“We are all creative beings, but we're brought up being told not to colour outside the lines – but why? It's OK to be different…. It's more than OK to be different, and we need to encourage that.”
— Rose McGowan
Actress & #MeToo activist who exposed Harvey Weinstein harassment

The quote archive

Leadership

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

Women need to be their own cheerleaders and remind themselves of the amazing things they've achieved.

— Jacqueline Gold

Founder and former CEO of Ann Summers lingerie and party plan business

I'm extremely proud of the fact that we have driven social and cultural change. I have always wanted women to be empowered, and we've given them that opportunity.

— Jacqueline Gold

Founder and former CEO of Ann Summers lingerie and party plan business

I got out of the Navy because I stopped getting adrenaline in gunfights. That's when it gets dangerous. You don't want to get killed because you get bored. A bullet only needs to be right once.

— Robert J. O’Neill

Former SEAL Team Six member who shot Osama bin Laden

As a leader, you also realise that calm is contagious. It doesn't matter how you feel inside, if you can portray calm- your people will be calm.

— Robert J. O’Neill

Former SEAL Team Six member who shot Osama bin Laden

If I left this mission, and didn't go, I would be on my deathbed wishing I'd had that opportunity back.

— Robert J. O’Neill

Former SEAL Team Six member who shot Osama bin Laden

Fear is healthy, fear is natural, and if anyone's ever told you they've been to combat and were never afraid... they're either lying or a sociopath. Fear is a very good reaction; it makes you think more clearly.

— Robert J. O’Neill

Former SEAL Team Six member who shot Osama bin Laden

You can't say, 'I want to change things, I want to lead!' and then say, 'I never want to be wrong, and I never want to fail…' There's no easy answer other than the fact that you have to see the conflict in your own mind and make your own choice.

— Seth Godin

Marketing Thought Leader & Author of "The Purple Cow

In fact, imposter syndrome is a symptom that we are leading because leaders are doing something that's never been done before and so of course you will feel like an imposter, because you are one! Who can guarantee something is going to work? Not you, not anyone.

— Seth Godin

Marketing Thought Leader & Author of "The Purple Cow

To have a career, you have to be able to break out of your ways of thinking about success, otherwise you'll just end up disappointed.

— Sophie Ellis-Bextor

British Pop Singer & "Murder on the Dancefloor" Artist

That was when I thought, 'am I going to be someone who only wants to do music when it's all going well? And only when it's served to me on a plate? Or do I want to do this… no matter what…' For me, there was nothing else, I wanted to make music.

— Sophie Ellis-Bextor

British Pop Singer & "Murder on the Dancefloor" Artist

If you want other people to open their minds, you have to open yours too.

— Adam Grant

Organizational psychologist & bestselling author on work culture and human potential

Any time you get angry, frustrated or disappointed, it's worth remembering that those emotions are just a first draft. You would never publish a draft version of your blog, right? The same is true of emotion- a lot of people just go ahead and 'publish' – internalising how they feel – without stopping for a second and thinking that maybe they ought to do a revision.

— Adam Grant

Organizational psychologist & bestselling author on work culture and human potential

In space, and certainly on the International Space Station, everybody is a leader- there are so many complex, moving parts.. there are so many pressures on the system an teams around the world... It's an environment where listening is very important, and an environment where followership is equally as important as leadership.

— Tim Peake

British Astronaut & ISS Expedition Commander

We fear the unknown, but the less you know about something the more knowledge there is to gain, and hence the less afraid you will be. When you understand a situation and are fully prepared having analysed the risks and mitigated them- you may well still be apprehensive, and that's normal.

— Tim Peake

British Astronaut & ISS Expedition Commander

Before you succeed, you must first learn to fail. If you keep repeating the same thing, you're always going to fail, you need to adjust. We have to look at failures and use them as an educational tool.

— Shaquille O’Neal

Hall of Fame NBA Center & 4-Time NBA Champion

People ask me all the time what do you want to be known for? My answer is simple. I want people to say 'Shaquille O'Neal was a nice guy…' forget how much money I made, forget how many championships I won, or what type of businessman I am.

— Shaquille O’Neal

Hall of Fame NBA Center & 4-Time NBA Champion