Bill Marriott Quotes

Don’t listen to what they say. Go see. — Chinese proverb

Listening is the single most important on–the–job skill that a good manager can cultivate. A leader who doesn’t listen well risks missing critical information, losing (or never winning) the confidence of staff and peers and forfeiting the opportunity to be a proactive, hands–on manager. Listening is also how you empower people to grow in their jobs and gain confidence as decision makers.

When I was separated from the lab, attending some seminar or conference, it was the series of twisted e-mails from Bill that held me fast to what I loved about my job, even while trapped with pasty middle-aged men who regarded me as they would a mangy stray that had slipped in through an open basement window. There’s a place somewhere where I am part of the in-group, I would remind myself as I stood alone with my buffet dish in some Marriott ballroom, apparently radiating cooties and so excluded from the back-slapping stories of building mass spectrometers during the good old days.

Bill’s unswerving devotion to his faith has dominated his life. He has worshiped more in deed, however, than in word, without inflicting his views on others. His true love of God, his Allie, his family, his fellow man, and his country has been the rudder of his life.

Allie knew that problems didn’t really bother Bill. In fact, he welcomed them. He often said life was an obstacle course. And that’s how you got ahead–by meeting and overcoming obstacles.

We sell people what they need, and we keep our prices down. We have good, clean-cut people in positions of responsibility. And we work hard – and long. Mr. Penney says, ‘Nobody ever got rich working a forty-hour week.’ And he’s right. Mark my words, Bill he’s right.

Bill Marriott demonstrates that a man can be a religious leader as well as a giant in business. He has attained a reputation as a man of wealth, but he accepts the premise the earth is the Lord’s, and that he is the steward of the things in it for the benefit of mankind.

The world is a book; those who do not travel read only one page. — Saint Augustine

Nothing is as important as having managers in place who possess the people skills to support, encourage, lead, inspire and listen to associates. A

No matter how many hotels were added to the Marriott stable, and no matter how old he was, Bill was determined to go to most of the full-service hotel openings and continue his inspection visits of 100 to 200 hotels each year.

That’s the importance of listening and not thinking you know it all. Always try to find out what’s on the other person’s mind, and work with them, and you both might get what you want.