Scaling Up Quotes

“A good plan now is better than a great plan too late.”
― Verne Harnish, Scaling Up: How a Few Companies Make It...and Why the Rest Don't

“Discerning the Core Values is a discovery process.”
― Verne Harnish, Scaling Up: How a Few Companies Make It...and Why the Rest Don't

“Successful athletes know the power of having a strong core, no matter what the sport.”
― Verne Harnish, Scaling Up: How a Few Companies Make It...and Why the Rest Don't

“Studies have shown that for people to be happy and productive at work, they need to experience positive interactions (appreciation, praise) vs. negative (reprimands, criticism) with their manager in a ratio of at least 3:1. (Watch out: For a marriage to work, you actually need a 5:1 ratio!!) So make it a simple habit to thank people each and every day — and that includes using the word generously in emails to your team.”
― Verne Harnish, Scaling Up: How a Few Companies Make It...and Why the Rest Don't

“we suggest that the term “manager” be replaced with the word “coach,” which more accurately describes the role.”
― Verne Harnish, Scaling Up: How a Few Companies Make It...and Why the Rest Don't

“If more than one person is accountable, then no one is accountable.”
― Verne Harnish, Scaling Up: How a Few Companies Make It...and Why the Rest Don't

“Repetition encompasses consistency. Finish what you start. Mean what you say. And don’t say one thing and do something else. Consistency is an important aspect of repetition.”
― Verne Harnish, Scaling Up: How a Few Companies Make It...and Why the Rest Don't

“In leading People, take a page from parenting: Establish a handful of rules, repeat yourself a lot, and act consistently with those rules. This is the role and power of Core Values. If discovered and used effectively, these values guide all the relationship decisions and systems in the company.”
― Verne Harnish, Scaling Up: How a Few Companies Make It...and Why the Rest Don't

“The best leaders have the right questions, but turn to their employees, customers, advisors, and the crowd to mine the answers. Every business is more valuable to the degree that it does not depend on its top leader.”
― Verne Harnish, Scaling Up: How a Few Companies Make It...and Why the Rest Don't

“We have the answers, all the answers; it’s the question we do not know.”
― Verne Harnish, Scaling Up: How a Few Companies Make It...and Why the Rest Don't

“(think of Amazon’s “two-pizza rule” — no team should be so big that it can’t be fed with two pizzas).”
― Verne Harnish, Scaling Up: How a Few Companies Make It...and Why the Rest Don't

“focus on three deliverables: • Reduce by 80% the time it takes the top team to manage the business (operational activities) • Refocus the senior team on market-facing activities • Realign everyone else (onto the same page) to drive execution and results”
― Verne Harnish, Scaling Up: How a Few Companies Make It...and Why the Rest Don't

“Scaling Up is organized around the 4 Decisions a leader must address: People, Strategy, Execution, and Cash.”
― Verne Harnish, Scaling Up: How a Few Companies Make It...and Why the Rest Don't

“Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and Outcomes. We start with the functions and processes driving the business, then push for the company to set goals, delineate measurable Brand Promises, and pick Critical Numbers on the One-Page Strategic Plan, including KPIs for both the People and Process sides of the business so the leadership team has a balanced view of performance.”
― Verne Harnish, Scaling Up: How a Few Companies Make It...and Why the Rest Don't

“Graham Weston.”
― Verne Harnish, Scaling Up: How a Few Companies Make It...and Why the Rest Don't

“Goals without routines are wishes; routines without goals are aimless. The most successful business leaders have a clear vision and the disciplines (routines) to make it a reality. “Routine sets you free.”
― Verne Harnish, Scaling Up: How a Few Companies Make It...and Why the Rest Don't

“If more than one person is accountable, then no one is accountable,”
― Verne Harnish, Scaling Up: How a Few Companies Make It...and Why the Rest Don't