1. Distilling the Wisdom of CEOs * Distilling the Wisdom of C.E.Os, Adam Bryant, The New York Times, April 16, 2011.

2. Great CEOs Have 1. Passionate curiosity – They ask big questions – Students of human nature – Learn from everybody – Challenge orthodoxy

3. 2. Battle-hardened confidence – Know how to deal with adversity with confidence – Best predictor of behavior is past performance – how they dealt with failure (ask this question in an interview) – Takes ownership of challenges – Work ethic forged in adversity – Internal locus of control – believe they can shape events based on what they can control.

4. 3. Team smarts – Understand how teams work and how to get most out of teams – Understand reliability, not talent, is key. – Understand ad hoc teams and how organize around a common goal – Understand whats best for team, for organization, not for themselves (unselfish)

5. 4. A simple mind set – Are concise, get to the point, and make it simple -- and expect others do the same. No lengthy PowerPoints – Know how to summarize, know whats really important --- the essence of a problem. – Simplify, eliminate complexity

6. 5. Fearlessness – Comfortable being uncomfortable – no road map or compass. – Constantly challenge the status quo with calculated and informed risk taking. – If things arent broken, break them. – An appetite for change