Andrew Grove, ex Intel
This business about speed has its limits. Brains don’s speed up. The exchange of ideas does not really speed up, only the overhead that slowed down the exchange. When it comes down to the bulk of knowledge work, the 21st century works the same as the 20th century. You can reach people around the clock, but they won’t think any better or any faster just because you’ve reached them faster. The give and take remains a limiting factor
John Chambers, Cisco
Companies that are successful will have cultures that thrive on change, even though change makes most people very uncomfortable. In the end, you might just have speed, talent, and branding. Those things may be the only differentiators
Joe Hyams, Zen in the Martial Arts (previously published here)
A young boy travelled across Japan to study with a famous martial artist. The master asked him what he wanted. The young boy told him he wanted to be the finest martial artist in the land and asked how long he had to study. “Ten years at least”, the master answered. “But what if I studied twice as hard as all your other students” the young boy responded. “Twenty years”, the master replied. “Twenty years! What if I practice day and night with all my effort?”. “Thirty years”, was the master’s reply. The boy was thoroughly confused. “How is it that each time I say I will work harder, you tell me that it will take longer?”, the boy asked. “The answer is clear. When one eye is fixed upon your destination, there is only one eye left with which to find the Way”
3 versions, 3 approaches, worth reflecting. Lets take stock individually, make our own conclusions.