Session Two: Carly Fiorina "Tough Choices"

Carly Fiorina is the former CEO of HP. She facilitated the merger between HP & Compaq...considered by some to be the biggest hi-tech merger of all time. She was fired from HP in a shady ordeal and wrote a book about it called Tough Choices. They say it's a great book...i've added it to my "books to read before I die" list.

She had a few quotes worth mentioning...let me know in the comments if you agree/disagree with any or if any jump out at you:

• Nothing worthwhile happens as an individual alone.
• Motivation is moving people in a certain direction. Management doesn't involve motivating people, but leadership is all about motivating people.
• Leadership, to be effective, involves a vision that is bigger than people's fears. You have to show them that, though it's going to be painful it's going to be worth it.
• Leadership is seeing & unlocking potential in others. When a leader sees the potential in others, it's motivating. Leaders need to take chances on people.
• Leaders have to be authentic. You can't fake authenticity.

It was pretty interesting that she said if she had to do the whole HP thing all over again, knowing the painful ordeal she would have to go through - the public firing - she would do it because she learned so much about leadership & integrity from it. She said that everything is a gift, even the painful trials in life because they make us stronger (hmm...where have I heard that before?).