Maister Quotes & Sayings

Success comes from doing what you enjoy. If you don't enjoy it, how can it be called success? — David Maister

A true professional feels no pressure to run up a client's bill, knowing that any reduction in revenues caused by being efficient will be more than recompensed by the reputation earned for being honest and trustworthy. — David Maister

The noble path does win but only if you are prepared to make the investment over a long period of time. — David Maister

Believe passionately in what you do, and never knowingly compromise your standards and values. Act like a true professional, aiming for true excellence, and the money will follow. — David Maister

No tyranny is more cruel than the one practised in the shadow of the laws and under color of justice - when, so to speak, one proceeds to drown the unfortunate on the very plank by which they had saved themselves. And since a tyrant never lacks instruments for his tyranny, Tiberius always found judges ready to condemn as many people as he might suspect. — Baron De Montesquieu

Truly visionary and successful companies have discovered that there is no conflict between the pursuit of profit and having a pursuit beyond profit. — David Maister

Focus on being the best you can at what you want to do. — David Maister

More than any other factor, it is the people we have to deal with that determine the quality of our work lives. — David Maister

You cannot and should not try to please everyone. Make sure that the right people like you, and it will be expected that others will not. That's how the world works. — David Maister

Professionals have to decide on which subjects they are prepared to give nagging rights — David Maister

What you do with your billable time determines your current income, but what you do with your non-billable time determines your future. — David Maister

What is important is what inspires persistence and determination- in other words what you care about. — David Maister

The wood lay still. The air throbbed with insects, and flies hovered and disappeared and hovered. Meadowsweet grew in a mist of flowers, and the sun glinted on the threads of caterpillars which hung from the trees as thick as rain. "By," said Gwyn, "there's axiomatic. — Alan Garner

Your task as a leader is to help others to succeed, not to strive only for your own success. If I don't trust your motives, nothing else will matter -because my primary concern is your integrity. — David Maister

Whether or not your values are operational is crucially determined by whether or not there are consequences for noncompliance. — David Maister

Mal slid his hand behind my neck, rubbing at the tight muscles. "Relax," he ordered. "It isn't good for the baby."
"I am not pregnant."
"Ah, shit, that's right. We were s'posed to be keeping it quiet. Sorry, pumpkin." He smacked himself in the forehead. I would've been happy to do it for him. — Kylie Scott

Before a leader can be accepted, let alone succeed, autonomous professionals must agree to be influenced by that person. — David Maister

If your clients aren't actively telling their friends about you, maybe your work isn't as great as you think it is. — David Maister

I will not accept your guidance and critique unless you are supportive and nurturing. On the other hand, you need to be continually demanding. — David Maister

Stop teaching students that they are the best and the brightest. — David Maister

I cannot cure despair when people find comfort in it. — Paulo Coelho

Left untended, knowledge and skill, like all assets, depreciate in value surprisingly quickly. — David Maister

Professional is not a label you give yourself - it's a description you hope others will apply to you. — David Maister

The courage to care about your people, your clients, and your career. — David Maister

No one can manage you if you don't give them permission to do so. But if you are interested in accomplishing as much as you are capable of, then I believe there are good reasons to grant that permission. — David Maister

The most remarkable thing about suffering is that God can use it for our good. — Billy Graham

Don't get stampeded by what people around you value. The task is to figure out what YOU value - and value highly enough to throw yourself into with unqualified passion. — David Maister

I will accept your influence, guidance and direction if (and only if) I believe that you and I share similar goals. — David Maister

When did you feel most fulfilled? When did you impress yourself, or otherwise feel most proud of yourself? — David Maister

I had four blak arrows under my belt,
Four for the greefs that I have felt,
Four for the number of ill menne
That have oppressid me now and then.
One is gone; one is wele sped;
Old Apulyaird is dead.
One is for Maister Bennet Hatch,
That burned Grimstone, walls and thatch.
One for Sir Oliver Oates,
That cut Sir Harry Shelton's throat.
Sir Daniel, ye shull have the fourt;
We shall think it fair sport.
Ye shull each have your own part,
A blak arrow in each blak heart.
Get ye to your knees for to pray;
Ye are ded theeves, by yea and nay!
JON AMEND-ALL
Of the Green Wood,
And his jolly fellaweship — Robert Louis Stevenson

does my Anerew's hert guid to hae a crack wi' ane 'at kens something o' what the Maister wad be at. Mony ane 'll ca' him Lord, but feow 'ill tak the trible to ken what he wad hae o' them. — George MacDonald

What do I have to do to earn and deserve the key relationships that are going to get me where I want to go? — David Maister