Alfred Tora

The wisdom of the wise, and the experience of ages, may be preserved by quotation.

Benjamin Disraeli (Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom)

I’ve recently taken a fancy to reading business quotes. More often than not, these quotes from the business world can be applied to our aspects of our lives. I’m bound to get some flak for this, but quotations are almost like horoscopes but from famous people. What I mean by that “controversial” comparison is that quotes – generally, but not always – can be interpreted in more ways than one and it’s up to you to make sense of it all.

Right?

No?

Let’s agree to disagree.

Anyways, I came across a LinkedIn site called Motivational Lines that sends out a couple of quotes every week. Mostly business quotes from pretty successful people!

I thought I would share these quotes with you and how I interpreted these gems. Will it be a weekly occurrence? Maybe. Will it be something you like? I hope so!

Individuality Vs Teamwork

One piece of log creates a small fire, adequate to warm you up, add just a few more pieces to blast an immense bonfire, large enough to warm up your entire circle of friends; needless to say that individuality counts but teamwork dynamites

Jin Kwon

Nowadays the world tells us that we gotta look out for No.1 right? Individuality is how you move around in this world. No strings or anchors! You do you!

But that’s not how we are. We’re a summary of who our ancestors were! We are the product of the village – be that literal or theoretical – that raised us. Our culture is one of community and love.

What I got from Jin Kwon’s “illuminating” quote is that you can do life on your own. You can do enough to provide for yourself. Wake up, go hustle, stay warm. Be that one piece of log that creates that small fire. However, if you have a support system, you would be unstoppable in whatever you do!

You probably have that “few more pieces” you need to succeed! They could be your brother or sister; your uncle’s wife’s cousin’s son from your dad’s side; your best buds from church; or your neighbor from down the road. They’re there. You have just got to ask.

Teamwork makes the dream work!

Stick With It

Diamonds are nothing more than chunks of coal that stuck to their jobs.

Malcolm S. Forbes

If there’s one person that understood the concept of sticking to a job, it was the publisher of Forbes a magazine known to create lists of influential and wealthy people – Malcolm Forbes. This particular quote is a hard one for me. Not because it’s cryptic meaning alluded me because, as you can see, the meaning is as plain as daylight. It was hard for me because this one hits home. It resonates. It speaks to me!

I profess to being something of an avid starter but I’m not so much a completer (is there such a word?). No sooner do I start on a project that I get distracted with something else. I’m sure it resonates with a number of you as well.

The question that comes to mind is, how much does culture influence this?

Think of your heroes and their beginnings for a second. Being Fijian, I immediately think of Fiji’s favorite son, Waisale Serevi – The Wizard. He dropped out of school when he was in the tenth (10) grade and was considered too small to play club rugby.

A small chunk of charcoal.

Despite the adversities he faced, he persisted and ‘stuck with it”. Now? He’s a legend of rugby union. The first Fijian to be inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame.

He became a diamond.

Talent or Teamwork?

Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships.

Michael Jordan

MJ his definitely hitting us with a banger here. Considered to be one of the GOATs of the NBA and certainly one of the most gifted to touch a basketball, MJ seems to be saying here that he didn’t do it alone. Sure, talent gets the Ws in the season but if you’re aiming for a ring, you need a team that is motivated and smart.

We see this example play out all the time with the current state of the NBA! Star players that can only carry a team so far. And it isn’t only with basketball, or sports in general.

Elon Musk’s problems – if you can even call it that – with Tesla is a business example. He’s considered one of the smartest men in our time but he can’t design, manufacture, and distribute the cars himself. He needs a team to get behind him and make it happen. Day in, Day out.

We all have talents whether we see it or not. It’ll take you as far as it can but you can’t win championships that way – I’m looking at you LeBron.

Tell Me What You Got?

I’m not a philosopher by any stretch of the imagination, so my interpretations are definitely not the only way to look at these quotes. I would love to hear what you thought of them! Do you think I was onto something? Or was I just pushing nonsense?

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But until next time.

Stay blessed Pasifika and moce tale mada.