Page 21 - Economy_Efficiency and Competitiveness2

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Quotes

“Competition is always a good thing. It forces us to do our best. A monopoly renders people complacent
and satisfied with mediocrity.” – Nancy Pearcy

“World trade means competition from anywhere; advancing technology encourages cross-industry compe-
tition. Consequently, strategic planning must consider who our future competitors will be, not only who is
here today.” - Eric Allison

“If you’re not making mistakes, you’re not taking risks, and that means you’re not going anywhere. The key
is to make mistakes faster than the competition, so you have more changes to learn and win.” - John W.
Holt, Jr., Xochi manufacturing

“The ability to learn faster than your competitors may be only sustainable competitive advantage.” - Arie
de Geus, Shell Oil

“There is a tendency among some businesses to criticize and belittle their competitors. This is a bad proce-
dure. Praise them. Learn from them. There are times when you can co-operate with them to their advan-
tage and to yours! Speak well of them and they will speak well of you. You can’t destroy good ideas. Take
advantage of them.” - George Matthew Adams, columnist

“Whenever I may be tempted to slack up and let the business run for awhile on its own impetus, I picture
my competitor sitting at a desk in his opposition house, thinking and thinking with the most devilish inten-
sity and clearness, and I ask myself what I can do to be prepared for his next brilliant move.” - H. Gordon
Selfridge

“Competition, as the life of trade, surely is a tremendous spur to progress. Is it not the pursued man or
business that advances through persistent effort to keep ahead? The constant striving to maintain leader-
ship ever involves new ways and means of accomplishing more efficiently and thus it is the pursued is the
progressive man. Put your pursuers on the pay roll.” - W.D. Toland