“Had I not defended it and stood by it, I think it could have disappeared into history- but because I protected it, stood up for it, believed in it and understood why it existed and what it had done? That's why it still remains.”
— Tracey Emin
British artist known for provocative conceptual and autobiographical works

The quote archive

Wisdom in fragments

A growing archive of 3,000+ moments, drawn from every interview.

Transformation is about understanding how the market is evolving and positioning your organization for the future that's unfolding. It's about ensuring that you're there when that future arrives.

— Ron Shaich

Founder and former CEO of Panera Bread Company

Being an entrepreneur, or even running a large organization, is like being a society builder. The system is bigger than any individual. When you build a business, you're architecting and constructing something substantial.

— Ron Shaich

Founder and former CEO of Panera Bread Company

I can't make people do anything. What I can do is find the right people—those who fit the culture—and let their humanity shine. Then, I need to create the support and mechanisms for that to happen.

— Ron Shaich

Founder and former CEO of Panera Bread Company

The job of an entrepreneur or a competitive leader is to create the conditions that make your organisation the better competitive alternative. All your efforts should be directed towards marshalling and channelling resources—human and intellectual capital—towards being the best competitive alternative.

— Ron Shaich

Founder and former CEO of Panera Bread Company

If you don't love the act of doing, you'll never find happiness. If your motivation is glory or money, you're bound to be disappointed. If you're more excited about lunch with investment bankers than dealing with the day-to-day realities, you'll end up unhappy.

— Ron Shaich

Founder and former CEO of Panera Bread Company

STS-93, the mission where we launched the Chandra telescope, was conceived 25 years before we launched it. Someone had that vision long before it became a reality. This long-term perspective is essential.

— Cady Coleman

NASA Astronaut & Space Shuttle Mission Specialist

I think that if you care about something, then you have a mission. Knowing that, and that your specific set of skills and experience brings something special to that mission, are key.

— Cady Coleman

NASA Astronaut & Space Shuttle Mission Specialist

Mental resilience comes from knowing, deep down, that you're supposed to be where you are. Confidence in your purpose is crucial. By focusing on the next step while keeping the big picture in mind, you can effectively accomplish the mission.

— Cady Coleman

NASA Astronaut & Space Shuttle Mission Specialist

Being underestimated often brings out the best in me. It's not just about overcoming insecurity but leveraging it as a catalyst to ensure that I bring everything I have to the mission and that I muster the courage to show people who I really am.

— Cady Coleman

NASA Astronaut & Space Shuttle Mission Specialist

We need to challenge the notion that if you don't feel like a superhero, then you must not be the right person for the job. Today's most important challenges are met by teams of people, as opposed to a single superhero.

— Cady Coleman

NASA Astronaut & Space Shuttle Mission Specialist

Trust is the golden thread that runs through not just a kidnap negotiation or a business deal, but life in general. It takes a long time to build, but it's lost in an instant. Trust is about following through—doing what you say you're going to do.

— Scott Walker

Wisconsin Governor and 2016 Presidential Candidate

Self-awareness—the ability to emotionally self-regulate, which is the number one skill of the world's best negotiators. It's about tapping into your red centre and asking, 'What's really showing up for me right now?' It's about recognizing your biases, unhelpful thinking, or negative intentions.

— Scott Walker

Wisconsin Governor and 2016 Presidential Candidate

There's a place deep inside all of us that we can access no matter what we're facing—personally or professionally. No matter the adversity, challenge, or overwhelming circumstances, there's a place within us that helps us feel strong, stable, grounded, and centered. And it doesn't take much to access it.

— Scott Walker

Wisconsin Governor and 2016 Presidential Candidate

Most people misunderstand what a negotiation is. In my experience, it's simply a conversation with a purpose. We tend to rush to problem-solving, eager to reach the solution, often leapfrogging several important steps. But to get the best possible deal for everyone, it starts with the right mindset.

— Scott Walker

Wisconsin Governor and 2016 Presidential Candidate

I think it's that dynamic of information coming from your trusted peer. This has always been the source of the most trusted information. Your reinforcement is coming from people that you like, people that you trust. And you're shaping and having that discussion amongst yourselves.

— Renée DiResta

Disinformation researcher and Stanford Internet Observatory fellow studying online manipulation

Social media really orients us around our identity and our interests because of the way those connections are formed. It's going to suggest people for you to follow, groups for you to join, and so it slots you according to what you're most likely to be interested in based on your individual and group identity.

— Renée DiResta

Disinformation researcher and Stanford Internet Observatory fellow studying online manipulation