Success

I was asked today to share some thoughts on what it takes to be successful at GE.  (I don't think this is specific to GE, by the way.)  Here were the three core ideas:

• Be curious
  Curious people are happier, learn more, and have a broader network than their non-curious peers.

• See constraints as liberating
  Whining or suffering silently under constraints is a dead end.  People who try to design a system at 1/10th of the typical cost develop breakthroughs.  People who re-create when faced with a budget cut are more successful than those who just reduce their activities in line with the cut amount.

• Have the confidence to be taught
  If you're learning, you'll be more effective and more influential.  But learning requires the humility to admit an area of ignorance or weakness.  Humility and influence are intimately linked.

Of course, it doesn't hurt to do what your boss asks you to do along the way!

;-)