--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What is the single most important thing…" description: "\"What is the single most important thing for a company? Is it the building? Is it the stock? Is it the turnover? It’s the people, investment in people. ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/159/ricky-gervais-851_building_what-is-the-single-most-important-thing_1606598.jpg" --- # What is the single most important thing for a company? Is… ![“What is the single most important thing for a company? Is it the building? Is it the stock? Is it the turnover? It’s the people, investment in people. My proudest moment here wasn’t when I increased profits by 17%, or cut expenditure without losing a single member of staff. No. It was a young…” quote by Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/159/ricky-gervais-851_building_what-is-the-single-most-important-thing_1606598.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/159/ricky-gervais-851_building_what-is-the-single-most-important-thing_1606598.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/159/ricky-gervais-851_building_what-is-the-single-most-important-thing_1606598.jpg) > “What is the single most important thing for a company? Is it the building? Is it the stock? Is it the turnover? It’s the people, investment in people. My proudest moment here wasn’t when I increased profits by 17%, or cut expenditure without losing a single member of staff. No. It was a young Greek guy, first job in the country, hardly spoke a word of English, but he came to me and he went ‘Mr. Brent, will you be the Godfather to my child?’. Didn’t happen in the end. We had to let him go, he was rubbish. He was rubbish!” [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People are the most valuable asset; investing in them yields true pride beyond profit metrics. **In simple terms:** People matter more than profits. Key Takeaway Invest in and and celebrate their growth. Themes leadership people development human capital pride employee engagement Mood reflective inspirational Type leadership motivational When to use this quote - team building - performance reviews - talent acquisition - career development - employee recognition Key Concepts human resources organizational culture employee motivation Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance empathy with performance standards? - What systems ensure people growth aligns with company goals? A Different Perspective People alone cannot compensate for poor performance; skill and fit matter. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Company](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/company/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [First job](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-job/) [Important things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important-things/) [Investing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/investing/) [Investment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/investment/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Profit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/profit/) [Proudest moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proudest-moments/) ## Related quotes > [To me it's incontrovertible that investment in people, investment in business, creates jobs; they don't destroy jobs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-pagliuca/to-me-it-s-incontrovertible-that-investment-in-people-investment-in/) [Stephen Pagliuca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-pagliuca/) > [A one-time tax does not get figured into people's investment decisions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-daniels/a-one-time-tax-does-not-get-figured-into-people-s-investment-decisions/) [Mitch Daniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-daniels/) > [When we were young, there weren't very many smart people in the investment world. You should have seen the people in the bank trust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/when-we-were-young-there-weren-t-very-many-smart-people-in-the/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) > [“Too often the investment in people stops there.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-horowitz/too-often-the-investment-in-people-stops-there/) [Ben Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-horowitz/) > [Investment in our people through education, no matter at what level, is an investment in economic development.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-ivey/investment-in-our-people-through-education-no-matter-at-what-level-is/) [Kay Ivey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-ivey/) > [Investment in people is often regarded as a cost, but it is a source of medium to long-term corporate value.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fumio-kishida/investment-in-people-is-often-regarded-as-a-cost-but-it-is-a-source/) [Fumio Kishida](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fumio-kishida/) > [ “\[Peggy Gallagher\] was also appearing once a month for two hours on WGN Radio \[...\] During one summer show, a caller asked, 'Do you… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zac-bissonnette/peggy-gallagher-was-also-appearing-once-a-month-for-two-hours-on-wgn/) Zac Bissonnette > [When making an investment, the people are more important than the product.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-paphitis/when-making-an-investment-the-people-are-more-important-than-the/) [Theo Paphitis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-paphitis/) > [What's important is passion, investment, and people laughing out loud as they work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-harmon/what-s-important-is-passion-investment-and-people-laughing-out-loud/) [Dan Harmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-harmon/) > [Trust and honesty is an investment you put in people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-scott/trust-and-honesty-is-an-investment-you-put-in-people/) [Rachel Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-scott/) > [In my proudest moments, I think I had a real hand in the creative force of making 'Star Trek.' But most of the time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shatner/in-my-proudest-moments-i-think-i-had-a-real-hand-in-the-creative/) [William Shatner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shatner/) > [Your proudest moment is to watch your egg not just function, but to achieve on her own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/your-proudest-moment-is-to-watch-your-egg-not-just-function-but-to/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [My proudest moment? Every Friday morning when I look at the board at Celtic Park and see my name on the team sheet for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jock-stein/my-proudest-moment-every-friday-morning-when-i-look-at-the-board-at/) [Jock Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jock-stein/) > [Winning the World Cup is the proudest moment of my life. ... I couldn't control my tears of joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sachin-tendulkar/winning-the-world-cup-is-the-proudest-moment-of-my-life-i-couldn-t/) [Sachin Tendulkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sachin-tendulkar/) > [It ended suddenly for Brenda, more slowly for me. My runs began getting shorter and less pleasurable. I'd feel bad after only one day,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/it-ended-suddenly-for-brenda-more-slowly-for-me-my-runs-began-getting/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) ## More by Ricky Gervais > [I was David Bowie-thin up to about 28, and then I discovered food.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/i-was-david-bowie-thin-up-to-about-28-and-then-i-discovered-food/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [I don't like it when I see a racist comedian go up and say, 'What are we gonna do about all these immigrants?' and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/i-don-t-like-it-when-i-see-a-racist-comedian-go-up-and-say-what-are/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [The truth doesn't hurt. Whatever it is, it doesn't hurt. It's better to know the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/the-truth-doesn-t-hurt-whatever-it-is-it-doesn-t-hurt-it-s-better-to/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [If all the Atheists & Agnostics left America, they'd lose 93% of The National Academy of Sciences & less than 1% of the prison population.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/if-all-the-atheists-agnostics-left-america-they-d-lose-93-of-the/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [There are so many films now where you know the story is a supporting role to the visual effects.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/there-are-so-many-films-now-where-you-know-the-story-is-a-supporting/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [When I was about to be famous, I feared it on a few levels. I feared it because I didn't want people to lump…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/when-i-was-about-to-be-famous-i-feared-it-on-a-few-levels-i-feared-it/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [It will be great to play a short, fat sweaty loser for a change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/it-will-be-great-to-play-a-short-fat-sweaty-loser-for-a-change/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [I went to university with no money. I can't understand a society that wouldn't give a poor person the same opportunity as a rich…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/i-went-to-university-with-no-money-i-can-t-understand-a-society-that/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [I'm a failed pop star. I always sneak a song into everything I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/i-m-a-failed-pop-star-i-always-sneak-a-song-into-everything-i-do/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [The grass isn't always greener on the other side!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/the-grass-isn-t-always-greener-on-the-other-side/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [I am myself sometimes, and I do state my opinions, but not in a comedy routine and not in my character. There always has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/i-am-myself-sometimes-and-i-do-state-my-opinions-but-not-in-a-comedy/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [Wearing cosmetics that were tested on animals makes you ugly on the inside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/wearing-cosmetics-that-were-tested-on-animals-makes-you-ugly-on-the/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [There's a difference between a job and a career - if you're the boss you don't stop at six o'clock, you have to worry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/there-s-a-difference-between-a-job-and-a-career-if-you-re-the-boss/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [Stupidity without malice isn't horrible; some people can't help it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/stupidity-without-malice-isn-t-horrible-some-people-can-t-help-it/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [It's interesting that music in this country... we sort of sold something to America with The Beatles and they sold something back. And we've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/it-s-interesting-that-music-in-this-country-we-sort-of-sold-something/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) [Explore all 351 Ricky Gervais quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) ## More Building quotes > [You, of Canada, are building a magnificent record of achievement. My country rejoices in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/you-of-canada-are-building-a-magnificent-record-of-achievement-my/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [One of the things the United States does well is building coalitions. What the U.S. knows is that if you don't have a coalition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shimon-peres/one-of-the-things-the-united-states-does-well-is-building-coalitions/) [Shimon Peres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shimon-peres/) > [Surely, if Mother Nature had been consulted, she would never have consented to building a city in New Orleans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mortimer-zuckerman/surely-if-mother-nature-had-been-consulted-she-would-never-have/) [Mortimer Zuckerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mortimer-zuckerman/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Peace is an ongoing process. It begins with the first step and it does not end. We, all of us alive today, are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-krieger/peace-is-an-ongoing-process-it-begins-with-the-first-step-and-it-does/) [David Krieger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-krieger/) > [I've done so many other projects where you're in a room with a reader and you're acting your lines out: 'We have to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cummings/i-ve-done-so-many-other-projects-where-you-re-in-a-room-with-a-reader/) [Jim Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cummings/) > [Absolutely, you can improve and become better at toughness. It's a talent, but it can be acquired, too. I think of it like building…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-harbaugh/absolutely-you-can-improve-and-become-better-at-toughness-it-s-a/) [Jim Harbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-harbaugh/) > [ T\]he church is not a place. It's not a building. It's not a preaching point. It's not a spiritual service provider. It's a people… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/t-he-church-is-not-a-place-it-s-not-a-building-it-s-not-a-preaching/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [I'd like to play Ian Paisley, actually. I'd need building up, though he's very frail now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liam-neeson/i-d-like-to-play-ian-paisley-actually-i-d-need-building-up-though-he/) [Liam Neeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liam-neeson/) > [Death is but an aspect of life, and the destruction of one material form is but a prelude to building up of another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/death-is-but-an-aspect-of-life-and-the-destruction-of-one-material/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Some architects have a preconceived notion of what a building should be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-w-fentress/some-architects-have-a-preconceived-notion-of-what-a-building-should/) [Curtis W. Fentress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-w-fentress/) > [As for the forces, electromagnetism and gravity we experience in everyday life. But the weak and strong forces are beyond our ordinary experience. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-witten/as-for-the-forces-electromagnetism-and-gravity-we-experience-in/) [Edward Witten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-witten/) > [I'm 30. I'm about to hit my prime now. I need to act and keep building.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillian-whyte/i-m-30-i-m-about-to-hit-my-prime-now-i-need-to-act-and-keep-building/) [Dillian Whyte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillian-whyte/) > [The essential functions of the mind consist in understanding and in inventing, in other words, in building up structures by structuring reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/the-essential-functions-of-the-mind-consist-in-understanding-and-in/) [Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) > [Practically every time I speak up at a school conference, a political event, or my apartment building association's annual meeting, I'm met with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-druckerman/practically-every-time-i-speak-up-at-a-school-conference-a-political/) [Pamela Druckerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-druckerman/) Browse all 5,974 Building quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What is the single most important thing for a company? 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