David Brooks, conservative columnist for the NYTimes, came to SPU back when I was a senior. He lectured on the importance of students getting out into the community to volunteer. Unfortunately I wasn't there to listen because I was just one floor below begging students to register to vote. I am still so bummed I missed hearing him speak because I have really grown from reading his op-eds over the years. I usually fire his articles off to a select few, but today I read his piece on the personalities of C.E.O.'s, and had to relay it to you, dear blog reader.
Recently a number of C.E.O.'s were polled, in a study called, "Which C.E.O. Characteristics and Abilities Matter?” The results pointed away from charisma, vision, listening and being a good communicator and instead pointed to the importance of attention to detail, analytic efficiency and (gasp) the ability to work long hours. Brooks sums it up by saying, "The C.E.O.’s that are most likely to succeed are humble, diffident, relentless and a bit unidimensional."
Diffident? Unidimensional?
When I envision myself in 15 years I have two divergent (at times, slightly convergent) lives. Life one: I am a very happy Mother and Wife, making up craft projects and treasure hunts for my curious kiddos.
Life two: I am a diligent CEO of a non-profit with a rolodex the size of Texas and a social life filled with benefits and lectures.
Reading Brooks' column, my eyes were opened to a new line of thinking. Maybe the rolodex and the benefits and the lectures aren't so neccessary in the case of life two. Maybe it is more important for me to be...boring.
In that case, I'll take life one:).
kiki san
Recently a number of C.E.O.'s were polled, in a study called, "Which C.E.O. Characteristics and Abilities Matter?” The results pointed away from charisma, vision, listening and being a good communicator and instead pointed to the importance of attention to detail, analytic efficiency and (gasp) the ability to work long hours. Brooks sums it up by saying, "The C.E.O.’s that are most likely to succeed are humble, diffident, relentless and a bit unidimensional."
Diffident? Unidimensional?
When I envision myself in 15 years I have two divergent (at times, slightly convergent) lives. Life one: I am a very happy Mother and Wife, making up craft projects and treasure hunts for my curious kiddos.
Life two: I am a diligent CEO of a non-profit with a rolodex the size of Texas and a social life filled with benefits and lectures.
Reading Brooks' column, my eyes were opened to a new line of thinking. Maybe the rolodex and the benefits and the lectures aren't so neccessary in the case of life two. Maybe it is more important for me to be...boring.
In that case, I'll take life one:).
kiki san
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hmmm...life 1 sounds PERFECT to me :) we can have a "kid exchange" and i'll teach them how to bake scrumptious things and be quarky, while you teach mine a few things about the world and being green and proper manners ;)
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