You can work long, hard, or smart, but at Amazon.com you can’t choose two out of three.

You can work long, hard, or smart, but at Amazon.com you can’t choose two out of three.

Jeff Bezos

There has to be a business, and the business has to make sense, but that’s not why you do it. You do it because you have something meaningful that motivates you.

There has to be a business, and the business has to make sense, but that’s not why you do it. You do it because you have something meaningful that motivates you.

A company shouldn’t get addicted to being shiny because shiny doesn’t last.

A company shouldn’t get addicted to being shiny because shiny doesn’t last.

The common question that gets asked in business is, ‘why?’ That’s a good question, but an equally valid question is ‘why not?’.

The common question that gets asked in business is, ‘why?’ That’s a good question, but an equally valid question is ‘why not?’.

In business, what’s dangerous is not to evolve.

In business, what’s dangerous is not to evolve.

I’d rather interview 50 people and not hire anyone than hire the wrong person.

I’d rather interview 50 people and not hire anyone than hire the wrong person.

I like treating things as if they’re small, you know Amazon even though it is a large company, I want it to have the heart and spirit of a small one.

I like treating things as if they’re small, you know Amazon even though it is a large company, I want it to have the heart and spirit of a small one.

Companies are rarely criticized for the things that they failed to try. But they are, many times, criticized for things they tried and failed at.

Companies are rarely criticized for the things that they failed to try. But they are, many times, criticized for things they tried and failed at.

In the end, we are our choices. Build yourself a great story.

In the end, we are our choices. Build yourself a great story.

Everything you are comes from your choices.

Everything you are comes from your choices.

We can't be in survival mode. We have to be in growth mode.

We can't be in survival mode. We have to be in growth mode.

One of the huge mistakes people make is that they try to force an interest on themselves. You don't choose your passions; your passions choose you.

One of the huge mistakes people make is that they try to force an interest on themselves. You don't choose your passions; your passions choose you.

I told all of our original investors that they would lose their money for sure.

I told all of our original investors that they would lose their money for sure.

Life's too short to hang out with people who aren't resourceful.

Life's too short to hang out with people who aren't resourceful.

If you never want to be criticized, for goodness sake don't do anything new.

If you never want to be criticized, for goodness sake don't do anything new.

If you are going to do large-scale invention, you have to be willing to do three things: You must be willing to fail; you have to be willing to think long term; and you have to be willing to be misunderstood for long periods of time.

If you are going to do large-scale invention, you have to be willing to do three things: You must be willing to fail; you have to be willing to think long term; and you have to be willing to be misunderstood for long periods of time.

Focusing on the customer makes a company more resilient.

Focusing on the customer makes a company more resilient.

Work hard, have fun and make history.

Work hard, have fun and make history.

If you invent frequently and are willing to fail, then you never get to that point where you really need to bet the whole company.

If you invent frequently and are willing to fail, then you never get to that point where you really need to bet the whole company.