In anecdotal detail and with self-effacing humor, Jack Welch gives us the people who shaped his life (most notably his Irish mother) and the big hits and the big misses that characterized his career. Starting at GE in 1960 as an engineer earning $10,500, Jack learned the need for "getting out of the pile" when his first raise was the same as everyone else's. He stayed out of the corporate bureaucracy while running a $2 billion collection of GE businesses - in a sweater and blue jeans - out of a Hilton in Pittsfield, Massachusetts.
After avoiding GE's Fairfield, Connecticut headquarters for years, Jack was eventually summoned by then-Chairman Reg Jones, who was planning his succession. There ensued one of the most painful parts of his career - Jack's dark-horse struggle, filled with political tension, to make it to the CEO's chair. A hug from Reg confirmed Jack was the new boss - and started the GE transformation. The riveting story of his last year - the elaborate process of selecting a successor and the attempt to buy Honeywell - is also told in compelling detail.
This is classic Jack Welch: down to earth, powerful, and filled with common sense.
©2001 by Jack Welch; (P)2001 by Time Warner AudioBooks
"As a self-portrait of one of America's most successful modern business leaders, Jack is remarkable for its candor." (Ther Economist)
"Truly inspiring!"
With this honest review of his business life -and not only- Jack Welch allows us to see how a truly inspired and determined businessman changed the culture of one of the largest companies in the world.
Well written and beautifuly narrated. A real joy to read (listen).
"Get it, you won't regret it."
Easy listen. Very interesting character. This books is Jack's auto biography on his life - of which his role as GE's CEO is a prime focus. I love it as its a break from your traditional business books - it doesn't try to be a business book. This is simply Jack telling the stories of his approach to business during various positions in GE. It's not preachy; you have to derive the lessons out of it yourself.
Get only the unabridged. Facinating guy.
"Jack hits a homerun"
Jack's message is clear and consistent: if you want your business to excel, you've got to provide the right culture, hire great people, reward the best employees and always expect more. Of course its not easy, I don't remember hearing that word much in the program. However, Jack provides the blueprint for making it happen; find out what works in your business or industry and duplicate it. Find out what doesn't work and fix it or get rid of it.
This book is full of examples of what worked and what didn't. There are plenty of stories to inspire you to find ways to shake up your business and break down the barriers that limit your company's potential. It's easy to sit back and say these strategies can't work for me. It's much harder to wake up every morning and make them happen.
Listening to this program will be the shortest 14 hours you'll ever spend.
"easier said then done"
Jack Welch makes it sound easy, but we all know it is not. However, the listener gets a clear understanding of the handful of management levers that Welch used consistently over the years, in order to build GE into one of the best run companies in the world.
"Great entrepreneurial resource"
I wanted know
a.how big companies operate
b.work and life style of CEOs
c.How an employee can grow from shop floor to helm
d.How to build a Company
e.Many more about entrepreneurial skills
This book had answers to all my questions. Great insight.
"Inspiring and educational"
A great story of how Jack came to lead GE, and how GE changed over the years to improve. If you're looking for the human story of Jack Welch, you'll be listening to a lot of talk about the business in between those moments. If you're looking for the story of Jack Welch, and his insights and lessons learned from running GE, then you really want to listen to this. My impression of GE has changed considerably after listening, and I'm going to dive into learning about Six Sigma after seeing what it has done for GE.
It's not simple to lead a large organization, but I derive some confidence after hearing the stories of the various people at GE that, in my career, by sticking to principles, and staying creative and flexible, that I can go as far as I choose to.
The unabridged is definitely worth the extra time to listen to....
"Captivating, Educational and Informative"
From the early days in Plastics to the Board Room, the book offers a glipse of the internal construct of one of the largest companies and how Jack Welch has made a positive impression. Jack's way of taking complex situations & issues and formulating a straightforward solution & process (leveraging the very talented and capable people Jack surrounded himself with) provides for an education on GE and how it has been so successful over the years. Like similar reviewer commented, Barnicle sounds just like Jack and captivates the listener throughout.
"If your in business it is a Must Read"
Probably the best management book you can read. It demonstrates that a company is nothing more then a box which contains people. People are the company and without "good" people you have nothing. The quality of people is everything and Jack takes this theory to the maximum.
"Honest, Intriguing, and insightful!"
Excellent! Spanning 20 years, this was more of a private history lesson on GE, Globalization, deal making, six sigma, and executive succession. A real inside look at how culture can make or break a company and an inside view of the world of movers and shakers. It was 14 hours worth of listening, that I finished in two days. A must read for all in corporate world.
"Excellent book"
An excellent book to hear. One of the best I have read about advanced office politics. Inspirational, and very well written. A five star quality book. The only reservation I have is that Jack used the book to settle few accounts. Certainly not the best parts of the book!