My main job was developing talent. I was a gardener providing water and other nourishment to our top 750 people. Of course, I had to pull out some weeds, too.

An overburdened, overstretched executive is the best executive, because he or she doesn't have the time to meddle, to deal in trivia, to bother people.

When the amount of change externally exceeds the amount of change internally, the end is in sight.

As a leader, you have no right to have any employee wonder how they fit in and where they are going.

I never put myself out there as an employment agency.

GE's businesses turned in a terrific first quarter. Our products and services are being well received in unusually robust global markets.

Willingness to change is a strength, even if it means plunging part of the company into total confusion for a while.