Centers Quote by Otis Webb Brawley
““Generally places that are comfortable with excellence don’t call themselves centers of excellence. Has anyone heard of a Princeton University Center of Excellence? Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center of Excellence?””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Oncology Leadership Conference, 2015
Excellence is rarely self‑branded; true excellence is recognized by others, not by naming itself.
In simple terms: Great work isn’t advertised as “center of excellence”.
Key Takeaway
Let quality speak for itself.
Themes
humility
leadership
recognition
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
observational
analytical
When to use this quote
- hospital administration
- academic institutions
- marketing strategies
Key Concepts
self‑branding
organizational culture
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you ensure excellence without self‑promotion?
- What metrics truly reflect excellence?
A Different Perspective
Self‑labeling can create complacency and mask real performance gaps.
