[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"$f82b98OGTGta2Ou4WAXtDUtFdI1qR5BKMJIgGLio9d24":3,"$f_PWw1uVF-w0cLglhAQjwYibLdIfW8xA6lVOwxGvcUgc":12},{"author":4,"tags":11},{"author_id":5,"author_name":6,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"bio":9,"short_bio":9,"slug":10,"image_url":9},178323,"Lee Raymond","L",40,null,"lee-raymond",[],{"quotes":13,"pagination":120},[14,27,38,49,60,72,83,89,100,111],{"id":15,"quote_text":16,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":19,"source":20,"quote_tag":21,"commentary":9},2335357,"The improvement in earnings reflected higher U.S. natural gas realizations and refining margins, both of which were very strong early in the second quarter, but declined significantly as the quarter progressed, ... The decline in these key earnings drivers, along with crude oil prices, has continued into the third quarter.",4,false,{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[22],{"id":23,"tag":24},5317689,{"id":25,"tag_name":26},15496,"along",{"id":28,"quote_text":29,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":30,"source":31,"quote_tag":32,"commentary":9},2335355,"By putting Mobil and Exxon together ... particularly in the upstream, we will have a portfolio that will diversify our asset base so that we can become a better competitor than we are now,",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[33],{"id":34,"tag":35},5317688,{"id":36,"tag_name":37},4550,"asset",{"id":39,"quote_text":40,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":41,"source":42,"quote_tag":43,"commentary":9},2335353,"In order to gain the tools to fully address the broad impact of business on society, economic success is indispensable.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[44],{"id":45,"tag":46},5317685,{"id":47,"tag_name":48},16703,"address",{"id":50,"quote_text":51,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":52,"source":53,"quote_tag":54,"commentary":9},2335350,"In the exploration and production area, for example, Mobil's and Exxon's respective strengths in West Africa, the Caspian region, Russia, South America and North America line up well, with minimal overlap, ... Our respective deepwater assets and deepwater technology also complement each other well.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[55],{"id":56,"tag":57},5317684,{"id":58,"tag_name":59},396,"america",{"id":61,"quote_text":62,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":63,"source":64,"quote_tag":65,"commentary":71},2335349,"If there's an excise tax, what that means is over the cycle we're going to have less earnings than we would have had, and therefore our ability and our willingness to invest is going to diminish.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[66],{"id":67,"tag":68},5317682,{"id":69,"tag_name":70},1428,"ability","**The Backstory**\nLee Raymond, the former CEO of ExxonMobil, uttered these words in the context of the early 2000s, when the oil industry was grappling with the consequences of the 9/11 attacks and the subsequent economic downturn. At that time, ExxonMobil was facing increased scrutiny and pressure to reduce its tax burden. Raymond's statement was a candid admission of the company's financial constraints and the impact of taxation on its investment decisions.\n\n**The Hidden Insight**\nOn the surface, Raymond's quote seems like a straightforward commentary on the effects of taxation on corporate earnings. However, the hidden insight lies in the implicit assumption that the company's ability to invest is directly tied to its earnings. This assumption reveals a deeper paradox: the more a company is taxed, the less it can invest, but the more it invests, the more it can earn. This creates a self-reinforcing cycle where the very thing that drives growth (investment) is also constrained by external factors (taxation).\n\n**How to Use This**\nTo apply this mindset in your own career, recognize that external constraints can have a ripple effect on your ability to innovate and invest in your own growth. When faced with limitations, such as budget constraints or regulatory hurdles, adopt a mindset that seeks to optimize within those constraints rather than trying to circumvent them. By doing so, you can turn potential roadblocks into opportunities for creative problem-solving and strategic decision-making.",{"id":73,"quote_text":74,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":75,"source":76,"quote_tag":77,"commentary":9},2335347,"I'm not trying to criticize the traders, ... Obviously, the probability of a shortage is higher than it has been in the past.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[78],{"id":79,"tag":80},5317680,{"id":81,"tag_name":82},669,"criticize",{"id":84,"quote_text":85,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":86,"source":87,"quote_tag":88,"commentary":9},2335345,"I view energy as the lifeblood of world economic activity. And as a result, the energy industry has a profile that is particularly acute.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":90,"quote_text":91,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":92,"source":93,"quote_tag":94,"commentary":9},2335343,"It's profits that make the companies run and make the economy run.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[95],{"id":96,"tag":97},5317676,{"id":98,"tag_name":99},290347,"economy-and-economics",{"id":101,"quote_text":102,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":103,"source":104,"quote_tag":105,"commentary":9},2335341,"You should be down asking your representatives in Congress how did they let this happen? They had been told for two years this was going to happen.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[106],{"id":107,"tag":108},5317674,{"id":109,"tag_name":110},2773,"asking",{"id":112,"quote_text":113,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":114,"source":115,"quote_tag":116,"commentary":9},2335339,"You shouldn't be talking to me. You should be down asking your representatives in Congress how did they let this happen.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[117],{"id":118,"tag":119},5317672,{"id":109,"tag_name":110},{"currentPage":121,"totalPages":17,"totalItems":8,"itemsPerPage":122},1,10]