“All great companies have passed through bad years that forced soul-searching and rethinking of priorities. How we deal with them will be the litmus test.”

“To be an enduring, great company, you have to build a mechanism for preventing or solving problems that will long outlast any one individual leader.”

“Mass advertising can help build brands, but authenticity is what makes them last. If people believe they share values with a company, they will stay loyal to the brand.”

“To stay vigorous, a company needs to provide a stimulating and challenging environment for all these types: the dreamer, the entrepreneur, the professional manager, and the leader. If it doesn't, it risks becoming yet another mediocre corporation.”

“Authentic brands don't emerge from marketing cubicles or advertising agencies. They emanate from everything the company does...”

“In this ever-changing society, the most powerful and enduring brands are built from the heart. They are real and sustainable. Their foundations are stronger because they are built with the strength of the human spirit, not an ad campaign. The companies that are lasting are those that are authentic.”

“Many of us spent time talking with the men and women who had lived through Katrina, and we heard stories of not only individual sacrifice and loss, but also of neighbors taking care of neighbors. The power of community was so evident in New Orleans.”