Words of Wisdom from William L. McKnight and David Packard.

Just finished reading Built to Last, a great book from James C. Collins and Jerry I. Porras. Found these tidbits.
From William McKnight:

“Listen to anyone with an original idea, no matter how absurd it might sound at first.”
“Encourage; don’t nitpick. Let people run with an idea.”
“Hire good people, and leave them alone.”
“If you put fences around people, you get sheep. Give people the room they need.”
“Encourage experimental doodling.”
“Give it a try–and quick!”

And David Packard:
Fifty-Year Perspective

“If we continue our dedication to the principles that have carried us thought the first 50 years, we will be assured of our continuing success over the next 50 years. I’m sure I speak for Bill as well as myself, in saying we are very, very proud of what you’re doing and we expect you to do even better in the future.”

One-Year Perspective

It is just as easy to make a profit today as it will be tomorrow. Actions taken which result in reducing short-term profit in the hope of increasing long-term profit are very seldom successful. Such actions are almost always the result of wishful thinking and almost always fail to achieve and overall optimum performance.

Both from Built to Last by James C. Collins and Jerry I. Porras, Harper Business, 1997