We are held back by our deep, underlying fears. Fears of rejection, fears of being the imposter. We need to reframe these fears and work on regret minimisation. If you didn't take that action, spark up that conversation, or try that idea, would you regret it? if you would- then don't hesitate, do it.
— Christian Busch“When I look at my own life- the things that I'm most embarrassed about are the moments where I acted, or didn't act, because of fear. The moments I'm most proud of are those where I acted with some semblance of courage.”— Ryan Holiday
The quote archive
Leadership
A growing archive of 3,000+ moments, drawn from every interview.
Serendipity is about active luck, it's about the luck we create for ourselves and how we imbue meaning into the unexpected. Our reaction to unexpected moments can determine what happens in the future; that's a big component of what we perceive as 'luck.'
— Christian BuschBeing authentic is a privilege. Not everyone has the ability or luxury to do this. Sometimes as leaders, we need to speak less and listen more, to make room for other voices to be centred. We rein in our authenticity by being more adaptive so others can fill this space with their authenticity.
— Ritu BhasinCanadian actress known for role in "Quantico" TV series
When we show our vulnerabilities, what we are insecure about, we are more transparent in how we lead, this is what unlocks cultures of inclusion, empowerment, agency, and psychological safety. We signal to our team members, 'you can trust me' and as a leader, it is vital we show up more authentically.
— Ritu BhasinCanadian actress known for role in "Quantico" TV series
No-one is perfect. In fact, we are perfectly imperfect. When we do the self-reflection work to reveal who we are, everyone has bad and ugly in them and we may not like what we see, but that's what healing and doing our work to grow as individuals and as leaders is all about.
— Ritu BhasinCanadian actress known for role in "Quantico" TV series
I define authenticity as the consistent practice of choosing to know who we are and embracing who we are. For a lot of us, we come to know who we are, but then we rail against our identities. I got so used to conforming, masking aspects of my identity that I became lost in my identity. I didn't know who I was. I was completely lost.
— Ritu BhasinCanadian actress known for role in "Quantico" TV series
The smallest male can be dominant based on his social skills. Think about it; nobody walks into a big store in London and assumes the biggest person is the boss! It might be the old man; it might be the young woman!
— Frans de WaalPrimatologist & behavioral psychologist who studies animal cognition and emotions
In society, we assume (still) that male dominance is natural, and that males will make better leaders. We see no evidence of that in primates. We assume (still) that homosexual behaviour isn't natural, but we find homosexual behaviours in all primates. In some of our closest species- such as the bonobo- it's extremely common, perhaps as common as heterosexual behaviour.
— Frans de WaalPrimatologist & behavioral psychologist who studies animal cognition and emotions
We are definitely seeing a shift in the skillsets that are needed. On our platform here at Udemy, we are seeing a lot more people taking courses around empathy and emotional intelligence and coaching. How do you ask the right questions? How do you enquire? How do you actively listen?
— Melissa DaimlerI believe that culture isn't a continuous act. We talk about strategizing. We don't just talk about our strategy. I believe that we also need to review our culture, maybe not as much as our strategy, but at key points of a company changing. It is essential to also look at how we are working together.
— Melissa DaimlerYou have to make decisions throughout your life and be prepared to accept responsibility for those decisions. There is also confidence that comes from learning a set of skills – and that confidence allows you to challenge the status quo, push back on people who may not be supporters, and really drive your own agenda in a positive way.
— Reggie Fils-AiméFormer President of Nintendo of America, led iconic console era
I continue to go back to that same economically depressed neighbourhood that I grew up in, in the Bronx. I tell these people that I was them, 60 years ago, and they can be me as they continue their journey. I hope to continue shining that path and encouraging others as they pursue their own dreams.
— Reggie Fils-AiméFormer President of Nintendo of America, led iconic console era
As I progressed in my career, there were always moments where I asked myself whether I was good enough for that next challenge. I was often the youngest person in the room, and typically the only brown face in the room. I took the fact that I felt I wasn't good enough as a challenge.
— Reggie Fils-AiméFormer President of Nintendo of America, led iconic console era
My maternal grandfather was exiled from Haiti and remained outspoken, highlighting the cruelty being inflicted on the Haitian population. His experience shaped me – and shaped my own mentality of being tough, resilient, picking myself up from disappointments, and continuing to move forward. We cannot be paralysed with disappointment when things don't go the way we want.
— Reggie Fils-AiméFormer President of Nintendo of America, led iconic console era
Innovation is a skill, a teachable skill, just like management. If you focus on a handful of key principles, you can effectively drive innovation in any type of business. Innovative companies are not afraid of failure – they're willing to take risks, fail forward, learn from missteps, pivot, and keep going.
— Reggie Fils-AiméFormer President of Nintendo of America, led iconic console era
Honestly, I do not always feel hopeful. I am more worried for the future of my community now, eight years after the genocide began, than I was when I first escaped ISIS. But I also find hope and solidarity in those crises.
— Nadia MuradNobel Peace Prize Winner & Yazidi Genocide Survivor Advocate