Winning
by Jack Welch, Suzy Welch
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Book Reviews of Winning
Book Review: Most of us like to talk like we know. Jack knows.
Summary: 5 Stars
After being put in charge of a great corporation that has be been around for over hundreds of years, he decides to make it even greater. I don't think there are many of us that can be in a position to criticize the business philosophy Jack unveals in this book. So I won't, all I know is that when I read this book, I knew I was recieving the best of the best. Why would anyone want any other advice besides the best advice?
Furthermore, his philosophy and explanations are extremely logical and thoughtout. He understands that business and business practices constantly change, therefore he provides guidelines that possibly only the most profound leaders can truly understand and utilize them to their maxims. He not only advocates candor, but is candor with himself. Therefore you know that what is said in his book, is a real strategy for winning. No modesty, just straight hard convictions.
If you ran a business and was getting advice from Jack. I'd bet he would give you the advice in this book. But it'd be a little different because he'll also know the problem you're having and therefore beable to give you more detailed advice. The challenge for readers of Winning, is not just READ his advice, but to really think about it and apply it to your own situations. By doing so, you'll finally have an appreciation for why he really was and still is such a great leader.
Final words.
I wouldn't expect any worst from someone so intelligent putting his mind into developing these philosophies, testing them, and modifying them so that they are perfect. 20+ years of wisdom from a great leader should be given its deserved credit. And it really is d*mn good advice.
Book Review: Nothing like overdosing on self-serve
Summary: 1 Stars
Load up on a hefty dose of the art of self-serve. What a flagrant work of PR from these two pathetic souls. It's the same old tired message Welch always spews, only difference here is he's got a new wife, the disgraced former editor of the Harvard Business Review, eager to spin a repackaged version. The writing style is what you'd expect. Nothing stellar. It is full of infantile pseudo-profundities such as "I think winning is great. Not good great. Because when companies win, people thrive and grow. There are more jobs and more opportunities" and "leaders never score off their own people by stealing an idea and claiming it as their own". If indeed managers need the help of books like this to be good at their job, then it must be time to sing a requiem for common sense.
What does astonish this reader is the Welches mind boggling bid at addressing the issues of ethics and integrity in the workplace. Wonders never cease with these two. Their joint shamelessness amazes. Call it what you will, but for all those uninformed - Jack's soulmate of a third wife and co-author, Suzy Wetlaufer is the former editor of the Harvard Business Review who ultimately had no option but to resign her post at the HBR as a direct result of her moral and ethical breaches. This is all public record. Facts are facts. Read Chris Byron's "Testosterone, Inc." or any number of articles available online from the Wall Street Journal to New York Magazine to Vanity Fair. Clearly, Jack and Suzy would rather you not bother with such details. Why waste your time. Jack and Suzy are here to tell you all about integrity and ethics, and what it takes to win. How ridiculous. How desperate.
Book Review: Straight from America's CEO
Summary: 4 Stars
If the Dallas Cowboys are America's team and Rudy Giuliani is America's Mayor, then Jack Welch can rightfully be considered America's CEO. There are few CEOs with a higher profile and few companies with a more respected management culture.
In Winning, Jack imparts the tricks of the management trade that he learned during his years at the head of one of America's biggest companies. This book is his response to the thousands of questions he has received on the speaking circuit since retirement, most of which he distills to one: "what does it take to win?"
The book largely eschews management theory and is relentlessly practical. In his chapter on strategy, Welch writes "you just should not make strategy too complex." Later in the chapter he advises "If you want to win, when it comes to strategy, ponder less and do more."
Winning is also extremely self-referential, as personal stories from Welch's time at GE fill the pages. This tends to skew the benefits from reading slightly in favor of managers of large companies, but there are nuggets of wisdom available to leaders at companies of any size.
The final section on "Your Career" was a little disappointing, but the most valuable portions of the book are Welch's take on managing people. From the 20-70-10 practice at GE to motivating and hiring and firing, everyone who manages people will find tips to become more effective.
I once heard a CEO remark that he started carrying this book around in his briefcase because he was referencing it so often. It might be a little heavy for most people, but read it and you may want to carry it around too.
Book Review: Fantasic book about winning in business
Summary: 5 Stars
"Winning" by Jack Welch is a fantastic book about what it takes for businesses to succeed, along with some other answers for personal careers and some frequently answered questions.
The chapter I probably most enjoyed was the one on candor. Jack makes the claim that for a business to succeed, its employees must be able to ask candid questions. As many people keep their mouths shut as to not "rock the boat", Jack states that candor allows a business to get to the root of problems and eliminate waste. I did want some more information as to how to apply candor in the marketplace because you certainly cannot just go around stating your mind without boundaries.
Jack also gets into other topics such as differentiation, mergers and acquisitions, organic growth, and career choice and advancement. Much of what Jack has to say is extremely insightful and interesting. Jack is simplistic when he needs to be, such as in the career choice chapter which really boils down to keep changing careers until you find the one for you. He also offers detailed analysis when it comes to issues such as mergers and acquisitions.
While, I would certainly accept business advice from Mr. Welch, I would take personal and life advice from him with a grain of salt. Jack has dedicated his life to work and business and it shows. He is certainly wise when it comes to business issues, but he lacks much when it comes to issues of life.
Regardless, "Winning" is a fantastic book that all business people should read. It is easy to read, to the point, and offers some fantastic advice. Pick this one up. 5 out of 5 stars.
Book Review: "Calling it like it is"
Summary: 5 Stars
Do you have the courage to "call it like it is"? So many businesses, and managers struggle with this concept. Often, it seems so much easier to simply gloss over the real issue, managers want to be "liked", have friends and staff that look up to them as leaders they like and that means often not saying what needs to be said, or doing what is difficult. Jack Welch gives it to the reader "like it is", and implores managers to use candor to get the change required to move businesses forward.
Jack doesn't just push managers to use fear to motivate though, in fact, he rightfully points out the concept of 20/70/10. Every business will have 20% at the top, 70% in the middle and 10% at the bottom. GREAT leaders work with the middle 70%, get under their skin and motivate them to love the challenge of coming to work everyday, exhausting their positive output to push staff to be their BEST everyday, and to love doing it. But the bottom 10%, those who would rather text-message and surf the internet than actually work? What to do with them? If you have a candid organization, where dealing with true issues dominates the conversations, these bottom feeders know JUST WHERE THEY STAND, and they either get their act together, or the manager does them a favor by letting them go. It's not mean it's not nice, it's about winning, If you want to out-perform, you need the best players. Such a simple, hardened truth so many manager lose track of - yet Jack reminds us it is the core of performance.
I highly recommend this book for all managers and leaders.