Lorna and Aldrin’s Box

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JACK

Straight From the Gut

 

 

 

The book “Jack Straight From the Gut” is an autobiography of Jack Welch,GE’s CEO for twenty years and the man awarded as the  “Manager of the Century” by Fortune magazine in   2000.If this book is a software, I will describe it as “user friendly”. It is inspiring just like Jack Welch.

 

Jack was born to Grace Welch, an Irish immigrant in Massachusetts. Both his parents were Irish and no one from his parents and grand parents graduated from high school. Jack is a catholic. Jack’s relationship to his mom was powerful, unique, warm and inspiring as how he described it. His mom taught him the joy of competition and built his self confidence. He had so many good memories with his mom. Those memories guided him along the way. On the other hand, Jack described his father as hard working, generous and very responsible.

 

Jack finished his high school at Salem High. He tried the navy, passed the test and went to series of screenings but was turned down.  He took his BS Chemical Engineering at University of Massachusetts. Jack was a consistent dean’s lister in his college. He took his doctorate degree at University of Illinois at Champaign. It is also in the same school that Jack met his wife Carolyn.

 

He was hired by GE on October 17, 1960.  On his early years at GE, he was upset about the bureaucracy. He was about to give up GE. Also, on his early years with GE, Jack was given the nickname “Neutron Jack”. This was after their  plant exploded  when they were doing an experiment which is supposed to be an innovation. Luckily, no one was hurt. He was scared to hell but was understood by his boss.By 1964, their new project plastic was going well.

 

He was soon enjoying GE when his mother died on January 25, 1965.He described it as the “saddest day of his life”. After fifteen months, his father also died. It’s his wife Carolyn, who supported him to move on.

 

He was promoted as the general manager of plastics. At the age of 36, Jack was GE’s vice president. From 1971 to 1977, his responsibility broadens from running a $100 million business to $400 million division and soon a $2 billion group. Jack stated that he learned the importance of people, supporting the best and removing the weakest. At the end of 1977, Reg, GE’s CEO  promoted him to “Sector Executive for Consumer products.  Jack’s gut sensed that Reg approved of what he is doing however on he had these nagging doubts on the early stage of succession. All candidates were interviewed by REG. The interview was called “airplane interview”.In the end of search, Reg announced his appointment as the new Chairman. Jack reorganize GE, applied the ideas he envisioned. He rewarded and gave more challenges to performers while eradicated the weak. He also brainstormed with his top managers and formulated strategies. He continuously assessed and adjusted on the strategies. Jack together with his team formulated employee program to reinforce, evaluate and reward them. GE was then called, “the people factory” One of this program is the “vitality curve”.It differentiates types of employees.The vitality curve was supported by reward system. GE also implemented the Session C. GE has always been a global trading company. Though there was abreakthrough in GE’s globalization in 1989. In the early 1990, they pushed on  globalization by acquisition, alliances and moving the best people to global assignments. Jack also adapted the “contrarian view of globalizing. They focused on countries in transition or out of favor. In mid-1990, They acquired CGR in France, Tungsram in Hungary and Nuovo Pignone in Italy in 1994.

Jack had an open heart surgery in June 1995. He had a quintuple

bypass.It was a successful operation that only tool 3 hours. GE had 3,000Six Sigma projects in 1996 to 6,000 in 1997.Later Jack and his team saw the Internet opportunity: the buy, the make and the sell.

 

            Jack shared his ideas that worked for him being CEO of GE for 20 years. These are as follows:

 

1. Integrity – By maintaining integrity, establishing it and never wavering from it. Jack said “ There was only one way- the straight way”

 

1. The Corporation and the Community-When a company is strong, it not only pay taxes but provide important services. It also builds “world-class” facilities that meet or exceed safety and environmental standard.

 

1. Setting a Tone-The organization takes its cue from the person on top.

 

1. Maximizing and Organization’s Intellect- Getting every employee’s mind into the game is a huge part of what the CEO’s job. A good CEO takes the best idea and transfer them to others.

 

1. People First, Strategy Second-Getting the right people for the right job is very important. Then, comes the strategy.

 

1. Informality- Informality liberates creative thinking.

 

1. Self-confidence-Legitimate self-confidence is a winner.

 

1. Passion-Great organization can ignite passion.

 

1. Stretch-It is reaching more than what you possibly thought.

 

1.  Celebrations- celebrations are great way to energize an organization.

 

1. Aligning Rewards with Measurements

 

1. Differentiation Develops Great Organization

 

1. Owning the People

 

1. Appraisals of All Time

 

1. Culture Counts

 

1. Strategy

 

1. Competitors

 

1. The Field

 

1. Market vs. Mind Set

 

1. Initiatives vs Tactics

 

1. The Communicator

 

1. Employee Survey

 

1. Upgrading a Function

 

1. The Advertising Manager

 

1. Managing Loose, Managing Tight

 

1. Chart Maker

 

1. Investor Relations

 

1. Wallowing

 

1. Your Back Room is Somebody Else Front Room

 

1. Speed

 

1. Forget the Zeroes

 

 

             Jack shortly discussed about his love of golf. He was a self taught gold player started when he was nine years old

 

              The last chapter described how Jeff Immelt was choices as the “new guy” or the successor of Jack Welch.

 

           

            Jack Welch is  a great leader. It was evident by how he made GE rose into a giant company.  He is a combination of technical savvy and excellent business skills. His brilliant mind, passion and attitude brought him to success. On top of his success, if you will ask me who made the difference in Jack’s life …”it’s the mom”.