Best of All Rulers

The best of all rules is but a shadowy presence to his subjects.
Next comes the ruler they love and praise.
Next comes one they fear.
Next comes one with whom they take liberties.

A Stone Cutter

Michelangelo never made any mystery of the fact that his entire life, from youth to old age, was consumed by passion. He seems to have been caught up in a whirlwind, like that of Dante’s Inferno, which might sweep him up to Paradise or hurl him down to Hell.

Fundamental Equation of Business

Value = Benefits – Price

To make sure that Value is greater than zero, executives have two – only two – possible strategies:
1) Make price lower
2) Make benefits bigger

Sweet Tides

Sharp turn, my mind is a blur
Slow passage through the air
Looking back on the days
All over your mind, just wanna be free

Time to Pretend

This is our decision, to live fast and die young.
We’ve got the vision, now let’s have some fun.
Yeah, it’s overwhelming, but what else can we do.
Get jobs in offices, and wake up for the morning commute.

Highly Effective Habits

A habit is the intersection of knowledge, skill, and desire.

Knowledge is the theoretical component, the “what” to do and “why” to do it.

Skill is the practical side of “how” to do it. 

Desire is the motivational side, the “want” to do it.

Tale of Two Cities

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way…

Goodbye 2008.

Move Along

When all you got to keep is strong
Move along, move along like I know you do
And even when your hope is gone
Move along, move along just to make it through

Right back what is wrong
We move along

Mad Money

Bulls make money.
Bears make money.
Pigs get slaughtered.

Booyah!

Cynics

A cynic is someone that knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.