Re-read it in a day -- always good to get a refresher on what Jack says is key -- keeping it simple, plagiarizing proudly, being consistent, and relentless persistence. It is worth noting that the same CEO characteristics he discusses are not extensible to every level, although every leadership element probably is. Specifically, certain people do have to be experts and focus in one area. However, even they need to think about the end result, look ahead, and promote boundarylessness.

A should-read biograpy on leadership for knowledge workers, managers, directors, C-levels, and entrepreneurs.

In and of itself, a good book. However, penises, penises, penises! Meh.

Okay business book. Interesting to learn about but not many take-aways.

The late Robert Slater (1943-2014) wrote several books on GE and its former CEO Jack Welch (1935-2020), all blessed by the firm and with exclusive access to Welch, which is probably this book is written so glowingly and favorably of Welch. Even at the time this book was published (1998), Welch had his detractors, so in a way this book feels like a piece of apologist propaganda at times. Jeff Imelt, who would be Welch's successor in the CEO role from 2001-2017, also features prominently in this book.

This is interesting reading if you enjoy books on business and business strategy, with the caveat of the biases mentioned above.

Further reading:
Lights Out: Pride, Delusion, and the Fall of General Electric by Thomas Gryta and Ted Mann - about Jeff Imelt's tenure at the top

My stats:
Book 110 for 2024
Book 1713 cumulatively

I really enjoyed this book. Very readable and inspiring in many ways. But, that is maybe just because I am mentally in a place where I need a motivational/inspirational push. It was interesting reading about GE and what Jack Welch did there. The book made me want to go work for GE! Although, I know reality probably doesn't exactly reflect what is in this book. I did read the GE annual report for 2012 to compare where the company was in 1998, where the book essentially leaves off, and where they are now. GE still seems to be doing well and it was interesting to see some of the changes in the company since the book was published. This was perhaps not the most balanced of books as the author obviously adores Jack Welch and what he did for GE. But, I thoroughly enjoyed it. It inspired me to pick up Jack Welch's autobiography, Jack: Straight from the Gut, to learn a bit more about Welch prior to his time at GE and to hear things from his perspective.

Not a bad book, somewhat quick and easy. It doesn't reveal too much, but I guess it's not too much of a secret as how GE and Jack succeeded. You do understand that senior management works their tail off and that is what he expects. The home and work balance that we try to manage to be the complete person is not an issue because he expect you to chose work each time. I would have liked more details on exactly how he rolled out some of the big visions that he created. I like how he would take time and talk to the people at the NY campus. Having engaging conversations without repercussions and expecting his managers to have ideas and share them was good to see.

PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST SELF SERVNG BOOKS ON BUSINESS I HAVE EVER READ. ONE NEEDS TO LOOK A GE'S LEGAL PROBLEMS UNDER WELCH TO HAVE A TRUE PERSPECTIVE

Interesting book. Unfortunately I cannot complete this.

As a GE employee, I thought it would be beneficial to read about Jack Welch. Though he retired as the CEO of General Electric in 2001, his fingerprints are still all over the company. I read this book a few days before I started a leadership course at the John F. Welch Leadership Development Center at Crotonville, NY. This book was a couple hundred pages praise of how Jack shaped GE during his time as the CEO. Interesting reading, but it was less of a biography and more of a "what's great about Jack" kind of book.

A nice read. Gives you a different perspective all together.

I listened to abridged audiobook.

I enjoyed listening to this book very much. I had heard so much about Welch's reputation, but I wasn't intimately familiar as the '80s & '90s (the height of his career) I was in school.

There are many things that Jack did that I like (6 Sigma, workout, results, removal of beurocracy) but some things that I didn't like.

The main thing I didn't like, was his creation of RIF simply based on cutting cost. I believe that for my generation seeing this, as we went through school, increased our awareness that we have to "Look out for #1" rather than look out for the company.

I truly believe that part of the success of Toyota is their respect for people. In the book Welch recognizes that he did create a cautious workforce, but doesn't seem to regret it.

Over all very interesting.