performance

Past performance produces present privileges.

It doesn't matter how valid your excuses, they will never change your performance.

The man who does not take pride in his own performance performs nothing in which to take pride.

A message sent to all members of the American Sales Organization at the opening of the IBM Election Prize Contest, September 1, 1932. In every walk of life, the highest places and the greatest rewards go to those who have the courage to attempt and ability to achieve big things. That is true in science. It is true in government. It is true in business. And it is true in this organization. IBM leaders in the past have proved their worth by performance, just as they will in this sales campaign.

Do not waste a minute-not a second-in trying to demonstrate to others the merits of your performance. If your work does not vindicate itself, you cannot vindicate it.

Where performance is measured, performance improves. Where performance is measured and reported, the rate of improvement accelerates.

We are face to face with our destiny and we must meet it with a high and resolute courage. For us it is the life of action, of strenuous performance of duty; let us live in the harness, striving mightily; let us rather run the risk of wearing out than rusting out

Performance for another in no way signals the inferiority of the performer to the one for whom the performance is intended.

Many things difficult to design prove easy to performance.

Ever judge of men by their professions. For though the bright moment of promising is but a moment, and cannot be prolonged, yet if sincere in its moment's extravagant goodness, why, trust it, and know the man by it, I say,- not by his performance; which is half the world's work, interfere as the world needs must with its accidents and circumstances: the profession was purely the man's own. I judge people by what they might be,- not are, nor will be.