It is the long history of humankind (and animal kind, too) those who learned to collaborate and improvise most effectively have prevailed. —Charles Darwin (I gave a presentation recently where I talked about how the only thing we can be certain of is uncertainty, in that kind of an environment those who collaborate and work together will succeed, those who don’t, won’t).
Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much. —Helen Keller (Just a great inspirational quote and one that I’m sure we will agree is just spot on).
If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself. —Henry Ford (Really love this one and very applicable to the enterprise).
Many ideas grow better when transplanted into another mind than the one where they sprang up. —Oliver Wendell Holmes (This to me speak volumes around the notion of “working out loud.” By sharing our ideas and thoughts we give plant seeds that bring about innovation, creation, and growth).
The secret is to gang up on the problem, rather than each other. —Thomas Stallkamp (With all the recent tragedies happening in the world I thought this made a lot of sense!)
Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is success. —Henry Ford (What can I say about Henry Ford, the guy clearly knew what he was talking about. To me this is translates to communication, coordination, and collaboration).
Your corn is ripe today; mine will be so tomorrow. ‘Tis profitable for us both, that I should labour with you today, and that you should aid me tomorrow. —David Hume (A quote that extends beyond the workplace and into the idea of just helping others because one day your are going to need help yourself)
I think there should be collaboration, but under my thumb. —Elia Kazan (and yes I added this here as a joke, it’s oftentimes the mentality that many executives have when it comes to collaboration!)
Several technological and political forces have converged, and that has produced a global, Web-enabled playing field that allows for multiple forms of collaboration without regard to geography or distance – or soon, even language.
—Thomas Friedman (This is exactly what we are seeing with organizations around the world, as I say frequently we are moving towards a “connect to work” world).
I hope you do not stop writing these great articles!
Thanks for sharing these amazing quotes. From now these quotes are my favourite too.
Jacob,
Your Elia Kazan quote is both humorous and insightful and exactly what we are encountering as well. Realizing that collaboration requires executive sponsorship and modeling curious how you handle this very real and commonplace challenge.
Thanks Dain, I too see this come up frequently, it’s an interesting challenge to overcome.
Thanks!
Thank you Chris
“Imagine organizations in which most workers aren’t employees at all, but electronically connected freelancers living wherever they want to. And imagine that all this freedom in business lets people get more of whatever they really want in life – money, interesting work, the chance to help others, or time with their families.” Thomas Malone, The future of work
“Fractional work – the unit of work is no longer a whole job”
“Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family. Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one.” – Jane Howard
Great quote thanks for sharing!
These are great Jacob. One of my favorites is…If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself. —Henry Ford