No one is doing something in your business - getting a sale, having a key customer, working on an R&D project - doing anything that's more important than something you say is going to change the company.

My bosses cautioned me about my candor. Now my GE career is over, and I'm telling you that it was my candor that helped make it work.

Nothing of any importance has ever been accomplished by a pessimist.

Giving people self-confidence is by far the most important thing that I can do. Because then they will act.

Some people have better ideas than others; some are smarter or more experienced or more creative. But everyone should be heard and respected.

A strategy is something like, an innovative new product; globalization, taking your products around the world; be the low-cost producer. A strategy is something you can touch; you can motivate people with; be number one and number two in every business. You can energize people around the message.

If you want risk taking, set an example yourself and reward and praise those that do.