What do people like Mark Zuckerberg, Draco Malfoy and Frank Underwood have in common? At first glance nothing. Yet they all said something interesting on contracts. Let me give you a spin….
1. “Contracts are like hearts – they’re made to be broken.” – Draco Malfoy (Fictional character from Harry Potter)
While Malfoy’s sentiment may be a bit cynical, it highlights the importance of having clear and enforceable contracts in place. Disputes can arise, and without a solid contract, it can be difficult to resolve them in a fair and efficient manner.
2. “We can’t outsource our reputation.” – Mark Zuckerberg (CEO of Facebook)
Zuckerberg’s quote speaks to the importance of ensuring that the contracts you enter into align with your company’s values and reputation. A poorly managed contract with a vendor or supplier could reflect poorly on your organization and damage your reputation. I would personally like to add that you cannot outsource accountability thus it is rather relevant….
3. “Contracts are like parachutes – if you don’t release them at the right time, they won’t work.” – Frank Underwood (Fictional character from House of Cards)
Underwood’s quote emphasizes the importance of properly managing the different phases of a contract. From negotiation to execution, each step in the process needs to be carefully managed to ensure that the contract is effective and can be enforced if necessary.
Sometimes wisdom can be found in funny places. The lesson we can learn from these quotes are actually quite a lot. You pick your own. As long as you continue to realize that in a world that is connected you never realize something alone then you are already halfway.
#ceo#people#clm#work#contractmanagement#wisdom
Arjen van Berkum
Arjen van Berkum is a columnist, keynote speaker and motivator, with an eye for business ecosystems, innovation and disruption. In addition to his work as technology and contract management evangelist, he is a visiting lecturer at Delft University of Technology (TU Delft).
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