My CEO Life

If you want a quick read that has some good lessons in it, then grab a copy of Richard Branson’s book called Screw It, Let’s Do It.

What i love about the book is it is all about taking some risks.  We have a motto in the business - don’t seek permission, beg forgiveness.  What makes this value important is that when you are growing a business at 100 mph, you need everyone getting on with business, feeling empowered to make decisions and of course, take responsibility for their decisions.

A long side this value is a set of rewards and penalties.

• Rewards are for those that make the right decisions and create value for the business.  Rewards include promotion, more responsibility, financial rewards etc
• The penalties are not for getting it wrong once, but for continuously getting it wrong and not learning from the mistakes.  The penalties include lack of bonuses, non-promotion in the business or termination of employment.

What is interesting is that not taking risks is akin to taking them and getting them wrong.  You just don’t succeed by keeping your head down and hoping others get it wrong.  This is crap, large organisation attitudes.

Take a risk … enjoy the rewards!!!

If you would like to have a good read then you cant go past Winning by Jack Welch.  Now i know that there are a 101 books about him and GE however i find this one great to read and able to provide me with useful insights and tips.

The book covers a range of issues from culture to leadership and to how to manage your company and competition.  The book tackles many issues head on.  One of my favourite is candor.

Now, for many organizations, candor is a dirty word.  People cant or dont look each other in the eye and tell it straight.  Instead there are politics, back stabbing and avoidance.  GET OVER IT.  Talk to each other straight.  Don’t hide things, don’t guild the lily — just tell each other as it is.

As Welch says, “When you’ve got candor, everything just operates faster and better.”

So enjoy the read.