Jeff Stibel was trying to motivate his employees to feel more comfortable with the idea of taking risks.
So late one night the CEO of Dun & Bradstreet Credibility let himself into his Malibu office, painted a wall in the company’s recreation area white, and with the help of his wife, stenciled quotes from famous people that he hoped would motivate his team.
Quotes like this, from Thomas Edison: “I have not failed, I’ve just found ten thousand ways that won’t work.”
And this, from Michael Jordan: “I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed.”
And this, from Stibel himself: “Should have sold simpli.com to that little company in Silicon Valley (Google).”
He attached a Sharpie pen to the wall. And then he went home.