“If all you're trying to do is essentially the same thing as your rival...” — Michael Porter Quote

“If all you're trying to do is essentially the same thing as your rivals, then it's unlikely that you'll be very successful.”

“The thing is, continuity of strategic direction and continuous improvement in how you do things are absolutely consistent with each other. In fact, they're mutually reinforcing.”

“As a multisport athlete, I was always fascinated with competition and how to win. At HBS and later at the Harvard Department of Economics, I was drawn to the field of competition and strategy because it tackles perhaps the most basic question in both business management and industrial economics: What determines corporate performance?”

“The chief strategist of an organization has to be the leader - the CEO.”

“In a period of economic downturn, the overwhelming instinct is to pare back, cut costs, and lay off. If you do that, do so with your strategy in mind. The worst mistake is to cut across the board. Instead, reconnect and recommit to a clear strategy that will distinguish yourself from others.”

“I think most religious belief structures are essentially like mind viruses.”

“Somewhere around the fifth or seventh grade I figured out that I could ingratiate myself to people by making them laugh. Essentially, I was just trying to make them like me. But after a while it became part of my identity.”

“Payroll savings plans are vital because they are essentially the only way that middle-class Americans reliably save for retirement.”

“The kinds of things that we can make mistakes about are essentially unlimited in number.”

“New York is essentially a bazaar, not a Presbyterian church.”

“The Internet has essentially democratized the music industry in terms of what is popular and it's democratized the music journalism industry as well.”