The more time I spend researching quotes the more pumped up and inspired I get. It is so fascinating to me how so much wisdom can be condensed into a single phrase or paragraph.

“Those that know do, Those that understand, teach.” – Aristotele

I found this very funny. A popular saying goes “Those who can’t do teach”. It seems obvious that there is a connection. The original quote is quite profound and to me it means that when you learn a skill or task you can perform it very well but when you reach a level of mastery and understanding you cannot help but become a teacher.

“Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak, Courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.” – Sir Winston Churchill

In a team environment it is very important to speak up and share what is on your mind. However, it is also very important to trust those around you, to listen and not push your own view in every discussion. In listening to others trying to understand rather than to answer there is much to be learned.

“People don’t resist change, they resist being changed.” – Peter Drucker

This might seem like a very thin distinction but the way I see it people don’t mind change and development if they truly feel they have a say in it. To have changed forced upon you will naturally make you defensive. If people are involved in the process of change it will become a natural part of life.

“The only thing worse than training people and loosing them is not training them and keeping them.” – Zig Ziglar

I have heard this attributed to Richard Branson but I think Zig Ziglar pre-dates him. Companies who expect excellence from its employees must invest in their development. How to go about it is different for different people but if you don’t you risk having unmotivated people since the ones with their own drive tend to move on.