Bill Campbell Quotes
20 quotes from Bill Campbell — Known as 'The Trillion Dollar Coach.' Executive coach to Steve Jobs, Larry Page, Jeff Bezos, and many other tech leader….
“The path to success in a fast-moving, highly competitive, technology-driven business world is to form high-performing teams and give them the resources and freedom to do great things.”
“The purpose of a company is to bring a product vision to life. All the other components are in service to product.”
“Coaching is no longer a specialty; you cannot be a good manager without being a good coach.”
“Work the team, then the problem.”
“First, I only coached the coachable.”
“If you're a great manager, your people will make you a leader. They acclaim that, not you.”
“Make the best decision you can, then move on.”
“What can't be tolerated is when the aberrant genius continually puts him-or herself above the team.”
“Publicity is fine if it's in the service of the company, and indeed, that is part of the CEO's job.”
“Tell them what problem the consumer has, not which features you want.”
“Still, the company must move forward, so be careful not to apologize too much.”
“When I am yelling at you, it's because I love you and care and want you to succeed.”
“I feel like people immediately assume that if you're Bezos or Steve Jobs, that if you're creative, you're not operational. But I think these people care even more about the outcome.”
“There's something deeply human about him.”
“No matter who you are, you need two kinds of friends in your life. The first kind is one you can call when something good happens, and you need someone who will be excited for you. Not a fake excitement veiling envy, but a real excitement. The second kind of friend is somebody you can call when things go horribly wrong—when your life is on the line and you only have one phone call. Who is it going to be? Bill Campbell is both of those friends.”
“Your title makes you a manager. Your people will decide if you're a leader, and it's up to you to live up to that.”
“I don't take cash, I don't take stock, and I don't take shit.”
“His contribution to Google — it is literally not possible to overstate. He essentially architected the organizational structure.”
“There is nothing transformative that I do. I am a third-party Jiminy Cricket.”
“Great product and great people is the whole answer.”
