Jeff Bezos’s quote hits home: A billionaire’s philosophy of life

Keep the internal brainstorming team small enough to be fed with two pizzas.Jeff Bezos

When a decision has to be made within the company, there’s a quote from Jeff Bezos: “Make your in-house brainstorming team small enough to be fed with two pizzas.” We’ve prioritized small-group decision-making by keeping teams to five to eight people—the amount two pizzas can feed.

As group size increases, the likelihood of missed communications and misunderstandings rises.

Forming smaller teams deepens communication and reduces the chance of omissions or misinterpretation.

It also makes it less likely for people to leave things to others, enabling efficient decisions and work progress through active exchange of ideas.

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Intelligence is a gift you’re born with, but kindness is a choice.Jeff Bezos

Even when you hear someone say something and think, “This person is smart, and what they’re saying is correct,” there are times when it just doesn’t sit right, when it leaves you uneasy.

But if those words carry kindness, they often land with a thud of understanding.

The meaning behind this, I think, is that people are moved more by kindness than by intelligence or correctness.

Knowledge and talent are often things we’re born with, but kindness is something we can choose to grow.

It’s a profound statement about what it means to be human!

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If I’m going to work hard for long hours, I want my colleagues to be people who are fun to be around.Jeff Bezos

Working hours are also part of our lives, so it’s best if the people we spend long hours with are those we feel comfortable around.

Jeff Bezos once said, “If you’re going to work long and hard, you should want your coworkers to be people you enjoy being around.” Doing work with people you like and get along with lightens your mood and reduces stress and irritation.

Also, when there are positive and cheerful people in the workplace, they brighten up those around them and help create a good atmosphere for getting work done.

When work proceeds efficiently and enjoyably, it ultimately leads to better performance.

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Your brand is what other people say about you when you’re not in the room.Jeff Bezos

It’s a bit scary to think about what people say about you when you’re not around, isn’t it? But that’s the real evaluation of who you are.

In the world of marketing, branding refers to the value and distinctive presence of a product or service.

Thinking about how to build and elevate your own personal brand may be one of the most important things in life.

What’s said about you in a room where you’re not present might be gossip, or it might be words full of affection.

Either way, perhaps the first step is to accept it honestly.

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Keep in mind that it’s not the customer’s job to figure things out.Jeff Bezos

This quote means that making a service or product easy to use and easy to understand is the responsibility of the provider, not the customer.

The moment customers have to wonder, “How am I supposed to use this?” or “Who do I ask about this?”, they’re already drifting away from satisfaction.

It conveys that a provider’s commitment to thinking everything through so customers can use the offering smoothly and without confusion is what builds trust and drives growth.

It’s a reminder of the importance of stepping into the other person’s shoes rather than being self-centered.

It is more important to embrace new technology than to fight against it.Jeff Bezos

This saying teaches that instead of fearing change and standing still, embracing it with flexibility leads to success.

As technology keeps advancing, rather than resisting it desperately, we’re expected to actively learn, apply, and absorb it.

For example, if you stubbornly cling to “the old way is best” while online shopping continues to expand, you’ll be left behind and miss opportunities.

By not fearing change and choosing to accept it, growth and possibilities expand without limit—this quote offers that kind of positive insight.

The most useful ideas are born from meetings that go off track or where the direction isn’t clear.Jeff Bezos

It means that truly innovative and valuable ideas are more likely to emerge not from perfectly scripted meetings, but from spaces where everyone can speak freely and conversations naturally wander into unexpected topics.

When we hear “meeting,” we tend to chase efficiency and the “right answer,” thinking we must reach a conclusion.

But by intentionally valuing detours and small talk, we can stumble upon unexpected opportunities and insights.

It’s a reminder of the importance of staying relaxed, keeping an open mind, and communicating warmly with teammates.