Quotes on Innovation & Leadership

I recently came across a few quotes which I found very inspiring and felt that these captured the essence of Innovation & Leadership.

Enjoy :)


The ability to convert ideas to things is the secret to outward success. (Henry Ward Beecher)

A wise man will make more opportunities than he finds. (Francis Bacon)

Six essentials for success: Sincerity, personal integrity, humility, courtesy, wisdom and charity. (Gerald Roque)

In everything that ends well defined are the secret of durable success. (Victor Cousins)

People seldom become famous for what they say until after they are famous for what they’ve done. (Cullen Hightower)

It is curious that physical courage should be so common in the world and moral courage so rare. (Mark Twain)

Things that matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least. (Goethe)

The significance of a man is not what he attains but in what he longs to attain. (Kahlil Gibran)

If you don’t know where you are going, you’ll end up somewhere else. (Yogi Berra)

People who are quick to take offense will never run short of supply. (Unknown source)

The greatest enemy of the truth is very often not the lie - deliberate, contrived and dishonest - but the myth - persistent, persuasive and unrealistic. (John F. Kennedy)

The greatest of all faults is to be conscious of none. (Thomas Carlyle)

The biggest idiot can sometimes ask the questions the smartest man can’t answer. (Unknown source)

Our plans miscarry because they have no aim. When a man does not know what harbor he is making for, no wind is the right wind. (Seneca)

In the absence of clearly defined goals, we become strangely loyal to performing daily acts of trivia. (Unknown source)

The woods are lovely
dark and deep.
But I have promises
to keep
And miles to go before
I sleep.
(Robert Frost)

"Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed here are my own only and in no way represent the views, positions or opinions - expressed or implied - of my employer (present and past) "
"Please post your comments - Swati Ranganathan"

SWOT Analysis

SWOT Analysis is a methodology used to evaluate the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats involved in a project or in a business venture. It involves identifying the internal and external factors that are favorable and unfavorable to achieving success.

Successful businesses and individuals build on their strengths, correct their weaknesses and protect against internal vulnerabilities and external threats. They can monitor overall business environment and quickly identify and exploit new opportunities faster than competitors.

SWOT analysis can be used for all sorts of decision-making, and the SWOT template enables proactive thinking, rather than relying on habitual or instinctive reactions.

SW – Strengths & Weakness are influenced by internal factors – the strengths and weaknesses of the organization or individual. These are competences and resources that the organization or individual possesses and that are under their control.

OT - Opportunities & Threats are influenced by external factors that an organization or individual faces from trends and changes in their environment. These external factors are not under the control or influence of the organization or individual

How do I go about it?

(1) Start with an objective

(2) Now/Present: identify your strengths and weakness,

a. Strengths

i. What are your advantages?
ii. What do you do well?

b. Weaknesses

i. What could you improve?
ii. What do you do badly?
iii. What should you avoid?

(3) Future/What might be?: identify potential opportunities and threats

a. Opportunities

i. Where are the good opportunities in front of you?
ii. What are the interesting trends you are aware of?

b. Threats

i. What obstacles do you face?
ii. What is your competition doing?
iii. Is changing technology threatening your position?
iv. Could any of your weaknesses seriously threaten your potential?

(4) Develop a plan of action to

a. maximize strengths to turn them into opportunities,

b. maintain and leverage strengths

c. convert weakness into strengths, create a remedial action plan to improve

d. counter or minimize threats, if not threats will turn into weakness

"Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed here are my own only and in no way represent the views, positions or opinions - expressed or implied - of my employer (present and past) "
"Please post your comments - Swati Ranganathan"

What is the impact of poor data management?

• Reduced customer satisfaction due to incomplete, out-of-date or incorrect data
• Inability to bring new products to market quickly
• Depleted or overstocked inventory
• Loss of revenue due to billing errors and lost opportunity
• Lost manufacturing time due to inaccurate parts ordering
• Regulatory fines due to noncompliance.

the list could go on and on, these bullets are to give you a sense for the need to better manage data!

"Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed here are my own only and in no way represent the views, positions or opinions - expressed or implied - of my employer (present and past) "
"Please post your comments - Swati Ranganathan"

Marcel Proust on Discovery/Innovation

"The only real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes"

Do you see opportunities where others don't? Do you know where to look for new ideas?

On a personal note, I have found that this approach of "fresh eyes" is very useful!

"Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed here are my own only and in no way represent the views, positions or opinions - expressed or implied - of my employer (present and past) "
"Please post your comments - Swati Ranganathan"