“It's like heroin: You do a little and you want a little bit more. Raising prices is the easy way.” Quote by James Sinegal
“We make ourselves a ladder out of our vices if we trample the vices themselves underfoot.” IfsVicesLadders Author:Saint Augustine
“Well, years and years ago, I started to ask myself three very simple questions, which dominated my life for many years. One of them was, "Why are organizations everywhere, whether commercial, social, or religious, increasingly unable to manage their affairs?" The second question was, "Why are individuals throughout the world increasingly in conflict with and alienated from the organizations of which they're a part?" And the third was, "Why are society and the biosphere increasingly in disarray?"” WorldYearsWellsThreeAsksIndividualSocialReligiousSimpleBusinessConflictYears AgoOrganizationThirdsAffairManageBiosphereYear OneDisarray Author:Dee Hock
“To put it another way, I believe that purpose and principle, clearly understood and articulated, and commonly shared, are the genetic code of any healthy organization. To the degree that you hold purpose and principles in common among you, you can dispense with command and control. People will know how to behave in accordance with them, and they'll do it in thousands of unimaginable, creative ways. The organization will become a vital, living set of beliefs.” PeopleKnowsWayBelievePurposeBeliefI BelieveCommonBusinessPrinciplesKnow HowCreativeHealthyDegreesUnderstoodOrganizationCommandCodeBehaveAnother WayUnimaginableCommand And Control Author:Dee Hock
“Today, National Geographic has a membership side with a magazine and some television side, and they generate about a billion dollars in revenue, and they're profitable. And so at the end of the year they have some bottom line profit which they can then reinvest, because they're running it as a not-for-profit in charitable endeavors.” YearsEndsRunningTodaySidesLinesBusinessTelevisionDollarsBottomProfitBillionsMagazinesEndeavorRevenueBottom LineProfitableCharitableMembershipNational Geographic Author:Steve Case
“The real magic in National Geographic isn't how much money they have left at the end of the year. It's the fact that through their overall focus they are reaching hundreds of millions of people and educating people about the world. It just happens to be done in a business-oriented kind of way that is more sustainable.” PeopleWorldWayYearsKindRealEndsDoneFactsHappensLeftBusinessMillionsFocusMagicReachingNational Geographic Author:Steve Case
“Why do people benefit in inverse proportion to their need? Well, market incentives make that happen.” PeopleNeedsWellsHappensBusinessBenefitsProportionIncentivesInverse Author:Bill Gates
“In a system of capitalism, as people's wealth rises, the financial incentive to serve them rises. As their wealth falls, the financial incentive to serve them falls, until it becomes zero. We have to find a way to make the aspects of capitalism that serve wealthier people serve poorer people as well.” PeopleWayWellsFallWealthBusinessCapitalismAspectFinancialZeroIncentives Author:Bill Gates
“The genius of capitalism lies in its ability to make self-interest serve the wider interest. The potential of a big financial return for innovation unleashes a broad set of talented people in pursuit of many different discoveries. This system, driven by self-interest, is responsible for the incredible innovations that have improved so many lives.” PeopleDifferentSelfBigsLyingInterestAbilityBusinessReturnGeniusDiscoveryCapitalismInnovationResponsibleIncrediblesFinancialDrivenPursuitBroadsSelf Interest Author:Bill Gates
“As I see it, there are two great forces of human nature: self-interest, and caring for others. Capitalism harnesses self-interest in a helpful and sustainable way, but only on behalf of those who can pay. Government aid and philanthropy channel our caring for those who can't pay. But to provide rapid improvement for the poor we need a system that draws in innovators and businesses in a far better way than we do today.” WayNeedsHumansTwoSelfGovernmentTodayForceInterestPoorBusinessPayHuman NatureDrawsCapitalismCaringAidsImprovementHelpfulPhilanthropyBehalfRapidsSelf InterestBetter WaysInnovatorsCaring For OthersHarnessGovernment Aid Author:Bill Gates
“...one of the most inventive forms of creative capitalism involves someone we all know very well. A few years ago, I was sitting in a bar here in Davos with Bono. Late at night, after a few drinks, he was on fire, talking about how we could get a percentage of each purchase from civic-minded companies to help change the world. He kept calling people, waking them up, and handing me the phone to show me the interest.” PeopleKnowsWorldYearsWellsHelpingShowsFormNightInterestBusinessCompanyTalkingCreativeFireDrinkCallingLateSittingCapitalismYears AgoPhonesBarsChanging The WorldWakingShow MePercentagesCivicsDavosCivic Minded Author:Bill Gates