--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For a company to excel, employees must be…" description: "\"For a company to excel, employees must be reassured that self-interest, not the company's, is their foremost priority. We believe an employee who puts ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ad/ricardo-semler-18039_believe_for-a-company-to-excel-employees-must-be_780011.png" --- # For a company to excel, employees must be reassured that… ![“For a company to excel, employees must be reassured that self-interest, not the company's, is their foremost priority. We believe an employee who puts himself first will be motivated to perform.” quote by Ricardo Semler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ad/ricardo-semler-18039_believe_for-a-company-to-excel-employees-must-be_780011.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ad/ricardo-semler-18039_believe_for-a-company-to-excel-employees-must-be_780011.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ad/ricardo-semler-18039_believe_for-a-company-to-excel-employees-must-be_780011.png) > “For a company to excel, employees must be reassured that self-interest, not the company's, is their foremost priority. We believe an employee who puts himself first will be motivated to perform.” [Ricardo Semler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricardo-semler/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Motivation stems from aligning personal self‑interest with work goals. **In simple terms:** People work best when personal gain is primary. Key Takeaway Align incentives with personal goals. Themes motivation self‑interest leadership Mood analytical critical Type business leadership When to use this quote - management - HR policies - team building - performance incentives Key Concepts intrinsic motivation employee autonomy Questions to Reflect On - How can personal goals support company goals? - What safeguards prevent selfishness? A Different Perspective Self‑interest may conflict with teamwork. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Company](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/company/) [Employee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/employee/) [Interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interest/) [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) [Priorities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/priorities/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-interest/) ## Related quotes > [If I get a well-defined role and properly etched scenes, then I feel motivated to perform better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-lever/if-i-get-a-well-defined-role-and-properly-etched-scenes-then-i-feel/) [Johnny Lever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-lever/) > [To be at peace with self, to find company and nourishment in self-this would be the test of the free and productive psyche.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marya-mannes/to-be-at-peace-with-self-to-find-company-and-nourishment-in-self-this/) [Marya Mannes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marya-mannes/) > [There is no contest between the company that buys the grudging compliance of its work force and the company that enjoys the enterprising participation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricardo-semler/there-is-no-contest-between-the-company-that-buys-the-grudging/) [Ricardo Semler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricardo-semler/) > [For the state by its nature claims sovereignty, the right to an unlimited development of power, determined only by self-interest. It is by nature…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-lous-lange/for-the-state-by-its-nature-claims-sovereignty-the-right-to-an/) [Christian Lous Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-lous-lange/) > [ \[Former chief executives\] come away thinking that America needs a strong, functioning presidency to succeed, and they become very protective of that office. Democrats… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-gibbs/former-chief-executives-come-away-thinking-that-america-needs-a/) [Nancy Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-gibbs/) > [What is required from members of Congress and the public alike is a new spirit of devotion to the national welfare beyond party or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-bayh/what-is-required-from-members-of-congress-and-the-public-alike-is-a/) [Evan Bayh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-bayh/) > [Those who are successfully to lead their fellow-men, should have once possessed the nobler feelings. 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The public will not give that trust to officials who are not seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-cox/a-free-society-depends-upon-a-high-degree-of-mutual-trust-the-public/) [Archibald Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-cox/) > [ \[U\]nless oppressed groups stick together, and on alliances of self interest rather than do-goodism; nothing can be accomplished in the long run to dismantle… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shulamith-firestone/u-nless-oppressed-groups-stick-together-and-on-alliances-of-self/) [Shulamith Firestone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shulamith-firestone/) ## More by Ricardo Semler > [Human nature demands recognition. Without it, people lose their sense of purpose and become dissatisfied, restless, and unproductive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricardo-semler/human-nature-demands-recognition-without-it-people-lose-their-sense/) [Ricardo Semler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricardo-semler/) > [The purpose of work is not to make money. The purpose of work is to make the workers, whether working stiffs or top executives,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricardo-semler/the-purpose-of-work-is-not-to-make-money-the-purpose-of-work-is-to/) [Ricardo Semler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricardo-semler/) > [There is no contest between the company that buys the grudging compliance of its work force and the company that enjoys the enterprising participation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricardo-semler/there-is-no-contest-between-the-company-that-buys-the-grudging/) [Ricardo Semler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricardo-semler/) > [One of the things that is very silly - and I hear from educators all the time - is that schools essentially teach kids…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricardo-semler/one-of-the-things-that-is-very-silly-and-i-hear-from-educators-all/) [Ricardo Semler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricardo-semler/) > [It is not socialist, as some of our critics contend. 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Why do we suddenly transform them into adolescents with no freedom when they reach the workplace?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricardo-semler/people-are-responsible-adults-at-home-why-do-we-suddenly-transform/) [Ricardo Semler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricardo-semler/) > [Forget socialism, capitalism, just-in-time deliveries, salary surveys, and the rest ... concentrate on building organizations that accomplish that most difficult of all challenges: to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricardo-semler/forget-socialism-capitalism-just-in-time-deliveries-salary-surveys/) [Ricardo Semler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricardo-semler/) > [The era of using people as production tools is coming to an end. Participation is infinitely more complex to practice than conventional corporate unilateralism,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricardo-semler/the-era-of-using-people-as-production-tools-is-coming-to-an-end/) [Ricardo Semler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricardo-semler/) > [The key to getting work done on time is to stop wearing a watch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricardo-semler/the-key-to-getting-work-done-on-time-is-to-stop-wearing-a-watch/) [Ricardo Semler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricardo-semler/) > [Large, centralized organizations foster alienation like stagnant ponds breed algae.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricardo-semler/large-centralized-organizations-foster-alienation-like-stagnant-ponds/) [Ricardo Semler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricardo-semler/) > [In life, we do not give employees enough leeway. If you look around Semco's office, there are plenty of empty desks. 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