My goal in coming to General Motors was to help restore profitability, build a strong market position and position this iconic company for success. We are clearly on that path. Edward Whitacre, Jr. Read Quote
When I went into GM there was a lack of morale. The company had gone bankrupt and the people who worked there were embarrassed. Underneath all of, though, there was a will to show what they were capable of, but nobody knew exactly what to do. Edward Whitacre, Jr. Read Quote
When I got to GM they were using a matrix method of management which means everybody has more than one boss. I first heard about that system many years ago. It’s supposed to help with collaboration, but my assessment is that it’s pretty hard to get geared for action that way. Edward Whitacre, Jr. Read Quote
I started at GM knowing very little about that particular business. Not being an expert means you have to learn everything, starting from the basics. Edward Whitacre, Jr. Read Quote
Find your passion is in life, and do what you can to integrate that into your work life. That’s not to say you won’t have occasional frustrations in your job – that just goes with the territory – but at least you’ll feel better inside, and that, over time, will mean more to you than you might think. Edward Whitacre, Jr. Read Quote
None of us has control over the economy, the job market, or anything else in the global sense. But we are 100% in charge of how we respond to challenges that come our way, be it the loss of a job, a career derailment, or some other disappointment. Edward Whitacre, Jr. Read Quote
At AT&T, I learned an awful lot about people, and how important it is to have the right people in the right jobs. And when I say ‘right people,’ I’m not talking about their college degree or work history; I’m talking about things like bearing – How does this person interact with other people? Can he or she talk to you and not tick you off? Edward Whitacre, Jr. Read Quote
I find people to be people everywhere. Everyone wants the same thing – be successful. Edward Whitacre, Jr. Read Quote
So long as TARP money is wrapped up in GM, the company will never shake its ‘Government Motors’ image. That label, as competitors and GM employees are keenly aware, is code for one thing: ‘GM is a failure.’ Edward Whitacre, Jr. Read Quote
TARP is funded by taxpayers, so there are many rules about how that money can and can’t be used. The result: GM spends an awful lot of time checking in with the people who administer TARP over everything from hiring to executive compensation and management. For a global company, that adds up to a lot of distraction. Edward Whitacre, Jr. Read Quote
