Alfred Sloan Quotes & Sayings

In any organization men would move up form the bottom to the top. That develops loyalty, ambition and talent, because there is a chance for promotion. — Alfred P. Sloan

Efore the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation series of books began to appear in 1979, the scientific autobiography was a largely unfamiliar genre. One recalls Cajal's extraordinary Recollections of My Life, translated into English in 1937, and the little gem of autobiography written by Charles Darwin for his grandchildren in 1876. One supposes that this form of scientific writing is scarce because busy scientists would rather continue to work on scientific problems than to indulge in a retrospective exercise using a writing style — Anonymous

If we are all in agreement on the decision - then I propose we postpone further discussion of this matter until our next meeting to give ourselves time to develop disagreement and perhaps gain some understanding of what the decision is all about. — Alfred P. Sloan

By the time of the '90s boom, CEOs had become superheroes, accorded celebrity treatment and followed with a kind of slavish scrutiny that Alfred P. Sloan could never have imagined. — James Surowiecki

Give a man a clear-cut job and let him do it. — Alfred P. Sloan

There is no resting place for an enterprise in a competitive economy. — Alfred P. Sloan

Articulate each meeting's purpose (Making an announcement? Delivering a report?). Terminate the meeting once the purpose is accomplished. Follow up with short communications summarizing the discussion, spelling out new work assignments and deadlines for completing them. General Motors CEO Alfred Sloan's legendary mastery of meeting follow-up helped secure GM's industry dominance in the mid-twentieth century. — Harvard Business School Press

There has to be this pioneer, the individual who has the courage, the ambition to overcome the obstacles that always develop when one tries to do something worthwhile, especially when it is new and different. — Alfred P. Sloan

The final act of business judgment is intuitive. — Alfred P. Sloan

Some have an idea that the reason we in this country discard things so readily is because we have so much. The facts are exactly opposite-the reason we have so much is simply because we discard things so readily. We replace the old in return for something that will serve us better. — Alfred P. Sloan

The worst is over without a doubt. — Alfred P. Sloan

If you do it right 51 percent of the time you will end up a hero. — Alfred P. Sloan

It is astonishing what you can do when you have a lot of energy, ambition and plenty of ignorance. — Alfred P. Sloan

The greatest real thrill that life offers is to create, to construct, to develop something useful. Too often we fail to recognize and pay tribute to the creative spirit. It is that spirit that creates our jobs. — Alfred P. Sloan

A car for every purse and purpose. — Alfred P. Sloan

Only in more production and in new production can the American standard of living be increased and the economy be sound. — Alfred P. Sloan

Bedside manners are no substitute for the right diagnosis. — Alfred P. Sloan

Advanced engineering always, like advanced everything else, brings down upon it the discredit of ridicule of minds who cannot see so far. — Alfred P. Sloan

Competition is the final price determinant and competitive prices may result in profits which force you to accept a rate of return less than you hoped for, or for that matter to accept temporary losses. — Alfred P. Sloan

Work hard. There is no short cut. — Alfred P. Sloan

Never make a personnel judgment the first time it comes up. — Alfred P. Sloan

Never inject a man into the top, if it can be avoided. In a big organization, to have to do that, I think, is a reflection on management, Of course there are always exceptional cases. — Alfred P. Sloan

[Could] motor cars could be produced [in a country like Germany] and sold in competition in the American market ... In my opinion it is impossible to reach the conclusion that competition from without can ever be any factor whatsoever? — Alfred P. Sloan

I have never issued an order since I have been the operating head of the corporation. — Alfred P. Sloan

The late Alfred P. Sloan, Ir., long-time executive of General Motors Corporation, had a fivepoint "secret of success." It was: 1. Get the facts. 2. Recognize the equities of all concerned. 3. Realize the necessity of doing a better job every day. 4. Keep an open mind. 5. Work hard. — Alfred P. Sloan

The business of business is business. — Alfred P. Sloan

Take my assets - but leave me my organization and in five years I'll have it all back. — Alfred P. Sloan

To make good decisions, CEOs need the courage to seek out disagreement. Alfred Sloan, the longtime CEO and chairman of General Motors, once interrupted a committee meeting with a question: "Gentlemen, I take it we are all in complete agreement on the decision here?" All the committee members nodded. "Then," Sloan said, "I propose we postpone further discussion of this matter until our next meeting to give ourselves time to develop disagreement and perhaps gain some understanding of what this decision is about. — Chip Heath

It is impossible to get the measure of what an individual can accomplish unless the responsibility is given him. — Alfred P. Sloan