly decided.
22. Many know what to do,
    but few actually do what they know.
23. Are you influencing the circumstances
    or are the circumstances influencing you?
24. Quality of our life depends upon the way we communicate with others
    & ourselves.
25. "Your world" is the story you wrote yourself using your mind.
26. A goal is a dream with a deadline.
27. All you have to know is where you're going.
    The answers will come on their own.
28. Life is not about what you get from it.
    It is about what it helps you to become.
29. To improve is to change;
    to be perfect is to change often. 
30. Don't underestimate competition
    but do not underestimate yourself either.
31. The walls we build around us keep the sadness out.
    But they also keep out the joy
32. You are sitting in the comfort of a shade today
    because someone planted the tree long time ago.
33. Success is not a destination.
    It is the way to travel.
34. To provide direction (to an employee, group or company) set boundaries.
    Without these momentum would be lost as energies will get spent in all directions.
    Let them know what is the purpose (outcomes)
    and the rules (who does what). 
35. Don't send inexperienced people off alone
    and then punish them when they make mistakes.
    Establish direction and leave them free ...
    to make decisions, take initiative, act like owners, and stay on track.
36. Take long term actions that move you to your vision.
    In short term, start from what you have and move towards your targets.
    Do BOTH.
37. If we want customer satisfaction / trust in the company;
    why give hefty incentives and commission on sales?
38. When there is an ego, everything goes away.
    When ego dies, normalcy returns.
    The "I" inside you is abnormal; the world always was normal.
39. Reaction and response are different.
    Reaction is instinctive.
    Response is well thought out, just and right.
40. Strategy means sacrifice...
    you must be as sure about things you will never  do
    and about things you will always and unfailingly do. 
41. Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak.
    Courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.
42. A meaningful silence is better
    than meaningless words.
43. Every sale has five basic obstacles:
    no need, no money, no hurry, no desire, no trust.
44. What really counts cannot be counted.
    Conversely, what can be counted may not always count.
45. MBAs do too much modeling and too little analysis / diagnosis.
    No point in knowing all the answers
    but not knowing what is the problem at hand in the first place?
46. Those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane
    by those who couldn't hear the music.
47. Leaders lead their teams through engagement, passion, example and culture. Managers manage their teams through policies and procedures.
48. Use 10-30-60 formula for people development :
    10% training, 20% coaching, 70% on-the-job learning
49. If your market share is more than 50%,
    REDEFINE the market so that it becomes 10%.
    This is guaranteed to open new ways of thinking.
50. A vendor is a partner ONLY if you know how to do it yourself.
    OTHERWISE, he is a supplier!
51. Market researchers are good in acquiring data
    but who will wring out practical ways to tell us how to improve the top or bottom line?
52. General Patton: "A vigorous attack today with only 80% preparation
    is better than an attack tomorrow with 100% preparation"
53. No longer it makes sense to hire people where the work is.
    Because, now you can take the work to wherever people are.
54. Drill makers spend time thinking of drills.
    Their customers spend time thinking how to make holes.
    Can they ever be on the same page?
55. "Chaos Theory" - a hurricane formed by a butterfly flapping its wings
56. Losers talk of success but don't know what to do when they succeed.
    Winners know what to do if they fail but don't talk about it.
57. Care as if it is the only thing that matters.
    Risk more than what is safe.
    Dream more than is practical.
    Expect more than what is possible.
58. Oh, the news these days!
    I am happy I will not be around a couple of decades from now.
    And sad for the children who will be!
59. After winning an award, Bob Hope said;
    "I was beginning to feel humble but I was strong enough to resist the urge."
60. Upon turning 100 Bob Hope said;
    "I don't feel old. In fact, I don't feel anything until noon."
    "Then it's time for my nap."
61. Gardeners have 2 choices : spray the visible leaves or water the invisible roots.
    The latter is indirect but has a lasting effect. 
62. On bailouts/stimuli/subsidies: You can take the horse of the economy to the water... but to take water or make water is up to the horse.
63. Is it possible to improve a patient's health through testing alone?
    Is it possible to improve the knowledge of students by repeated exams?
64. When flood comes the fish eat the ants.
    When the flood recedes the ants eat the fish.
    The circumstances often decide who will eat whom.
65. Trial & Error sounds bad.
    But in reality it means finding out what does not work. Is it really bad?
    In fact one should try many things, fail fast, and then learn from it.
66. Marketing Plans for today's fast changing world need 3 components :
    market research, alpha tests and beta tests!
67. You may not always know what business you are in.
    But your customers do. Ask them once in a while.
68. I would have learned but they insisted on teaching me.
69. Any fool can give you the answer.
    It takes wisdom to ask the right question in the first place. 
70. I didn't have time to write a short letter, so I wrote a long one instead.
    The same goes for PPTs and e mails too.
71. A tomato is a fruit is "data".
    Not to use it in a fruit salad is "knowledge".
72. How net is experienced is shifting from desktop to laptop to mobile.
    Ad agencies cannot monetize even the 1st step well. They are trailing
73. We don't really like change.
    We like the change we like
74. Stan Laurel said:
    "Don't cry at my funeral; otherwise I'll never speak to you again"
75. Either you find the way or you find an excuse.
    The choice is yours.
76. Opportunity is missed by most people
    because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work. 
77. Dettol, your soap's saying "turn up energy of your day"?
    But for all of us you are STILL a germ killer in a bottle!
    Not an energy soap bar.
78. Be a gift those entering your life.
    Don't enter others' life if you cannot be a gift. 
79. The truth is those vital few things you experienced as being true
    and stored them deep within you.
    Rest may seem true but a mere hearsay.
80. No amount of testing, interviews and reference checks
    will ever substitute actually working with a candidate on a real project.
81. Anthropologists say our brain is hard wired for survival.
    If things are right, we forget but if they wrong we always remember.
82. Tell me what action you propose
    and not how intelligent you are.
83. A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart so well
    that he can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words.
84. If you don’t give a damn about anything,
    no one will give a damn about you.
85. In preparing for battle I have always found that plans are useless
    but planning is indispensable.
86. Strategy means what you choose not to change over the next 5 years.
87. "Here's my secret", said the fox,
    "it is only with the heart that one can see rightly for what is essential is invisible" 
88. Treasure of common memories 10 years at Eureka Forbes.
    Of struggle, trials, quarrels. Of friendship, bonhomie and bonding. Great Place!
89. Google for Boundless Learning.
    End of textbooks !
90. All of us parents were once children but only few of us remember it.
    This must be very exasperating for our own children. Don't you think?
91. Strategists are not as critical to your business;
    as a good organization of good people working with a common understanding.
92. Don't aim for only a brand impact when planning a campaign!
    Facilitate sales & create behavioral impact on stakeholders too
93. Which of these 3 you want to create for your customers
    (1) Physical Function (2) Symbols & Meaning (3) Experience / Emotions
94. Use all 3 in business definition
    1) which customers you serve
    2) what & whom you invoice
    3) competence that enables you
95. Don't try to influence whole market at once.
    First influence opinion leaders. They will tell and show others.
96. Why waste time in vain pursuit?
    Of constant endeavors & disputes?
    Be merry with the fruit you have;
    than to discover none or bitter fruit!
97. When will we realize that our obsession for growth dilutes
    our strategy / focus / profitability?
    And is bad for planet and people too!
98. Are you a "King Material"?
    Have you ruled yourself well so far ?
99. Everybody saying that the "cloud" is the answer.
    But will someone tell what was the question in the first place.
100. After 2010 edition of 32 volumes weighing 50 kg
     Encyclopedia Britannica shuts shop.
     Kodak too died the same way.
     Both ran out their time.
101. Einstein's definition of insanity
     "doing the same thing over and over again but expecting different results" !
102. A bird is happy on a branch.
     Not because the branch will not break.
     But he trusts in the ability of his wings.
     Why fear? Trust in the god and your abilities. 
103. Perfection is not saying so much so well that that no one can add anything.
     It is to say so little so well that no one take even a word away!
104. For 2 years MBAs learn to act as Vice Presidents.
     Then they join the "other end" of industry. 
105. Who you are is your biggest resource.
     Other resources are secondary :
     what you studied, who your family is, and how much money you have.
106. A strange infant smiles & I feel I deserve his smile.
     A strange adult smiles at me and I feel uncomfortable. Who's he?
107. Fading Mass Media ?
     By 2015 Unilever estimates that
     40% of "customer impressions" coming from non-paid media !
     Social media, Jay Ho !!!
108. Recd text message " ...
     helped my uncle Jack off a a horse..."
     Does it really mean what it says?
     Punctuation & capitalization dying in SMS
109. Never knew PDF means Portable Document Format.
110. Touched by the new song that launches the new name "Hero Motocorp".
     What a song. What an idea.
111. Word “Manage" is based on Latin "manus agere" (leading by hand)
     means guiding & pushing others move towards common goals. What insight !!
112. See beyond sales, profits, share.
     See the value.
     All that counts cannot be counted.
     All that can be counted does not count.
113.  (Foreign Affairs Report 2011) Power is hard to measure
     but what really matters is Military & Economic capability.
     Snatch or Buy.
     How true!!
114. Kodak - a giant 50 years ago - went belly up yesterday.
     They saw the competition - but forgot what they were competing for. 
115. Great leaders don't ask people to collect wood when they want to build a ship.
     They creates a longing in them for the sea. The rest happens!
116. Perfect Design is not when nothing can be added to it
     but nothing can be taken away from it
     because it contains only what is essential.
117. Net connectivity is expanding but our own connectivity
     with ourselves, our family, friends and community is shrinking. 
118. Bajaj launched 4-seater 4-wheeler mini car
     as an upgrade replacement for autorikshaw market.
     Nano (similar car) still groping for the market
119. Marketing is not really about transforming the behavior of the customers.
     It is first about transforming ourselves.
120. Wireless reaches more people today
     than the electricity does. 
121. Academic world steeped with "strategy" and "knowing"?
     Practitioners with "people" and "doing".
     When will they discover each other?
122. Enemy #1 of professors.
     Span of attention is less than 10 mts in class! How should they teach?
123. Steve Jobs changed how movies are made, how music is sold, how stories got told.
     He fused design, form & function into one. 
124. A life is not a race, take it slower.
     Enjoy the music, before the album is over.
125. That there is a Tomato is DATA.
     That it is fruit is KNOWLEDGE.
     Not to use it to make a fruit salad is WISDOM.
126. A lion will not cheat on his wife,
     but a Tiger Wood!
127. Think of training as a business input.
     Not recreation of a subject classroom.
     Believe me - it makes a world of difference to the outcome.