As the boss on the TV series “The Office,” Michael Scott made every mistake possible for a regional manager of a paper sales company to make. Despite Michael’s unawareness of social norms and poor management style, his optimistic, if deluded, leadership earned affection from his employees–and enjoyment for viewers. Here are five inspiring quotations from the world’s most awkwardly lovable boss.
On the Word “Boss”
“Remember when people used to say ‘boss’ when they were describing something really cool? Like, ‘Those shoulder pads are really boss, man.’ ‘Look at that perm, that perm is so boss!’ It’s what made me want to become a boss. And I looked so good in a perm and shoulder pads. But now, boss is just slang for jerk in charge.”
On Fear and Love
“Would I rather be feared or loved? Easy. Both. I want people to be afraid of how much they love me.”
On Leadership
“Leader. Ship. The word ‘ship’ is hidden in side the word ‘leadership,’ as its… derivation.”
On Higher Education
“I did not go to business school. You know who else didn’t go to business school? LeBron James, Tracy McGrady, Kobe Bryant. They went right from high school to the NBA so… [pause] So, it’s not the same thing at all.”
On Failure
“I hate disappointing just one person. And I really hate disappointing everyone. But I love Burlington Coat Factory.”