Catalyst Quotes

“You Must ‘Be’ to ‘Do’ – Audacious Rewards”

“Every one of us, unconsciously, works out a personal philosophy of life, by which we are guided, inspired, and corrected, as time goes on.   It is this philosophy by which we measure out our days, and by which we advertise to all about us the man, or woman, that we are. …   It takes but a brief time to scent the life philosophy of anyone.   It is defined in the conversation, in the look of the eye, and in the general mien of the person.   It has no hiding place.   It’s like the perfume of the flower — unseen, but known almost instantly.   It is the possession of the successful, and the happy.   And it can be greatly embellished by the absorption of ideas and experiences of the useful of this earth.”      (George Matthew Adams)

“Trying to implant a goal that is incongruent with the self-image is like trying to plant grain by dropping seeds on rock hard bone-dry ground.   This happens when a person tries to make a goal that they are not.   No one can consistently out perform his or her self-image.   No one can long overcome it with willpower.   No one can sneak past it and perform in an incongruent manner.   The bottom line is that you cannot ‘do’ things without ‘being’ the kind of person who does those things.   You must ‘be’ to ‘do.’”     (Dr. Maxwell Maltz)

“If you don’t have audacious goals, your people will be status quo instead of status go.”   (Roy Spence Jr.)

“Know yourself and your resources – and know that audacious risks are the parents of audacious rewards.”     (Ezra Adams, music teacher)

“You Have to Pass Through the Fire”

“We cannot become what we need to be by remaining what we are.”     (Max DePree)

“It’s a misnomer that our talents make us a success.   They help, but it’s not what we do well that enables us to achieve in the long run.   It’s what we do wrong and how we correct it that ensures our long lasting success.”     (Bernie Marcus, co-founder, Home Depot)

“Ever tried.   Ever failed.   No matter.   Try Again.   Fail again.   Fail better.”   (Samuel Beckett)

“We learn … by growing older, by suffering, by loving, by bearing with the things we can’t change, by taking risks.

The things you learn in maturity are not simple things such as acquiring information and skills. … You learn not to engage in self-destructive behavior.   You learn not to burn up energy in anxiety.  You learn to manage your tensions, if you have any, which you do.   You learn that self-pity and resentment are among the most toxic of drugs.   You learn that the world loves talent but pays off on character. 

You learn that most people are neither for you nor against you:  they are thinking about themselves.  You learn that no matter how much you strive to please, there are some people in this world who are not going to love you, a lesson that is at first troubling and then really quite relaxing. …

Those are things that are hard to learn early in life.   As a rule you have to have picked up some mileage and some dents in your fenders before you understand.   As Norman Douglas said, ‘There are some things you can’t learn from others.   You have to pass through the fire.’”      (John Gardner, founder of Common Cause)

“Hot Dogs and Attitude”

“There was a man who lived by the side of the road and sold hot dogs.   He was hard of hearing so he had no radio.   He had trouble with his eyes so he read no newspapers.

 But he sold good hot dogs.

He put up signs on the highway telling how good they were.   He stood on the side of the road and cried out:  ‘Buy a hot dog, mister?’

 And people bought.

He increased his meat and bun orders.   He bought a bigger stove to take care of his trade.   His son came to help him out.

 But then something happened.

His son said, ‘Father, haven’t you been listening to the radio?   Haven’t you been reading the newspapers?   There are problems with the economy.  The war in Afghanistan is bad.   The domestic situation is not too good.’   Whereupon his father thought, ‘Well, my son’s been to college, he reads the papers and he listens to the radio, and he ought to know.’

So the father cut down on the meat and bun orders, took down his advertising signs, and no longer bothered to stand out on the highway to sell his hot dogs. 

 And his hot dog sales fell almost overnight.

‘You’re right, son,’ the father said to the boy.  ‘We certainly are in an economic slump.’”     (Author Unknown)

“Each morning when I open my eyes I say to myself:   I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today.   I can choose which it shall be.  Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn’t arrive yet.   I have just one day, today, and I’m going to be happy in it.”    (Groucho Marx)

“There is a little difference in people, but that little difference makes a big difference.   The little difference is attitude.   The big difference is whether it is positive or negative.”     (W. Clement Stone)