Michael E. Porter, born on May 23, 1947, is an influential American academic renowned for his contributions to economics, business strategy, and social causes. Currently serving as the Bishop William Lawrence University Professor at Harvard Business School, Porter co-founded The Monitor Group (now part of Deloitte) and FSG, a social impact consultancy. Widely hailed as the father of the modern strategy field, he is credited for developing Porter’s five forces analysis, a pivotal tool in contemporary business strategy. Acknowledged globally as one of the foremost thinkers on management and competitiveness, Porter’s work has left an indelible mark, earning recognition from governments, non-governmental organizations, and universities. His enduring impact extends to his role as one of the most influential business strategists, shaping the landscape of strategic thinking.

Michael Porter Quotes

1. “The essence of strategy is choosing what not to do.”
— Michael Porter

2. “Strategy is about setting yourself apart from the competition. It’s not a matter of being better at what you do – it’s a matter of being different at what you do.”
— Michael Porter

3. “Strategy is choice. Strategy means saying no to certain kinds of things.”
— Michael Porter

4. “Strategy is about making choices, trade-offs; it’s about deliberately choosing to be different.”
— Michael Porter

5. “Strategic thinking rarely occurs spontaneously.”
— Michael Porter

6. “Competitive strategy is about being different. It means deliberately choosing a different set of activities to deliver a unique mix of value.”
— Michael Porter

7. “You can’t be all things to all people.”
— Michael Porter

8. “If a strategy meets a goal: It’s working. If a strategy meets a target: It’s a success.”
— Michael Porter

9. “Sound strategy starts with having the right goal.”
— Michael Porter

10. “Operational effectiveness and strategy are both essential to superior performance.”
— Michael Porter

11. “Without a goal analytics is aimless and worthless.”
— Michael Porter

12. “A strategy delineates a territory in which a company seeks to be unique.”
— Michael Porter

13. “The purpose of the corporation must be redefined as creating shared value, not just profit per se. This will drive the next wave of innovation and productivity growth in the global economy.”
— Michael Porter

14. “The company without a strategy is willing to try anything.”
— Michael Porter

15. “Innovation is the central issue in economic prosperity.”
— Michael Porter

16. “If all you’re trying to do is essentially the same thing as your rivals, then it’s unlikely that you’ll be very successful.”
— Michael Porter

17. “Change brings opportunities. On the other hand, change can be confusing.”
— Michael Porter

18. “The best CEOs I know are teachers, and at the core of what they teach is strategy.”
— Michael Porter

19. “The thing is, continuity of strategic direction and continuous improvement in how you do things are absolutely consistent with each other. In fact, they’re mutually reinforcing.”
— Michael Porter

20. “There’s a fundamental distinction between strategy and operational effectiveness.”
— Michael Porter

21. “A target should go with every goal. A target is the value that defines success.”
— Michael Porter

22. “If your goal is anything but profitability – if it’s to be big, or to grow fast, or to become a technology leader – you’ll hit problems.”
— Michael Porter

23. “Finally, the strategy must have continuity. It can’t be constantly reinvented.”
— Michael Porter

24. “The underlying principles of strategy are enduring, regardless of technology or the pace of change.”
— Michael Porter

25. “Good leaders need a positive agenda, not just an agenda of dealing with crisis.”
— Michael Porter