In the business world, and in life, there are inherent complexities. It is critical to keep plans and communication simple.

No matter how big or bureaucratic your company seems, it pales in comparison to the gargantuan U.S. military bureaucracy.

All decisions are objective until the first line of the code is written. And then they are emotional.

Fierce conversations are about moral courage, clear requests, and taking action. Fierce is an attitude. A skill set. A mind-set. A way of life. A way of leading. A strategy for getting things done.

In short, companies that achieve a high return on capital are likely to have a special advantage of some kind. That special advantage keeps competitors from destroying the ability to earn above-average profits.

“Thin-slicing” refers to the ability of our unconscious to find patterns in situations and behavior based on very narrow slices of experience.

Lots of self-help books tell us to get our mindset right. They tell us, ‘What you think will change how you feel.’ But they often miss something crucial. It doesn’t end there. The relationship works both ways. The way you feel also influences the types of thoughts that can pop into your head, making you more vulnerable to experiencing thoughts that are negative and self-critical.

All we can do is to believe in God’s Word, rely on his promise, and walk in the good works which he has prepared for us.

9. The book discusses the evolution of human societies from bands to tribes, chiefdoms, and states.

The key is to find ways to delegate or streamline all the tasks that distract you from doing what you do best, because when you do more of what you do best, you achieve more—and your career or your business or your personal life naturally flourishes.