Sparking a flame in my oft "creative" mind today was the thought that following my dreams to entrepreneurial business could prove to be quite satisfying, if and when I have the necessary business background. Therein lies the Catch-22: without good business sense, one can hardly be a good businessman, but the functional intricacies of running a business (substantial skills in sales, management, finance, and, in my case, information technology), play but supporting roles in overall business management.
In my life, I have seen my share of good and bad business. I have been eyeing the successful companies, like IBM, Microsoft, Medtronic, Boeing, Sony, and others, who have a firm grip on how to do "good business" that I feel have miles to go, and so much to learn. And it's not just a stagnant corporate philoshphy which drives businesses to succeed, it's learning how to please the customer, and having the willingness to take the necessary risks.
Jack Welch, former CEO of GE has several books to his credit, outlining the effect of his years of leadership at GE, which is now widely recognized as one of the world's most successful corporations. Initiative. Drive. The unending pursuit of perfection and innovation. Well it is, at the very least, a place to start.
If I wish to someday be successful on my own, I need to start learning NOW. So much the better to learn from successful leaders.
Posted by MEK at May 7, 2002 03:00 PM