44 Quotes by Rolf Dobelli

  • Author Rolf Dobelli
  • Quote

    If you have nothing to say, say nothing.’ Simplicity is the zenith of a long, arduous journey, not the starting point.

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  • Author Rolf Dobelli
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    Mirroring is a standard technique in sales to get exactly this effect. Here, the salesperson tries to copy the gestures, language, and facial expressions of his prospective client. If the buyer speaks very slowly and quietly, often scratching his head, it makes sense for the seller to speak slowly and quietly, and to scratch his head now and then, too.

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  • Author Rolf Dobelli
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    The Pope asked Michelangelo: ‘Tell me the secret of your genius. How have you created the statue of David, the masterpiece of all masterpieces?’ Michelangelo’s answer: ‘It’s simple. I removed everything that is not David.

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  • Author Rolf Dobelli
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    Stories attract us; abstract details repel us. Consequently, entertaining side issues and backstories are prioritised over relevant facts.

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  • Author Rolf Dobelli
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    We are drunk on our own ideas. To sober up, take a step back every now and then and examine their quality in hindsight. Which of your ideas from the past ten years were truly outstanding? Exactly.

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  • Author Rolf Dobelli
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    We attach too much likelihood to spectacular, flashy or loud outcomes. Anything silent or invisible we downgrade in our minds. Our brains imagine show-stopping outcomes more readily than mundane ones. We think dramatically, not quantitatively.

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  • Author Rolf Dobelli
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    Emotions form in the brain, just as crystal-clear, rational thoughts do. They are merely a different form of information processing – more primordial, but not necessarily an inferior variant. In fact, sometimes they provide the wiser counsel.

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  • Author Rolf Dobelli
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    To fight against the confirmation bias, try writing down your beliefs – whether in terms of worldview, investments, marriage, healthcare, diet, career strategies – and set out to find disconfirming evidence. Axeing beliefs that feel like old friends is hard work, but imperative.

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