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A daily bite-size selection of top business content.
PM edition. Issue number 873
Latest 10 stories. Click the button for more.
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“Success is not in what you have, but who you are.” - Bo Bennett, American entrepreneur, author and motivational speaker
Bo Bennett (born February 16, 1972) is known for his work in entrepreneurship, personal development, and motivational writing. He is the founder of eBookIt.com, a platform for self-publishing, and has authored several books on success, positive psychology, and business.
This specific quote reflects Bennett’s core belief that true success is not measured by material possessions but by personal growth, character, and the impact you have on others. It aligns with the broader personal development and success philosophy, which emphasizes inner fulfillment, values, and personal excellence over external wealth and status.
Key Ideas Behind the Quote:
Notable Works
- “Year to Success” (2004) – A book that offers a step-by-step approach to achieving personal and professional success over the course of a year. The quote reflects the book’s overarching message about personal growth as the foundation of success.
- “Logically Fallacious” (2012) – A guide to logical fallacies, reflecting Bennett’s interest in critical thinking and rational decision-making.
Real-Life Application
Bennett’s life embodies this principle. He built his success from the ground up, launching a multi-million-dollar software company (Archway Software) in his early 20s. However, he frequently emphasizes that his personal growth and development were more important than the financial gains.
Takeaway
The quote encourages shifting the focus from external achievements to internal growth. True success is about the person you become—your values, character, and the legacy you leave behind.

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“You don't have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.” – Zig Ziglar, Author, salesman, and motivational speaker
Zig Ziglar built his career on inspiring people to achieve personal and professional success. He was known for his positive, faith-based approach to motivation, sales training, and self-development. This particular quote reflects one of Ziglar’s core beliefs about action and progress:
Key Ideas Behind the Quote:
Overcoming Perfectionism & Fear:
Many people hesitate to start something new because they feel unprepared, inadequate, or afraid of failure.
Ziglar’s message is that perfection is not a prerequisite for starting. The key is to begin—because greatness is only achieved through the process of starting and improving over time.
Action Precedes Mastery:
Success is a result of consistent effort and growth. You become great by starting, learning, and persisting.
This principle is a cornerstone of personal development and is frequently echoed in productivity and entrepreneurial advice today.
Encouragement to Take the First Step:
Ziglar believed that getting started is often the hardest part, but once a person takes that first step, momentum and confidence begin to build.
Starting imperfectly is better than not starting at all.
Ziglar’s Broader Philosophy:
This quote aligns with Ziglar’s broader teachings, which emphasize:
- Positive thinking as the foundation for success.
- Goal setting as a means to give life direction and purpose.
- Persistence and hard work as the drivers of excellence.
- Faith and values as guiding principles in personal and professional life.
Example from His Career:
Ziglar’s own journey mirrored this message. He started as a door-to-door cookware salesman in the 1940s and experienced numerous rejections and setbacks. However, he persisted, honed his sales and public speaking skills, and eventually became one of the most influential motivational speakers and authors in the world.
Notable Works:
See You at the Top (1975) – His most famous book, emphasizing self-image, goal-setting, and attitude.
Over the Top (1994) – Focuses on achieving peak performance in life and business.
Born to Win (2011) – Explores the importance of planning, preparation, and having the right attitude.
Takeaway:
The quote “You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great” encourages anyone facing self-doubt or fear of failure to take action. Greatness is not a requirement for beginning; it is the reward for starting and persevering.

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“Humility is about self-awareness.” – Erwin McManus, author, speaker, and pastor
The quote “Humility is about self-awareness” is attributed to Erwin McManus, a well-known author, speaker, and pastor. McManus is the lead pastor of Mosaic Church in Los Angeles, a church recognized for its creativity, innovation, and diverse community. He is also the author of several influential books on leadership, faith, and personal development, including The Artisan Soul, The Last Arrow, and The Way of the Warrior.
Context and Meaning Behind the Quote:
This particular quote reflects a recurring theme in McManus’s work: the connection between humility, self-awareness, and personal growth. He often emphasizes that true humility is not about self-deprecation or thinking less of yourself, but about having a clear, honest understanding of who you are—your strengths, weaknesses, and the impact you have on others.
McManus argues that humility is rooted in self-awareness because it requires recognizing both your value and your limitations. People who lack self-awareness may overestimate their abilities (leading to arrogance) or underestimate their worth (leading to insecurity). True humility emerges when you see yourself accurately and are comfortable with both your strengths and your imperfections.
Broader Themes in McManus’s Teachings:
- Authenticity: He frequently encourages individuals to embrace their true selves rather than striving to meet external expectations.
- Courage: Humility requires the courage to confront your weaknesses and insecurities.
- Leadership: McManus teaches that the best leaders lead from a place of humility, which fosters trust, collaboration, and growth.
Practical Application:
When McManus says, “Humility is about self-awareness,” he is encouraging people to:
- Reflect honestly on their actions, motives, and impact on others.
- Embrace personal growth by being open to feedback and acknowledging areas for improvement.
- Avoid comparison—understanding that self-worth is not determined by being better or worse than others.
This perspective aligns with the broader leadership and personal development principle that self-awareness is foundational to growth, emotional intelligence, and effective leadership.
Related Quote from McManus:
“Humility is not about pretending to be less; it is about being honest about our strengths and weaknesses.”
(The Way of the Warrior, 2019)

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“Timing, perseverance, and ten years of trying will eventually make you look like an overnight success.” – Biz Stone, Co-Founder Twitter
Success rarely happens overnight. Instead, it is often the result of years of hard work, perseverance, and strategic decision-making. The quote suggests that even seemingly rapid successes can be the culmination of a long period of effort and dedication.
Key Takeaways from the Quote
Timing: The quote underscores the significance of timing in achieving success. It implies that being at the right place at the right time can make all the difference.
Perseverance: Biz Stone emphasizes the importance of perseverance in overcoming obstacles and staying committed to one's goals.
Ten Years of Trying: The quote suggests that even a decade of effort may be necessary to achieve success, highlighting the long-term nature of many successful endeavors.
Implications of the Quote
Long-Term Focus: It encourages individuals to adopt a long-term perspective and focus on making steady progress towards their objectives.
Resilience: The quote emphasizes the importance of resilience in overcoming setbacks and staying committed to one's goals.
Timing is Everything: It highlights the significance of timing in achieving success, suggesting that being at the right place at the right time can make all the difference.

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“Hang on tight to those who make you a better you!”
— Max Levchin, Affirm founder and CEO, Paypal founder
Max Levchin delivered a heartfelt commencement address at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2018, marking the 150th anniversary of the university's first class. As an alumnus, Levchin shared his journey from a Soviet Union immigrant to a successful entrepreneur, emphasizing the importance of taking risks and embracing failure. He recounted his early experiences with failed startups, highlighting how these setbacks shaped his path to co-founding PayPal. Levchin stressed that while failure is painful, it is crucial to remain human and compassionate, especially when others are affected by your decisions. He shared a poignant lesson learned from a challenging period in his career: "Failing people who trust in you, hurts a lot more than just failing yourself." This insight underscored the emotional weight of leadership and the responsibility towards those who believe in you. Levchin encouraged graduates to surround themselves with people who inspire them to be better and to take risks to discover their true selves. His speech was a call to action for the class of 2018 to embrace uncertainty and pursue their passions with resilience and integrity.

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“Surround yourself with people who will help you cope with the darkest moments, be a human, and you will survive, and ultimately thrive.”
— Max Levchin, Affirm founder and CEO, Paypal founder
Max Levchin delivered a heartfelt commencement address at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2018, marking the 150th anniversary of the university's first class. As an alumnus, Levchin shared his journey from a Soviet Union immigrant to a successful entrepreneur, emphasizing the importance of taking risks and embracing failure. He recounted his early experiences with failed startups, highlighting how these setbacks shaped his path to co-founding PayPal. Levchin stressed that while failure is painful, it is crucial to remain human and compassionate, especially when others are affected by your decisions. He shared a poignant lesson learned from a challenging period in his career: "Failing people who trust in you, hurts a lot more than just failing yourself." This insight underscored the emotional weight of leadership and the responsibility towards those who believe in you. Levchin encouraged graduates to surround themselves with people who inspire them to be better and to take risks to discover their true selves. His speech was a call to action for the class of 2018 to embrace uncertainty and pursue their passions with resilience and integrity.

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“Failing people who trust in you, hurts a lot more than just failing yourself.”
— Max Levchin, Affirm founder and CEO, Paypal founder
Max Levchin delivered a heartfelt commencement address at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2018, marking the 150th anniversary of the university's first class. As an alumnus, Levchin shared his journey from a Soviet Union immigrant to a successful entrepreneur, emphasizing the importance of taking risks and embracing failure. He recounted his early experiences with failed startups, highlighting how these setbacks shaped his path to co-founding PayPal. Levchin stressed that while failure is painful, it is crucial to remain human and compassionate, especially when others are affected by your decisions. He shared a poignant lesson learned from a challenging period in his career: "Failing people who trust in you, hurts a lot more than just failing yourself." This insight underscored the emotional weight of leadership and the responsibility towards those who believe in you. Levchin encouraged graduates to surround themselves with people who inspire them to be better and to take risks to discover their true selves. His speech was a call to action for the class of 2018 to embrace uncertainty and pursue their passions with resilience and integrity.

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“Most of the infrastructure cost for AI is for inference: serving AI assistants to billions of people.”
— Yann LeCun, VP & Chief AI Scientist at Meta
Yann LeCun made this comment in response to the sharp drop in Nvidia’s share price on January 27, 2024, following the launch of Deepseek R1, a new AI model developed by Deepseek AI. This model was reportedly trained at a fraction of the cost incurred by Hyperscalers like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google DeepMind, raising questions about whether Nvidia’s dominance in AI compute was at risk.
The market reaction stemmed from speculation that the training costs of cutting-edge AI models—previously seen as a key driver of Nvidia’s GPU demand—could decrease significantly with more efficient methods. However, LeCun pointed out that most AI infrastructure costs come not from training but from inference, the process of running AI models at scale to serve billions of users. This suggests that Nvidia’s long-term demand may remain strong, as inference still relies heavily on high-performance GPUs.
LeCun’s view aligned with analyses from key AI investors and industry leaders. He supported the argument made by Antoine Blondeau, co-founder of Alpha Intelligence Capital, who described Nvidia’s stock drop as “vastly overblown” and “NOT a ‘Sputnik moment’”, referencing the concern that Nvidia’s market position was insecure. Additionally, Jonathan Ross, founder of Groq, shared a video titled “Why $500B isn’t enough for AI,” explaining why AI compute demand remains insatiable despite efficiency gains.
This discussion underscores a critical aspect of AI economics: while training costs may drop with better algorithms and hardware, the sheer scale of inference workloads—powering AI assistants, chatbots, and generative models for billions of users—remains a dominant and growing expense. This supports the case for sustained investment in AI infrastructure, particularly in Nvidia’s GPUs, which continue to be the gold standard for inference at scale.

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“The men of our race in every age have struggled to tie up the hands of their Governments and keep them within the law; because their own experience of all mankind taught them that rulers could not be relied on to concede those rights which they were not legally bound to respect.” - Andrew Johnson. US President
— Veto of the First Military Reconstruction Act , March 2 1867
The quote reflects his views on the relationship between government authority and individual rights, particularly in the context of post-Civil War America. Johnson, who served as the 17th President of the United States (1865-1869), assumed office after the assassination of Abraham Lincoln and faced the monumental task of reconstructing the nation following the Civil War.
In this statement, Johnson emphasizes the historical struggle of people to limit governmental power and ensure that rulers adhere to the law. He suggests that throughout history, individuals have sought to "tie up the hands of their Governments" to prevent abuses of power and protect their rights. This perspective is rooted in a fundamental belief in the rule of law and the idea that governments must be held accountable to the rights of the governed.
Johnson's assertion that "rulers could not be relied on to concede those rights which they were not legally bound to respect" highlights a skepticism toward government authority. He implies that without legal constraints, those in power are unlikely to voluntarily respect the rights of individuals. This reflects a broader philosophical view that emphasizes the necessity of legal frameworks to safeguard civil liberties and prevent tyranny.
The context of Johnson's veto is significant. The First Military Reconstruction Act was part of a series of measures aimed at rebuilding the South and ensuring civil rights for newly freed African Americans. Johnson's opposition to the act stemmed from his belief in a more lenient approach to Reconstruction, which favored the rights of Southern states over federal intervention. His veto was indicative of his contentious relationship with Congress, particularly with the Radical Republicans who sought to enforce stricter measures for Reconstruction.
Johnson's quote can be interpreted as a defense of limited government and a warning against the potential for governmental overreach. However, it also reflects his political stance during a critical period in American history, where the struggle for civil rights and the integration of formerly enslaved individuals into society were at the forefront of national discourse.
Overall, this quote serves as a reminder of the ongoing tension between individual rights and governmental authority, a theme that remains relevant in contemporary discussions about civil liberties, the rule of law, and the responsibilities of government to its citizens. Johnson's emphasis on the need for legal constraints on power resonates with the foundational principles of democracy and the importance of protecting the rights of all individuals against potential abuses by those in authority.

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“America's strength has never rested on arms alone. It is rooted in our mutual commitment of our citizens and leaders in the highest standards of ethics and morality and in the spiritual renewal.” - Gerald Ford, US President
— President Gerald R. Ford's Remarks in Kansas City Upon Accepting the 1976 Republican Presidential Nomination on August 19, 1976
Ford, who served as the 38th President of the United States from 1974 to 1977, took office during a tumultuous period marked by political scandal, economic challenges, and a national crisis of confidence following the Watergate scandal.
In this statement, Ford emphasizes that America's strength is not solely derived from its military power or military might ("arms alone") but is fundamentally rooted in the ethical and moral commitments of its citizens and leaders. He highlights the importance of high standards of ethics and morality, suggesting that the integrity of individuals in positions of power is crucial for the health and stability of the nation. This perspective underscores the belief that effective governance and national strength are built on trust, accountability, and a shared commitment to ethical principles.
Ford's mention of "spiritual renewal" adds another layer to his message, indicating that the nation's strength also relies on a sense of purpose, community, and shared values. This call for spiritual renewal can be interpreted as a plea for Americans to reconnect with the ideals that define the nation, such as liberty, justice, and the common good. In the context of the 1970s, a decade marked by social upheaval and disillusionment, Ford's remarks served as a reminder of the importance of unity and moral clarity in overcoming challenges.
The quote also reflects Ford's broader vision for America as a nation that values not only its material and military capabilities but also its moral and ethical foundations. By advocating for a commitment to high standards of conduct, Ford sought to inspire citizens to engage in civic responsibility and to hold their leaders accountable.
Overall, this quote resonates with contemporary discussions about the role of ethics in politics, the importance of civic engagement, and the need for a collective commitment to the values that define a democratic society. Ford's assertion serves as a reminder that true strength lies not just in power or resources but in the integrity and character of the people who make up the nation. His call for mutual commitment to ethics and morality encourages citizens to actively participate in shaping a just and equitable society.

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