#work-ethic

"The difference between greed and ambition is a greedy person desires things he isn't prepared to work for."

"I’m not a very good sleeper. But you know what? I’m willing to put in a few extra hours every day to get better. That’s just the kind of hard worker I am."

"Who you are tomorrow begins with what you do today."

"Perfect is the enemy of good."

"[On writing:] "There's a great quote by Julius Irving that went, 'Being a professional is doing the things you love to do, on the days you don't feel like doing them.'"(One On 1, interview with Budd Mishkin; NY1, March 25, 2007.)"

"but I have no mind for business and considered staying awake to be enough of an accomplishment."

"You gotta run more than your mouth to escape the treadmill of mediocrity. A true hustler jogs during the day, and sleepwalks at night."

"Be as successful as a Smith."

"Some say if you want success surround yourself with successful people. I say if you want true and lasting success surround yourself with people of integrity."

"What you do is what matters, not what you think or say or plan."

"I think the key indicator for wealth is not good grades, work ethic, or IQ. I believe it's relationships. Ask yourself two questions: How many people do I know, and how much ransom money could I get for each one?"

"Get going. Move forward. Aim High. Plan a takeoff. Don't just sit on the runway and hope someone will come along and push the airplane. It simply won't happen. Change your attitude and gain some altitude. Believe me, you'll love it up here."

"My circumstances of unrelieved responsibility and permanent distraction necessitated the short story form."