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I notice increasing reluctance on the part of marketing…

“I notice increasing reluctance on the part of marketing executives to use judgment; they are coming to rely too much on research, and they use it as a drunkard uses a lamp post for support, rather than for illumination. If each of us hires people who are smaller than we are, we shall become a…” quote by David Ogilvy
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“I notice increasing reluctance on the part of marketing executives to use judgment; they are coming to rely too much on research, and they use it as a drunkard uses a lamp post for support, rather than for illumination. If each of us hires people who are smaller than we are, we shall become a company of dwarfs. But if each of us hires people who are bigger than we are, we shall become a company of giants.”

David Ogilvy

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Overreliance on data without judgment leads to poor decisions; hiring smaller talent limits growth, while hiring larger talent expands potential.

In simple terms: Data alone isn’t enough; hiring bigger talent fuels growth.

Key Takeaway

Balance data with judgment and hire ambitious talent.

Themes

leadership decision-making talent management growth research

Mood

reflective strategic inspirational

Type

advice business leadership

When to use this quote

  • marketing strategy meetings
  • executive hiring decisions
  • company scaling plans

Key Concepts

strategic thinking organizational culture risk assessment

Questions to Reflect On

  • What role should intuition play in business decisions?
  • How can you foster a culture of ambitious hiring?
A Different Perspective

Neglecting intuition can cause missed opportunities.

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