Doing What Matters: How to Get Results That Make a Difference-The Revolutionary Old-Fashioned Approach

by James M. Kilts, John F. Manfredi, Robert Lorber

There is only one CEO in recent times who has faced–and succeeded at–the extraordinary challenges of leading three major companies–Gillette, Nabisco, and Kraft–into prosperous futures by doing what matters on the fundamentals. That CEO is Jim Kilts. In this vivid first-person account he reveals his system for success that is both cutting-edge and back-to-basics. DOING WHAT MATTERS –the action plan for identifying and tackling what’s important and ignoring the rest–is the key to winning in a warp-speed world where the need for revolutionary speed and decisiveness increases by the day.

Kilts illustrates his ideas with colorful stories. His focus on both business fundamentals and personal attributes provides the “complete package,” showing how to get results that make a difference through: intellectual integrity, generating emotional engagement and enthusiasm, action, and understanding the right things through an overarching concept. Whether you’re CEO of a multibillion-dollar global company, the brand manager for a product, an entrepreneur starting a small business, or just beginning a career, DOING WHAT MATTERS provides the practical ideas that get results.


From the Compact Disc edition.

Genres: Business, Leadership, Management, Self Help, Buisness, Nonfiction

Audio

First published January 1, 2007

Reviews

[Sharon Orlopp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Terrific book to help focus on what matters most. Strongly recommend!

The author, James Kilts, was CEO at Gillette, Nabisco, and Kraft and led these companies successfully into the future by focusing on what mattered most.

Key takeaways from the book include:
1. You must take radical action before the point of impact (crash)
2. With revolutionary speed and decisiveness, need to determine what you pay attention to and what you ignore
3. Revolutionary change requires everyone to be concerned and involved with innovation
4. Maintaining status quo is a recipe for failure
5. Be a leader in recruitment, retention and development of talent
6. How you get to the heart of the matter will define you as a leader
7. Integrity is crucial; adhere to a code of business ethics and fairness
8. Cost cutting must become a way of life
9. Enthusiasm on a grand scale makes all the difference
10. Focus on the importance of action; doers make the world go round

Strongly recommend!

[Eric Nehrlich · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was recommended to me by somebody I trust, and I was pleasantly surprised how relevant the leadership lessons that Kilts shares from his time leading Kraft, Nabisco and Gillette still are today for the tech industry executives that I coach. His message of developing great people and holding them accountable for delivering results is timeless, and a great reminder that great leadership transcends time and industry.

[Kt · Rating 1 out of 5]

I couldn't get to the end of this book. He started off by talking about doing what matters, then goes on and on about how much he likes himself. A lot of the stuff he discusses seems like common sense, and I think people get so stuck in a world of what they are "supposed to do" and don't reflect on what's actually happening. Maybe this all needed to be said, but it was not particularly interesting to me. I really don't care for some of the companies he discusses, so it was just starting to bring me down.

[Lindsay · Rating 2 out of 5]

One of few books I didn't finish. Just not applicable to me. Many books made for business apply to life or to my nonprofit career but this was for CEO's of businesses dealing with the quantities of razors sold etc...I was so happy when a good book on hold came in at the library and I could stop listening to this one on CD.

[Dora · Rating 2 out of 5]

Quite the instructional if you are on track to be hired as CEO of a global elite corporation, otherwise… blah blah blah - not much I found helpful as a small business owner.

[Shrinivasan G · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is often a rare book that resonates with you. The reverberation is so strong that you wish to align with each and every line written as a wisdom that is talking to you.

This is one such wonderful book. I did not just read this book, but learnt it as a text book in university syllabus. I read it, took copious notes of each and every nugget, now have realms of pages of written notes to synthesize frequently.

If there is a practical actionable insightful book to excel in a management role, do not bypass this text.

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very simplistic overview, and one is left to wonder if the "excessive capital spending" noted by the author didn't help make his job a bit easier in the following years, but filled with good insights that are definitely valuable!

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

This read wasn’t a waste of time, but was somewhat sparse. Much of it was a combination of self-aggrandizing, corporate war stories, personal vindication, justification for various actions, and the like. But there were a few tips and advice worth listening to.

[Kira Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Listened to the audio book, will definitely listen again. A detailed analysis of how a multinational were managed, a lot of gems for managers and business owners.

[Lori Grant · Rating 4 out of 5]

A should-read book on managing companies for knowledge workers, managers, executives, and entrepreneurs.

[Stacey Allen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Likely a really great book of pointers for someone taking over a CEO position in a large company. It was interesting to hear about what companies are linked to others.

[Jim Anglin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the product strategy tips in this book!

[John · Rating 2 out of 5]

read it college-style (scan & skim)

"In my view, it's doers who make the world go 'round." - James M. Kilts

*last 3 pages=summary