Intuit former CEO Brad Smith interview excerpts..
Name: Brad D. Smith
Date: 4/12/17 4:44PM
One word that best describes how you work: Passionately
Book currently reading: Grit - The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth
Smith is a man of the people. He always believed it was about "we, not me” often quoting “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” As Brad speaks =>
After graduating college my dad advised me to always pursue what makes your heart beat the fastest. He [also] said I should always make my job choices based on the franchise and not the role. In other words, look for purpose-driven companies that would challenge me and provide me with stretch assignments so I would continue to grow. He told me not to focus on title or the money, because that would change over time if I worked hard. Finally, [he said to] understand that there will be good days and bad days, but if the good outweigh the bad, you are on the right course.
I allocate my time in a 40-30-20-10 split =>
1.Surround yourself with people smarter than you: According to Dad, this was important for choosing where you work, because it ensures that you will constantly be learning and growing. With this in mind, I have always been drawn to work in organizations where the bar is high.
2. Volunteer for assignments no one else wants: Once you find the right environment, volunteer to work on the hardest and most unwanted problems facing the organization, because that’s where you’ll stretch yourself and be forced to grow in ways you wouldn’t have planned. In addition, every boss has something that no one wants to do, and if you volunteer to take it on, it will distinguish you from others and establish you as the “go-to person” for tough problems.
3. Finally, make sure you can pay your bills: The last thing Dad told me was to never prioritize big dollars and big business cards over the principles above. He cautioned that if I did, I would most likely find myself in a position where the number of bad days outweighed the good ones. As for paying my bills, Dad was always someone who fulfilled the promises he made. For him, bills were a promise of payment. So he closed by saying “but always try to make enough to pay your bills!”
ref:
https://lifehacker.com/im-brad-smith-ceo-of-intuit-and-this-is-how-i-work-1794268430
https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/328301
https://www.businessinsider.com/intuit-ceo-shares-favorite-interview-questions-2017-9
Name: Brad D. Smith
Date: 4/12/17 4:44PM
One word that best describes how you work: Passionately
Book currently reading: Grit - The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth
Smith is a man of the people. He always believed it was about "we, not me” often quoting “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” As Brad speaks =>
After graduating college my dad advised me to always pursue what makes your heart beat the fastest. He [also] said I should always make my job choices based on the franchise and not the role. In other words, look for purpose-driven companies that would challenge me and provide me with stretch assignments so I would continue to grow. He told me not to focus on title or the money, because that would change over time if I worked hard. Finally, [he said to] understand that there will be good days and bad days, but if the good outweigh the bad, you are on the right course.
I allocate my time in a 40-30-20-10 split =>
- 40% of my time running the company through operating mechanisms and product reviews
- 30% building our organization’s capability and leadership bench through 1:1’s, skip levels, and leadership development forums
- 20% on outside-in learning by engaging with fellow leaders in round-table discussions, forums and board rooms
- 10% on personal growth and development, meeting with mentors and learning from others I admire. Color-coding my calendar holds me accountable and allows me to measure whether I am on track or off, so I can adjust if needed.
1.Surround yourself with people smarter than you: According to Dad, this was important for choosing where you work, because it ensures that you will constantly be learning and growing. With this in mind, I have always been drawn to work in organizations where the bar is high.
2. Volunteer for assignments no one else wants: Once you find the right environment, volunteer to work on the hardest and most unwanted problems facing the organization, because that’s where you’ll stretch yourself and be forced to grow in ways you wouldn’t have planned. In addition, every boss has something that no one wants to do, and if you volunteer to take it on, it will distinguish you from others and establish you as the “go-to person” for tough problems.
3. Finally, make sure you can pay your bills: The last thing Dad told me was to never prioritize big dollars and big business cards over the principles above. He cautioned that if I did, I would most likely find myself in a position where the number of bad days outweighed the good ones. As for paying my bills, Dad was always someone who fulfilled the promises he made. For him, bills were a promise of payment. So he closed by saying “but always try to make enough to pay your bills!”
ref:
https://lifehacker.com/im-brad-smith-ceo-of-intuit-and-this-is-how-i-work-1794268430
https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/328301
https://www.businessinsider.com/intuit-ceo-shares-favorite-interview-questions-2017-9
