Wisdom in fragments

The greatest innovators spend a disproportionate amount of their time figuring out how to engage with the decision makers who need to green-light their work early so they can build confidence. Innovation can feel scary to a business- old and stable is less worrisome.

Management theorist & former Dean of Rotman School of Business

If I see a lot of cases where models own their managers, not the opposite. If the model isn't creating value, but you continue using it, then it owns you. This is frighteningly common.

Management theorist & former Dean of Rotman School of Business

Your customers matter, they have the last word, they hold money in their pocket and will either fork it over… or not… A national stores manager should not be trying to control what stores do and instead say, their job should be to help each store do better.

Management theorist & former Dean of Rotman School of Business

The biggest mistake is thinking that some people at the top make strategy, while everybody else executes it. It feels intractable at this point, it's so ingrained in our way of thinking. People at the top don't make all the decisions; it's not the case that people at the top make a strategy decision and then everyone just engages in that exact model.

Management theorist & former Dean of Rotman School of Business

My role as a judge is to make sure that to the best of my ability, the right outcome happens in a case – and parties understand what the outcome is, and that my decision is not based on anything woke, or politically correct, but is based on the facts I see before me.

Creator and star of TV show "Judge Judy" for 25 years

When you're involved in conflict, you're not sane. You may start out being sane, and in those early stages it's certainly possible to mediate and arbitrate.

Creator and star of TV show "Judge Judy" for 25 years

Society must demand that you comport yourself within a framework of rules. Once those rules break, society breaks down.

Creator and star of TV show "Judge Judy" for 25 years

There is a degree of laziness and political correctness which has crept into the justice system. Many judges are appointed not elected. They don't want to offend. Instead of making a decision, they 'cut the baby in half' and everyone is left being a little bit miserable.

Creator and star of TV show "Judge Judy" for 25 years

Song writing is about finding a vision that sets the mood and state for the work and process. Then you need to put in the time and the good vibes to achieve that vision.

Georgian-British singer-songwriter known for "Nine Million Bicycles

When I got better, even simple things like being able to wake-up, go for a walk, speak, and observe life, felt viscerally stunning and good. I found a state of being – a state that gave me perspective and feeling about life and my place in it.

Georgian-British singer-songwriter known for "Nine Million Bicycles

Songs are these magnetic creations of words and music, in very short form. A song needs to hit you in less than a minute and sometimes it can be an incredibly solitary, emotional experience where it's just you and the imagined relationship with that singer.

Georgian-British singer-songwriter known for "Nine Million Bicycles

Songs are like a cleanse for the nervous system. I put on She's Always a Woman by Billy Joel and I just suddenly felt psychologically lifted. There's something in the essence of this song… it's not just beats and energy. It felt this song was filled with beauty, mystery, and love.

Georgian-British singer-songwriter known for "Nine Million Bicycles

We're pro-tech, but we need technology that works for us and intersects with our interests. Today, we have technology which is specifically designed to hack and invade our attention – and it doesn't need to be that way.

Journalist and author known for books on addiction and depression

I don't think it's a coincidence that globally, we're having the biggest crisis of democracy since the 1930s. At the same time as we're finding it hard to focus and pay attention, we also can't listen to each other.

Journalist and author known for books on addiction and depression

Think about anything you've ever achieved in your life that you're proud of... starting a business... being a good parent... learning to play the guitar.... It will have taken a huge amount of sustained focus and attention.

Journalist and author known for books on addiction and depression

Your attention hasn't collapsed, it's been stolen from you by big forces. Once we understand those forces, we can begin to build meaningful solutions.

Journalist and author known for books on addiction and depression