Clock watchers never seem to be having a good time.
— James Cash Penney
Determine to do some thinking for yourself. Don't live entirely upon the thoughts of others. Don't be an automaton.
I do not believe in excuses. I believe in hard work as the prime solvent of life's problems.
I never trust an executive who tends to pass the buck. Nor would I want to deal with him as a customer or a supplier.
Responsibilities are given to him on whom trust rests. Responsibility is always a sign of trust.
We get real results only in proportion to the real values we give.
Salesmanship, too, is an art; the perfection of its technique requires study and practice.
The thought in my mind was that I must be a good merchant. If I were a good merchant, the rest would probably take care of itself.
Courteous treatment will make a customer a walking advertisement.
It is the service we are not obliged to give that people value most.
No serious-minded man should have time for the mediocre in any phase of his living.
The greatest teacher I know is the job itself.
The problem with the bronco is to get on and stay on. This is the problem with the Golden Rule-to understand and apply.
There's no better friend to any merchant than a fair competitor.
Too many would-be executives are slaves of routine.
Change is vital, improvement the logical form of change.
Exchange ideas frequently.
The disciplined are free.
Men are not great or small because of their material possessions. They are great or small because of what they are.
Every man must decide for himself whether he shall master his world or be mastered by it.
The men who have furnished me with my greatest inspiration have not been men of wealth, but men of deeds.
Honor bespeaks worth. Confidence begets trust. Service brings satisfaction. Cooperation proves the quality of leadership.
Salesmanship is limitless. Our very living is selling. We are all salespeople.
I was long brought up to think that it was nothing short of a crime to miss a sale.
A store's best advertisement is the service its goods render, for upon such service rest the future, the good-will, of an organization.
The well-satisfied customer will bring the repeat sale that counts.
Success will always be measured by the extent to which we serve the buying public.
The art of effective listening is essential to clear communication, and clear communication is necessary to management success.
Luck is always the last refuge of laziness and incompetence.
I cannot remember a time when the Golden Rule was not my motto and precept, the torch that guided my footsteps.
A merchant who approaches business with the idea of serving the public well has nothing to fear from the competition.
Success cannot come from standstill men. Methods change and men must change with them.
The five separate fingers are five independent units. Close them and the fist multiplies strength. This is organization.
Growth is never by mere chance; it is the result of forces working together.
I believe a man is better anchored who has a belief in the Supreme Being.
No matter what his position or experience in life, there is in everyone more latent than developed ability; far more unused than used power.
Theory is splendid but until put into practice, it is valueless.
As a rule, we find what we look for; we achieve what we get ready for.
There has never been a time when a career in the Penney Company was not a challenge that brought out the best in a man.
Selling is our No. 1 job. Never get away from selling a lot of merchandise personally. The more you sell the more you learn.
We can serve our customers well only if our buying jobs are right. You cannot sell if you haven't ordered wanted goods into your store.
Do not primarily train men to work. Train them to serve willingly and intelligently.
The best of merchandise will go back to the shelf unless handled by a conscientious, tactful salesman.
It was always my practice to train salespeople under my direct supervision, and to treat children with the utmost consideration.
I believe in trusting men, not only once but twice - in giving a failure another chance.
My definition of an executive's job is brief and to the point. It is simply this: Getting things done through other people.
The Golden Rule finds no limit of application in business.
No company can afford not to move forward. It may be at the top of the heap today but at the bottom of the heap tomorrow, if it doesn't.
It is always the start that requires the greatest effort.
The keystone of successful business is cooperation. Friction retards progress.
