In our world, we have this huge focus on vicarious living - politicians, movie stars, athletes, coaches, all these people. What our research has shown very clearly is that people who are really happier and have more meaningful lives are people that focus on living their own lives.

Marshall Goldsmith

One of the most important actions, things a leader can do, is to lead by example. If you want everyone else to be passionate, committed, dedicated, and motivated, you go first!

Marshall Goldsmith

To me, the #1 key to success is 'creating lasting positive change in yourself and others.' That is what is most rare, most difficult, and most valuable about leading people.

Marshall Goldsmith

Gratitude is not a limited resource, nor is it costly. It is abundant as air. We breathe it in but forget to exhale.

Marshall Goldsmith

We deify willpower and self-control - and mock its absence. People who achieve through remarkable willpower are 'strong' and 'heroic.' People who need help or structure are 'weak.' This is crazy - because few of us can accurately gauge or predict our willpower.

Marshall Goldsmith

I regard gratitude as an asset and its absence a major interpersonal flaw.

Marshall Goldsmith

Be happy now. It's a great Western disease that we'll be happy in the future - when we get higher status or that BMW or that promotion or this project finished. Instead, be happy now.

Marshall Goldsmith

Life is short. Do whatever you can to help people - not for status, but because the 95-year-old you will be proud if you did help people and disappointed if you didn't.

Marshall Goldsmith

When you're at the lower levels in the organization, you need to win and be right. But as you move up, you need to let other people win and be right, and become a manager and delegate responsibility.

Marshall Goldsmith

Active questions are the alternative to passive questions. There is a huge difference between, 'Do you have clear goals?' and 'Did you do your best to set clear goals for yourself?' The former is trying to determine the employee's state of mind; the latter challenges the employee to describe or defend a course of action.

Marshall Goldsmith

People that have integrity violations should be fired, not coached. How many integrity violations does it take to ruin the reputation of your company? Just one. You don't coach integrity violations. You fire them.

Marshall Goldsmith

All of us have people in our lives who drive us crazy. We've spent hours reliving the unfair, unappreciative, inconsiderate treatment they have inflicted on us. But getting mad at this person makes just about as much sense as getting mad at a chair for being a chair.

Marshall Goldsmith

I have a lot of deficiencies, but gratitude is not one of them.

Marshall Goldsmith

In our world, we have this huge focus on vicarious living - politicians, movie stars, athletes, coaches, all these people. What our research has shown very clearly is that people who are really happier and have more meaningful lives are people that focus on living their own lives.

Marshall Goldsmith

A leader who is self-aware enough to know that he or she is not adept at everything is one who has taken the first step toward being a great leader.

Marshall Goldsmith

When we presume that we are better than people who need structure and guidance, we lack one of the most crucial ingredients for change: humility.

Marshall Goldsmith

An excuse is the handy explanation we offer when we disappoint other people.

Marshall Goldsmith

The only thing I don't think people don't understand about good leaders is that they're both good and lucky. A lot of it is timing.

Marshall Goldsmith

When we stop thinking about ourselves, when we stop being so devoted to 'me,' we can start behaving in a way that actually benefits others!

Marshall Goldsmith

Understanding the past is perfectly admissible if your issue is accepting the past. But if your issue is changing the future, understanding will not take you there.

Marshall Goldsmith

Our inner beliefs trigger failure before it happens. They sabotage lasting change by canceling its possibility. We employ these beliefs as articles of faith to justify our inaction and then wish away the result. I call them belief triggers.

Marshall Goldsmith