With dearth of activities to-do, Covid presented an opportunity to knock at covers of rusty old half-read books. Part of things ‘you always wanted to do but never had time for.’ On lighter note, I believe it is euphemism for overrated things (reading complete book, cooking meals anyone?) you would never do if life is in full swing. So, I took out this autobiography by greatest manager of last century. Jack Welch – the guy who led GE from crisis no one knew they were in and converted it into global giants of 1990s. Sure businesses and people have changed a lot from what it was 30 years back. But I found the book to be as much a learning experience as it was engrossing.

Being autobiography, the book portrays righteous view of self, relations and businesses of Welch. But in most cases, Welch explains his side which won’t sound like defense or justification. He was not that kind of person. What world perceived as Neutron Jack (firing 10% worse performers each year), he calls it an unapologetic way of managing people (you manage your stars well and give reality check to others who can improve elsewhere).
Book covers extensively on his early days in GE, how he managed to climb ladder and how he got the ‘big job’. This is inspiring part. Then there is a lot of discussion on change. He spearheaded change in the culture (making it less bureaucratic, boundaryless, learning driven, customer centric) and businesses (famous “Be first or second in any business – if not then fix, sell or close). You get great insights into some of largest acquisitions, growth of GE Capital, NBC story (broadcasters of Seinfeld, Friends, ER among others), Honeywell story (failed merger). He also lays down four initiatives – globalization, services, 6 sigma and e-commerce. E-commerce is interesting as it brings perspective of old guard during 1990s internet revolution. Resistance to change and then emracing and then flourishing. Finally, book ends with how Jack Immelt was selected as next CEO and a great chapter on “What this CEO business is all about.” I would say this is one chapter you would want to reread.
Jack was a great leader and a great personality. Learnings from book will stay with me forever and will aid in shaping my views on leadership and organizations. Fundamentals of his style which focus of managing people and resources are relevant in any time period especially in troubled and uncertain times like these. I take away that change is not something to be afraid of, but on contrary something which one should always strive-towards and actively-seek. Leading change needs thorough understanding of ‘now’ and relevant vision for ‘now-to-come.’
Don’t laugh at our misery from up there, Jack Welch!

We are usually the heroes of our own stories, and Jack Welch is no different. This is a story of the rise of a man at the helm of a massive corporation, peppered with some useful perspectives on strategy and decision-making. In between the lines you can pick up hints of the tradeoffs sometimes necessary to be a captain of corporate America - 2nd wife, jetset lifestyle, intensity and passion about optimizing profit margin that keeps you up to the wee hours cutting deals, surviving quadruple bypass surgery.... he loves GE and it was obviously his life. "Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!"

Үнэхээр гайхамшигтай. надад маш их урам өгсөн юм.

A true classic. Read this almost two decades ago and the many lessons learnt remain firmly stuck in my mind. An invaluable read for anyone looking to understand business at the highest levels.

My view after reading is that a lot of the things Jack did hurt GE and a lot of things really helped, the fun part of the book is in my view deciding for yourself which those are.

This is a long dry and somewhat boring book, but if you can get past that, you get a great fabulous story on leadership, integrity, meritrocracy, and corporate america, at least when Welch was running his place over at GE.

The stories were very interesting. I am giving it a 3-star. The names of everyone was hard to keep up with. I enjoyed so much to hear that rewards and recognition and advancement in GE are results-oriented. I don't know if this is true for a fact. Is this still possible in large corporations? It certainly wasn't entirely this way where I worked at a Fortune 100.

Nonetheless, Jack's intolerance for bureacracy was refreshing. GE's move to six-sigma and quality was aligned with what I hoped would result with good execution. However, with as much vision and tenacity and knack for change that Jack had, I am baffled and shocked that he did not have any women on his staff, any diversity whatsoever except for the white male, and that he did not even CONSIDER women for positions, it certainly never came up in the book and he made sure to name every single person that ever worked for him.

Where are the women Jack? Where is the diversity?

Where is the TRUE rewards and recognition for everyone who works hard, delivers results and top performance that moves the company to the next level - was GE not even looking at women or promoting women or was it such a foreign concept even in the 1980s and 1990s?

Even then, I would have had higher expectations of such a visionary man.

When I started working as an Assistant manager with GE he was the CEO of GE. This book is an exceptional and truthful comprehension into the biggest corporation of that time.

This is a great book to understand the leadership and generic view, which is usually missing in lot of corporate leaders. This book of course not teaches you analytics and scientific methodologies but a great book from overall business acumen.

Good book

Very intersting book, for the Tiger Wood of management, Mr. Jack Welch.

Great book on leadership and about making the hard decisions. Really recommended for general public and especially for future leaders.

A good biography about the former CEO and chairman of GE. B+. 3.5

For CEO's who like to endlessly blabber about their "big decisions" and need to move billions. This book is for people who think "office politics" and "meetings" are invigorating. Also this book is for people who hate the government and think that big business is going to save the world.