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Tough Calls from the Corner Office: Top Business Leaders Reveal Their Career-Defining Moments
“ Tough Calls from the Corner Office offers invaluable insight into the mind of the CEO.” —Bill Steere, President, Chairman, and CEO of Pfizer
“The stories in this book should inspire and give confidence to the many people looking to make their mark in business, or for that matter life.” —General Richard B. Myers, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff
Fortune 500 executive Harlan Steinbaum collects the wisdom of America’s most successful business leaders in this powerful and inspiring guide to decision-making for your life and career. Thirty-nine of America’s top executives, from ESPN’s Bill Rasmussen to United Airlines’ Gerald Greenwald, along with many other, relate the most important decisions of their careers, sharing why they struggled, how they decided, and what the lessons are they learned along the way—enabling you to achieve more, today.
“The stories in this book should inspire and give confidence to the many people looking to make their mark in business, or for that matter life.” —General Richard B. Myers, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff
Fortune 500 executive Harlan Steinbaum collects the wisdom of America’s most successful business leaders in this powerful and inspiring guide to decision-making for your life and career. Thirty-nine of America’s top executives, from ESPN’s Bill Rasmussen to United Airlines’ Gerald Greenwald, along with many other, relate the most important decisions of their careers, sharing why they struggled, how they decided, and what the lessons are they learned along the way—enabling you to achieve more, today.
- GenresNonfictionBusiness
288 pages, Hardcover
First published February 8, 2011
9 people are currently reading
48 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
February 3, 2019
The last chapter was its saving grace. Can skip most of the rest, in my opinion. Use the "references" to the last chapter to determine which snippets you should read
April 15, 2023
RICK “SHAQ” GOLDSTEIN SAYS: “39 SUCCESSFUL AMERICAN BUSINESS LEADERS SHARE THE EPIPHANY OF THEIR DEFINING MOMENTS”
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The author Harlan Steinbaum, a successful businessman himself, knows of what he speaks when he provides the keys to the tough decisions that thirty-nine successful business leaders had to *face*… as well as make… in this book that can’t help but motivate would be leaders. These short (in most cases a couple of pages) direct narratives from individuals that range from Sanford N. McDonnell of McDonnell Douglas (a company that I enjoyed success with in the past.) to Bill Rasmussen who founded ESPN… to Tadataka Yamada, who heads up the *Program of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation*… to the infamous Monty Hall, of *LET’S MAKE A DEAL* fame. That’s quite a stretch from military and commercial aircraft and computers (my bailiwick)… to twenty-four-seven-sports-television… to one of the world’s largest philanthropic organizations… to zany TV game shows… and everything in between. The beauty of this book is that these successful men and women aren’t preaching braggadocio and look how great I am. Instead they are telling the toughest decisions they made that shaped their business life… their companies… and the thousands of people that their decision effected. Surprisingly… and refreshingly… these icons of business are just as anxious to tell you about the wrong decisions they made also. Some purchased the wrong companies… some put the wrong people in key management positions. Some realized that they themselves were the problem. One common thread that seemed to link them all was their empathy to the people that worked for them. When McDonnell Douglas had to make a decision to eventually lay off sixty-thousand-employees… the sadness for the individuals is clearly etched in Mr. McDonnell’s words.
If you’re a competitive, motivated individual, this is the kind of book that will have you underlining and highlighting numerous quotes. Some of the quotes will make you squirm because you’re either currently involved in an organization that is described by the mistakes stated herein… or used to be. Such as a quote from Gerald Greenwald who along with Lee Iacocca spearheaded the now historical Chrysler turnaround that was engineered by the then unheard of *GUARANTEED* government loans. “CHRYSLER WAS IN TERRIBLE SHAPE. IT WAS AWFUL. IT WAS BEING RUN BY “FINANCIAL ENGINEERS.” THESE PEOPLE WHO DID NOT UNDERSTAND THE GUTS OF THE BUSINESS-OPERATIONS, DISTRIBUTION, DEALERSHIPS, PRODUCT. THEY KNEW HOW TO MANIPULATE FINANCIALS, BUT THEY DIDN’T KNOW HOW TO RUN A CAR BUSINESS, AND THEY WERE RUINING IT.”
The entrepreneurial spirit is addressed as well as the large billion dollar companies. As an entrepreneur myself I have a saying that I’ve lived by for the last twenty-six years: “EVERY MORNING I WAKE UP ON A TIGHT ROPE WITH NO SAFETY NET… IF I DON’T MAKE A SALE… I DON’T GET A PAYCHECK!” And the author so eloquently says: “IT IS NOT THE DREAM OF GREAT WEALTH AS MUCH AS THE DESIRE TO DIRECT ONE’S OWN DESTINY THAT DRIVES THE ENTREPRENEUR.”
There are some classic bullet quotes that a potential reader can latch on to that might motivate them through another day such as:
“BE THE “FIRST TO MARKET” AND YOU’LL DISCOURAGE OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE SAME IDEA” (Bill Rasmussen – ESPN)
“TELL THE TRUTH. YOUR REPUTATION, LIKE A SHADOW, SOMETIMES PRECEDES YOU AND SOMETIMES FOLLOWS YOU-BUT THERE IT IS.” (Richard Mahoney-Monsanto)
“THE WORST THING YOU CAN DO IS EMPOWER INCOMPETENT PEOPLE.” (Richard Mahoney-Monsanto)
“IF YOU CAN’T COMMUNICATE AN IDEA, YOU DON’T HAVE ONE.” (Richard Mahoney-Monsanto)
“POLICY IS WHAT YOU DO, NOT WHAT YOU SAY.” (Richard Mahoney-Monsanto)
“DEVELOP A “THOU SHALT” CODE OF ETHICS, AS OPPOSED TO A NEGATIVE “THOUGH SHALT NOT” CODE.” (Sanford N. McDonnell-McDonnell Douglas)
This one is oh so simple and common sense… but I bet everyone reading this review knows of a company that “doesn’t” religiously follow this mantra.
“1. ALWAYS TELL THE TRUTH.”
“2. IF YOU DON’T SHIP SOMETHING, CALL YOUR CUSTOMER AND TELL THEM WHY YOU DIDN’T SHIP IT.”
“3. IF THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG, FIX IT QUICKLY.” (1-3 above Frank Jacobs-Jacobs Int’l/Falcon Products)
There are countless others, but before you think that this book is nothing but “sunshine”… I feel the author’s summary that follows crystallizes the true essence of this book.
“IN MY VIEW, A DEFINING MOMENT IS THE DECISION OR ACTION A PERSON TAKES THAT HAS THE GREATEST IMPACT ON HIS OR HER CAREER. IT’S A MOMENT THAT SHAPES US AS INDIVIDUALS AND AS BUSINESS PEOPLE AND SET THE TRAJECTORY FOR THE EVENTS THAT FOLLOW. IT DOESN’T NECESSARILY HAVE A POSITIVE SHORT-TERM OUTCOME. SOMETIMES OUR MOST SIGNIFICANT LEARNING EXPERIENCES COME FROM OUR FAILURES, NOT OUR SUCCESSES.”
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The author Harlan Steinbaum, a successful businessman himself, knows of what he speaks when he provides the keys to the tough decisions that thirty-nine successful business leaders had to *face*… as well as make… in this book that can’t help but motivate would be leaders. These short (in most cases a couple of pages) direct narratives from individuals that range from Sanford N. McDonnell of McDonnell Douglas (a company that I enjoyed success with in the past.) to Bill Rasmussen who founded ESPN… to Tadataka Yamada, who heads up the *Program of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation*… to the infamous Monty Hall, of *LET’S MAKE A DEAL* fame. That’s quite a stretch from military and commercial aircraft and computers (my bailiwick)… to twenty-four-seven-sports-television… to one of the world’s largest philanthropic organizations… to zany TV game shows… and everything in between. The beauty of this book is that these successful men and women aren’t preaching braggadocio and look how great I am. Instead they are telling the toughest decisions they made that shaped their business life… their companies… and the thousands of people that their decision effected. Surprisingly… and refreshingly… these icons of business are just as anxious to tell you about the wrong decisions they made also. Some purchased the wrong companies… some put the wrong people in key management positions. Some realized that they themselves were the problem. One common thread that seemed to link them all was their empathy to the people that worked for them. When McDonnell Douglas had to make a decision to eventually lay off sixty-thousand-employees… the sadness for the individuals is clearly etched in Mr. McDonnell’s words.
If you’re a competitive, motivated individual, this is the kind of book that will have you underlining and highlighting numerous quotes. Some of the quotes will make you squirm because you’re either currently involved in an organization that is described by the mistakes stated herein… or used to be. Such as a quote from Gerald Greenwald who along with Lee Iacocca spearheaded the now historical Chrysler turnaround that was engineered by the then unheard of *GUARANTEED* government loans. “CHRYSLER WAS IN TERRIBLE SHAPE. IT WAS AWFUL. IT WAS BEING RUN BY “FINANCIAL ENGINEERS.” THESE PEOPLE WHO DID NOT UNDERSTAND THE GUTS OF THE BUSINESS-OPERATIONS, DISTRIBUTION, DEALERSHIPS, PRODUCT. THEY KNEW HOW TO MANIPULATE FINANCIALS, BUT THEY DIDN’T KNOW HOW TO RUN A CAR BUSINESS, AND THEY WERE RUINING IT.”
The entrepreneurial spirit is addressed as well as the large billion dollar companies. As an entrepreneur myself I have a saying that I’ve lived by for the last twenty-six years: “EVERY MORNING I WAKE UP ON A TIGHT ROPE WITH NO SAFETY NET… IF I DON’T MAKE A SALE… I DON’T GET A PAYCHECK!” And the author so eloquently says: “IT IS NOT THE DREAM OF GREAT WEALTH AS MUCH AS THE DESIRE TO DIRECT ONE’S OWN DESTINY THAT DRIVES THE ENTREPRENEUR.”
There are some classic bullet quotes that a potential reader can latch on to that might motivate them through another day such as:
“BE THE “FIRST TO MARKET” AND YOU’LL DISCOURAGE OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE SAME IDEA” (Bill Rasmussen – ESPN)
“TELL THE TRUTH. YOUR REPUTATION, LIKE A SHADOW, SOMETIMES PRECEDES YOU AND SOMETIMES FOLLOWS YOU-BUT THERE IT IS.” (Richard Mahoney-Monsanto)
“THE WORST THING YOU CAN DO IS EMPOWER INCOMPETENT PEOPLE.” (Richard Mahoney-Monsanto)
“IF YOU CAN’T COMMUNICATE AN IDEA, YOU DON’T HAVE ONE.” (Richard Mahoney-Monsanto)
“POLICY IS WHAT YOU DO, NOT WHAT YOU SAY.” (Richard Mahoney-Monsanto)
“DEVELOP A “THOU SHALT” CODE OF ETHICS, AS OPPOSED TO A NEGATIVE “THOUGH SHALT NOT” CODE.” (Sanford N. McDonnell-McDonnell Douglas)
This one is oh so simple and common sense… but I bet everyone reading this review knows of a company that “doesn’t” religiously follow this mantra.
“1. ALWAYS TELL THE TRUTH.”
“2. IF YOU DON’T SHIP SOMETHING, CALL YOUR CUSTOMER AND TELL THEM WHY YOU DIDN’T SHIP IT.”
“3. IF THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG, FIX IT QUICKLY.” (1-3 above Frank Jacobs-Jacobs Int’l/Falcon Products)
There are countless others, but before you think that this book is nothing but “sunshine”… I feel the author’s summary that follows crystallizes the true essence of this book.
“IN MY VIEW, A DEFINING MOMENT IS THE DECISION OR ACTION A PERSON TAKES THAT HAS THE GREATEST IMPACT ON HIS OR HER CAREER. IT’S A MOMENT THAT SHAPES US AS INDIVIDUALS AND AS BUSINESS PEOPLE AND SET THE TRAJECTORY FOR THE EVENTS THAT FOLLOW. IT DOESN’T NECESSARILY HAVE A POSITIVE SHORT-TERM OUTCOME. SOMETIMES OUR MOST SIGNIFICANT LEARNING EXPERIENCES COME FROM OUR FAILURES, NOT OUR SUCCESSES.”
October 19, 2019
A good read for business students. A light read for someone who wants to pass time. My favorite part of the book is the executive advice and wisdom, other than that, it's pretty basic stuffs.
January 28, 2015
When I ordered the book, I thought it would be about tough ethical challenges in the workplace. I should have read the inside flap of the book cover better.
Making the decision to change jobs is the “tough call.” There's not much insight about how a leader should operate once he or she has attained the corner office (or a new corner office).
The advice is generally good – a broadly based education coupled with an ability to engage in self-reflection prepares a person to take on new challenges. Unfortunately, the focus on the change becomes the theme without much variety.
Each section of the book is introduced by a 1-2 page intro. This may be the most valuable take-away from the book. The stories the executives often provide need a rigorous editing. Steinbaum’s organizing plan – the various stages of a career -- provides some value for the reader. Too few women get to tell their stories in the book.
Because the book is about change, it may be of value to would-be leaders who want to take the next step.
Making the decision to change jobs is the “tough call.” There's not much insight about how a leader should operate once he or she has attained the corner office (or a new corner office).
The advice is generally good – a broadly based education coupled with an ability to engage in self-reflection prepares a person to take on new challenges. Unfortunately, the focus on the change becomes the theme without much variety.
Each section of the book is introduced by a 1-2 page intro. This may be the most valuable take-away from the book. The stories the executives often provide need a rigorous editing. Steinbaum’s organizing plan – the various stages of a career -- provides some value for the reader. Too few women get to tell their stories in the book.
Because the book is about change, it may be of value to would-be leaders who want to take the next step.
December 28, 2014
The book is OK but not something I will go back to. It is always nice to have a different perspective what being executive means and what path can lead to "the corner office".
The interviews show that there is not just one best approach but that you need to find something which fits your personality, your own goals, and current situation.
Some of these interviews were thoughtful, some rather superficial.
Integrity, honesty, ethics showed up in several interviews in this book and these are very important traits of good executive. I just wish they are more common...
The interviews show that there is not just one best approach but that you need to find something which fits your personality, your own goals, and current situation.
Some of these interviews were thoughtful, some rather superficial.
Integrity, honesty, ethics showed up in several interviews in this book and these are very important traits of good executive. I just wish they are more common...
August 17, 2011
I always find it useful to get the perspective of leaders in various situations and this particular book was interesting because it was a collection of stories from different leaders but was written/put together by another leader who added his viewpoint on top of all of it. I wrote about this book (sort of) here:
http://www.vanessafox.com/gender-and-...
http://www.vanessafox.com/gender-and-...
March 29, 2013
A should-read book on executive ability in managing your career.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews