"The leaders we revere and the businesses..." - Quote by Barack Obama
The leaders we revere and the businesses that last are generally not the result of a narrow pursuit of popularity or personal advancement, but of devotion to some bigger purpose. That's the hallmark of real success. The other trapping of success might be the by product of this larger mission, but it can't be the central thing.
More by Barack Obama
“I have been blessed by having, and I admittedly am biased, some of the smartest, hardest-working, and good people in my administration that I think any president has ever had.”
“I can't even get a credit card without three credit bureaus saying I'm good enough.”
“We must act, knowing that our work will be imperfect.”
More on Leadership
“Good leadership consists of showing average people how to do the work of superior people.”
“Organization doesn't really accomplish anything. Plans don't accomplish anything, either. Theories of management don't much matter. Endeavors succeed or fail because of the people involved. Only by attracting the best people will you accomplish great deeds.”
“You may as well know, also, that every great leader, from the dawn of civilization down to the present, was a dreamer.”
More on Purpose
“The only joy in this hard life is serving others.”
“Profit for a company is like oxygen for a person. If you don't have enough of it, you're out of the game. But if you think your life is about breathing, you're really missing something.”
“A state is not a mere society, having a common place, established for the prevention of mutual crime and for the sake of exchange. Political society exists for the sake of noble actions, and not mere companionship.”