Rath Quotes

I fully believe in ghosts. I have, my entire life. The first house I ever lived in was haunted. There was a grave of a man in the backyard. I was just a baby then, but my parents would tell me that every night, at the same time, they would hear someone walking up the stairs. ~ Meaghan Rath

If you want to improve your life and the lives of those around you, you must take action. ~ Tom Rath

I've spoken with a few employers who have moved away from what has to be some of the least attractive language you could use about health risk to start talking about wellbeing. ~ Tom Rath

'StrengthsFinder 2.0' is an effort to get the core message and language out to a much broader audience. We had no idea how well received the first strengths book would be by general readers - it was oriented more toward managers - or that the energy and excitement would continue to grow. ~ Tom Rath

Positive defaults align our short-term decisions with our long-term interests. And we don't always do that. ~ Tom Rath

If my colleagues stop eating donuts and are more active, it saves me money on next year's insurance premium, and I get to work with people who have more energy and creativity each day. Yet most organizations fail to make health a cultural priority. Instead, they treat healthcare like any other expense. ~ Tom Rath

Although individuals need not be well-rounded, teams should be. ~ Tom Rath

People who say they have a best friend at work are seven times as likely to be engaged in what they're doing. And if they don't have a best friend at work, the odds of being engaged are just 1 in 12. ~ Tom Rath

One's single greatest strength may be uncovering the hidden talents of another person. ~ Tom Rath

When we look at what has the strongest statistical relationship to overall evaluation of your life, the first one is your career well-being, or the mission, purpose and meaning of what you're doing when you wake up each day. ~ Tom Rath

The real energy occurs in each connection between two people, which can bring about exponential returns. ~ Tom Rath

Dave Rath is recovering. A month ago he had hip pocket replacement surgery. ~ Andy Kindler

In rode the Lord of the Nazgûl. A great black shape against the fires beyond he loomed up, grown to a vast menace of despair. In rode the Lord of the Nazgûl, under the archway that no enemy ever yet had passed, and all fled before his face.

All save one. There waiting, silent and still in the space before the Gate, sat Gandalf upon Shadowfax: Shadowfax who alone among the free horses of the earth endured the terror, unmoving, steadfast as a graven image in Rath Dínen.
"You cannot enter here," said Gandalf, and the huge shadow halted. "Go back to the abyss prepared for you! Go back! Fall into the nothingness that awaits you and your Master. Go!"
The Black Rider flung back his hood, and behold! he had a kingly crown; and yet upon no head visible was it set. The red fires shone between it and the mantled shoulders vast and dark. From a mouth unseen there came a deadly laughter.
"Old fool!" he said. "Old fool! This is my hour. Do you not know Death when you see it? Die now and curse in vain!" And with that he lifted high his sword and flames ran down the blade.

And in that very moment, away behind in some courtyard of the city, a cock crowed. Shrill and clear he crowed, recking nothing of war nor of wizardry, welcoming only the morning that in the sky far above the shadows of death was coming with the dawn.
And as if in answer there came from far away another note. Horns, horns, horns, in dark Mindolluin's sides they dimly echoed. Great ~ J.R.R. Tolkien

What we've learned is that if you can make the right decision in the supermarket aisle, it's a heck of a lot easier to make a good decision when you reach in your cupboard when you're craving a snack at eight o'clock at night. ~ Tom Rath

Our relationships with people are formed by small moments - and relationships are crucial in business. ~ Tom Rath

The lesson here is clear: If you want people to understand that you value their contributions and that they are important, the recognition and praise you provide must have meaning that is specific to each individual. ~ Tom Rath

I act as if my life depends on each decision. Because it does. ~ Tom Rath

Don't worry about breaks every 20 minutes ruining your focus on a task. Contrary to what I might have guessed, taking regular breaks from mental tasks actually improves your creativity and productivity. Skipping breaks, on the other hand, leads to stress and fatigue. ~ Tom Rath

Ignoring negative things that need to be changed is destructive and does nothing to alleviate negativity. Instead, we should focus on the way we're treating other people in our brief interactions with them. ~ Tom Rath

Even though people spend more of their waking hours at work than anywhere else, people underestimate how work influences their overall wellbeing and daily experience. ~ Tom Rath

I've always been into the horror genre, so I've seen a lot of movies with ghosts and supernatural stuff. ~ Meaghan Rath

What great leaders have in common is that each truly knows his or her strengths - and can call on the right strength at the right time. ~ Tom Rath

I've done a couple of series before, and what I like about TV is, as an actor, you get that chance to practice all the time, and that's really how you grow. ~ Meaghan Rath

The things that change people's lives are usually an accumulation of small acts. ~ Tom Rath

What works for one person's needs is almost always very different from the next. ~ Tom Rath

Every day, I read about new ideas and research that could help someone I care about live a longer and healthier life. ~ Tom Rath

It turned out that looking forward to a vacation or event provided even more happiness than the event itself. ~ Tom Rath

Having fewer unhealthy days and, in turn, more days when you have the energy to get things done is probably the global constant through which businesses and individuals can think about the quantifiable upside of increasing wellbeing. ~ Tom Rath

When I was younger, I wasn't really sure what I wanted to do, but I told a lot of lies in school. I told my friends once that I was playing John Travolta's daughter in a movie. I also told people that I had this romantic affair with Jonathan Taylor Thomas over a summer. ~ Meaghan Rath

Followers have a very clear picture of what they want and need from the most influential leaders in their lives: trust, compassion, stability, and hope ~ Tom Rath

I would absolutely recommend against excessive positivity and optimism. Any positive emotion that you're infusing into a workplace needs to be grounded in reality. If it's not realistic, sincere, meaningful, and individualized, it won't do much good. ~ Tom Rath

I think trust is primarily built through relationships, and it's important because it's the foundational currency that a leader has with his team or his followers. ~ Tom Rath

When we get at least six hours of daily social time, it increases our wellbeing and minimizes stress and worry. The six hours includes time at work, at home, on the telephone, talking to friends, sending e-mail, and other communication. ~ Tom Rath

First class Manager hire first class leader, second class Manager hire third class manager and third class manager fire first class leader. ~ Carsten K. Rath

The best Products are customized not standardized. ~ Carsten K. Rath

It's hard to keep the energy and the emotion of the scene when they're installing a massive green screen behind you. ~ Meaghan Rath

The pursuit of meaning, not happiness, is what makes life worthwhile. ~ Tom Rath

Buying experience such as going out to dinner or taking a vacation increases our own wellbeing and the wellbeing of others. Experiences last while material purchases fade. ~ Tom Rath

We engineered activity out of our lives in the name of convenience. We created foods that put fried, fatty, sweet, and salty ahead of fresh, natural, and healthy. We quickly sacrifice sleep to work longer hours in pursuit of the American Dream. Even when we do these things with good intentions, they have life-threatening consequences. ~ Tom Rath

Each ounce you consume is either a net positive or a net negative by the time it runs through your body. You don't get healthier by simply trying to eat better in general. You improve your health on a bite-by-bite basis. ~ Tom Rath

I remember so many times taking classes and feeling completely discouraged because I felt like I wasn't getting it and I couldn't understand. I kept working at it and I kept going back to class, and I wouldn't let myself get intimidated or get scared away, and it really does pay off. ~ Meaghan Rath

Every human being has talents that are just waiting to be uncovered. ~ Tom Rath

I love the action stuff. Honestly, I like sci-fi and everything supernatural. ~ Meaghan Rath

This book is a call to return to basics and focus on innovation around actual problems that the normal person faces in his life. We provide guidance on an experiential journey to enable entrepreneurs to discover their personal truths, tactics and strategies in the context of the specific problems that they are trying to solve. ~ Samir Rath

I have started forcing myself to substitute thinking "I'm busy" with "I need to do a better job managing my time. ~ Tom Rath

There's a conventional wisdom that says that strategic thinking is much more important than relationship building, which doesn't seem to be nearly as highly valued as it should be, based on what some of the leaders that I've spoken with have said to me. ~ Tom Rath

When we can see an immediate payoff, we are more likely to change our behavior in the moment. This aligns our daily actions with our long-term interests. ~ Tom Rath

I'm a researcher, so I'm realistic that there's nothing I'm doing that's going to prevent me from getting cancer in the future. But I can slow it down. ~ Tom Rath

I'm not one of those actors that goes to watch the playback, after every take. I really don't like it, and I don't want to see it. ~ Meaghan Rath

The reality is that a person who has always struggled with numbers is unlikely to be a great accountant or statistician. ~ Tom Rath

No matter how healthy you are today, you can take specific actions to have more energy and live longer. ~ Tom Rath

When I was in kindergarten, I entered a competition and read 52 books in a week. ~ Tom Rath

Don't mix with Picks! ~ Carsten K. Rath

I've seen the same thing emerge in the research around the interaction of sleeping and moving and eating: if you get a good night's sleep, you are significantly more likely to make the right choices about what you eat the next morning, you're more likely to work out, you're more likely to get a better night's sleep the next night. ~ Tom Rath

I think the term 'friend' itself has lost almost all of its exclusivity. Even the term 'good friend' is overused. Adding the word 'vital' provides a clear definition of what we mean. ~ Tom Rath

It's unrealistic to expect the person you go to for sage advice also to be the person you go out and have a good time with. And it's unlikely that he or she will be the same person who's pushing you and motivating you to do more every day, like a coach or manager does. ~ Tom Rath

If we can find short-term incentives that are consistent with our long-term objectives, it is much easier to make the right decisions in the moment. ~ Tom Rath

The key to human development is building on who you already are ~ Tom Rath

Happiness is Homemade! ~ Carsten K. Rath

What's more, we had discovered that people have several times more potential for growth, when they invest energy in developing their strenghts instead of correcting their deficiencies. ~ Tom Rath

Wellbeing is about the combination of our love for what we do each day, the quality of our relationships, the security of our finances, the vibrancy of our physical health, and the pride we take in what we have contributed to our communities. Most importantly, it's about how these five elements interact. ~ Tom Rath

The mome rath isn't born that could outgrabe me! ~ Nicol Williamson

On average, spending time with your boss is consistently rated as the least pleasurable activity in a given day. ~ Tom Rath

As legendary investor Warren Buffett put it, by definition, "A leader is someone who can get things done through other people: ~ Tom Rath

To me, the fans just seem so loyal, above anything, which is amazing. What more can you ask for in a fan? ~ Meaghan Rath

When we asked people if they would rather have a best friend at work or a 10% pay raise, having a friend clearly won. ~ Tom Rath

There aren't as many roles for people who look like me, and it was always complicated when it came to casting my parents. But now I couldn't be more grateful that I have a different look. ~ Meaghan Rath

You can intentionally choose to spend more time with the people you enjoy most and engage your strengths as much as possible. ~ Tom Rath

For I am inclined to believe that my beloved Arthur of the future is sitting at this very moment among his learned freinds, in the Combination Room of the College of Life, and that they are thinking away in there for all they are worth, about the best means to help our curious species: and I for one hope that some day, when not only England but the World has need of them, and when it is ready to listen to reason, if it ever is, they will issue forth from their rath in joy and power: and then perhaps, they will give us happiness in the world once more and chivalry, and the old medieval blessing of certain simple people - who tried, at any rate, in their own small way, to still the ancient brutal dream of Attila the Hun. ~ T.H. White

Positive words are the glue that holds relationships together. ~ Tom Rath

The most influential choices you make for your health occur in the grocery store. Once you put something in your cart, good or bad, it is likely to end up in your stomach. Even if you feel some remorse about your poor choice in the store, when you get home, your willpower stands little chance. After all, you paid for it, and it is only a few steps away at that point. ~ Tom Rath

You would think that when someone accepts a position with a company, they would assume that their life will be better off because they have that job rather than a different one. ~ Tom Rath

At a very basic level, people need to know that there is constancy in their jobs and, more broadly, in where the organization is headed. ~ Tom Rath

There is nothing wrong with working on important individual milestones as long as you understand that they may not be the memories you treasure 25 years from now. ~ Tom Rath

I'm going to join them, he said. And he did. When Sveva fled, Rath stayed and fought with the rebels.
And died with them, right there at the toes of the mountains.
And was dragged with them into a big pile.
And burned ~ Laini Taylor

You cannot be anything you want to be - but you can be a whole lot more of who you already are. ~ Tom Rath

I first found out I had cancer on my eye and lost an eye to this disease when I was 16, and I've since had cancer in my kidneys and pancreas and a host of other areas. ~ Tom Rath

Executives must place a priority on wellbeing if they want to attract the right people, keep their best people, and drive their company's financial performance. ~ Tom Rath

Doing for others may be the only way to create lasting well-being. ~ Tom Rath

Washington is not a city that takes great pride in being a healthy place, necessarily. Now, I have no data. That's just my own observation. ~ Tom Rath

The data suggest that to have a thriving day, we need six hours of social time. ~ Tom Rath

One challenge is that our ability to progress in our career is often determined by our effectiveness in responding to near-term needs. When high value is placed on solving these kinds of problems, it creates a culture in which leaders spend little or no time thinking about what could be done because they receive more accolades for simply doing what needs to be done. ~ Tom Rath

Across the board, having the opportunity to develop our strengths is more important to our success than our role, our title, or even our pay. ~ Tom Rath

Every hour you spend on your rear end ... saps your energy and ruins your health. ~ Tom Rath

When we're able to put most of our energy into developing our natural talents, extraordinary room for growth exists. So, a revision to the "You-can-be-anything-you-want-to-be" maxim might be more accurate: You cannot be anything you want to be - but you can be a lot more of who you already are. ~ Tom Rath

My dad's family is part British and Austrian, and my mother's family is from Goa, which is in the south of India. I looked different from everyone else, which now is such a blessing. It was harder at the beginning of my career. ~ Meaghan Rath

There will be plenty of blame to go around but if you take credit for the sunshine, you also get blamed for the rain. ~ Tom Rath

The quickest way to be a little bit happier and more engaged in your job is to spend some time thinking about developing closer friendships. ~ Tom Rath

It appears that the epidemic of active disengagement we see in workplaces every day could be a curable disease ... if we can help the people around us develop their strengths. ~ Tom Rath

Making better choices takes work. There is a daily give and take, but it is worth the effort. ~ Tom Rath

Positive defaults protect you from yourself - and that helps you to make decisions in the moment that are better for your long-term interests. ~ Tom Rath

It's tempting to work more than 60 hours a week and sacrifice sleep, not move, and eat bad foods as they are convenient. But this comes with a cost. ~ Tom Rath

When your boss and colleagues care enough to invest in your health, it is good for you and the business. ~ Tom Rath

I love being physical. It makes me feel like I sickly love the pain of it. ~ Meaghan Rath

For wellbeing to take hold, it's got to be something that individual team members are getting excited about in their own lives. It can't be something that a company is forcing top-down through hierarchical structures. ~ Tom Rath

The single biggest threat to our own wellbeing tends to be ourselves ~ Tom Rath

When I speak with people who love their jobs and have vital friendships at work, they always talk about how their workgroup is like a family. ~ Tom Rath

Make it easier to do things that increase your wellbeing before you have to make a choice because a lot of our choices, though they seem small in the moment, have a big effect. ~ Tom Rath

Perception is reality. ~ Carsten K. Rath

Clearly, there aren't enough positive moments or interactions happening in the workplace. As a result, our economy suffers, companies suffer, and individual relationships suffer. ~ Tom Rath