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T. Boone Pickens certainly has a way with words and a knack for telling it like it is.
2014-12-29
In fact, the 86 year-old energy tycoon/author of "The First Billion Is The Hardest" has a ton of catchy/easy to remember phrases about life and business.
They're affectionately referred to by his family and staff members as "Boone-isms."
We've compiled some of his business Boone-isms in the slides that follow from his website boonepickens.com.
These and other verbal gems are often posted through his Twitter account @BoonePickens.
"A plan without action is not a plan. It's a speech."
"I once told a friend, "This is the kind of market that builds character." He looked at me and said, "If it gets any worse, you'll have more character than Abe Lincoln."
"Be willing to make decisions. That's the most important quality in a good leader. Don't fall victim to what I call the “ready-aim-aim-aim-aim” syndrome. You must be willing to fire."
"Far too many executives have become more concerned with the “four P’s” — pay, perks, power and prestige — rather than making profits for shareholders."
"Keep things informal. Talking is the natural way to do business. Writing is great for keeping records and putting down details, but talk generates ideas. Great things come from our luncheon meetings, which consist of a sandwich, a cup of soup, and a good idea or two. No martinis."
"The thing where you throw the ball and catch the ball — that’s a pretty neat trick. I’ve done it a few times, but it’s not something you can do consistently."
Julia is formerly a senior reporter covering finance. She wrote for Business Insider from 2011 to 2016. She studied broadcast journalism at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.While at UNC, she contributed to the award-winning student-run newscast "Carolina Week" as a reporter. She was a member of the university’s equestrian team competing in the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association. She is a member of the New York Junior League. She volunteers with Project Sunshine and is a mentor to an area high-school student via Futures & Options.Julia is a Half Ironman finisher and a New York City Marathon finisher. She was Miss New York United States 2014.
