Thomas G. Stemberg Quotes

Powerful Thomas G. Stemberg for Daily Growth

About Thomas G. Stemberg

Thomas G. Stemberg (born February 18, 1943) is an American entrepreneur, philanthropist, and author known for his successful business ventures, particularly in the office products industry. He was born in Brooklyn, New York, and raised in Long Island. After earning a B.A. from Brown University in 1964, he began his career as a management consultant at McKinsey & Company. Stemberg's entrepreneurial journey took flight when he co-founded Staples Inc., the world's largest office supply retailer, in 1986. The idea for Staples was conceived while he was struggling to buy office supplies for his growing law firm on weekends. Recognizing a market opportunity, he and his partners opened the first Staples store in Brighton, Massachusetts. By the early 2000s, Staples had grown into a Fortune 500 company with over $23 billion in annual sales. In addition to his business accomplishments, Stemberg is also an accomplished author. He penned "The Power of Nice: How to Conquer the Business World with Kindness" (2011), offering insights into effective leadership and success drawn from his own experiences. The book advocates for kindness as a crucial strategy in building successful businesses and relationships. Stemberg is also known for his philanthropic efforts, particularly in education and healthcare. He serves on the boards of several organizations, including Brown University, Partners HealthCare, and Boston Children's Hospital. Stemberg has been recognized with numerous awards for his business achievements and philanthropic work, cementing his place as a significant figure in both the business world and American philanthropy.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Success seems to be connected with action. Successful people keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don't quit."

This quote by Thomas G. Stemberg emphasizes the importance of persistence and continuous effort in achieving success. It suggests that success isn't just about avoiding mistakes, but also about learning from them and keeping momentum in one's pursuits. The key takeaway is that those who are successful are not deterred by setbacks or errors, instead they keep moving forward, continually taking action towards their goals.


"Entrepreneurship is neither a science nor an art. It is a practice."

Thomas G. Stemberg's quote suggests that entrepreneurship, contrary to popular belief, cannot be learned purely through academic study (science) or by replicating the methods of successful entrepreneurs (art). Instead, it is about gaining practical experience, learning from trials and errors, and continuously honing one's skills and mindset. Entrepreneurship, therefore, is a dynamic process that requires practice, adaptability, and resilience.


"The secret of successful entrepreneurs is that we hate routine."

Thomas G. Stemberg's quote suggests that successful entrepreneurs thrive on variety and dislike monotony, as it is the drive for novelty and innovation that fuels their success. Entrepreneurs are continually seeking new challenges and opportunities to grow, adapt, and improve, which often leads them away from routine and towards ventures with high potential for impact and progress.


"Success in business requires training and discipline and hard work. But a little luck never hurts."

This quote suggests that while success in business relies on essential factors such as training, discipline, and hard work, an element of good fortune (or luck) can also play a role. It implies that despite one's dedication and skill set, there may be circumstances beyond personal control that contribute to achieving success. However, the quote does not suggest that luck should replace effort but rather acknowledges its potential role as a factor in business success.


"You can't be afraid to take risks. Every worthwhile accomplishment, big or small, has risks attached to it. And the bigger the risk, the bigger the reward."

This quote by Thomas G. Stemberg emphasizes that to achieve significant accomplishments in life, one must not fear taking calculated risks. Risks are inherent in any worthwhile endeavor, and the greater the risk, the potentially greater the reward. It underscores the idea that success often requires stepping out of our comfort zones and embracing the unknown, as this is where opportunities for growth and progress reside.


Of course, losing my father was traumatic. I was an only child. But from the time my father died, my general theme in life has been to turn adversity into opportunity.

- Thomas G. Stemberg

Father, Adversity, Been, Traumatic

One of the people who most influenced me was Ben Shapiro, a marketing professor at the business school. He used to rant and rave and pound his fist: 'It's all about the customers!' And he was right. He was also right that, at that time, retailing was devoid of really talented people; he urged me to go in that direction.

- Thomas G. Stemberg

Influenced, About, Rant, Rave

At the Harvard Business School, I really felt I had gained the ability to resolve difficult issues. But I also felt that I wasn't in the mainstream with my fellow students. During job-hunting season, for example, everybody shaved their beards for interviews. I thought, 'This is crazy.' So I grew a beard.

- Thomas G. Stemberg

Thought, Resolve, Everybody, Season

Forget 'branding' and 'positioning.' Once you understand customer behavior, everything else falls into place.

- Thomas G. Stemberg

Forget, Understand, Falls, Everything Else

After 25 years in business, Mitt Romney understands how jobs come and go, and what we need to do to get our economy back on track.

- Thomas G. Stemberg

Business, Need, Mitt Romney, Understands

If a customer walks out without shoes, you really want to find out why. 'It didn't fit' is not good enough.

- Thomas G. Stemberg

Not Good Enough, Want, Why, Customer

The role of private equity as fiduciaries is certainly to make money.

- Thomas G. Stemberg

Role, Private, Certainly, Equity

When a company goes bankrupt, you as a company have absolutely no say whatsoever as to what happens.

- Thomas G. Stemberg

Goes, Whatsoever, Absolutely, Bankrupt

Some of the best opportunities in the world are the most obvious ones.

- Thomas G. Stemberg

World, Some, Most, Opportunities

Typically you see the home office think up some great program but doesn't think through implementation at the store level.

- Thomas G. Stemberg

Think, Through, Some, Implementation

I'm sure that being an applicant from the American School in Vienna helped get me into all seven colleges I applied to.

- Thomas G. Stemberg

Seven, Sure, Applied, Colleges

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