Peter E. Greulich's Blog for Short Thoughts, Insights and Witticisms

George M. Verity: "Success and Character"

7/18/2022

"Success is the greatest test of character.

Picture of George M. Verity from May 1926: Public Domain.

"Some can stand very little success, others a great deal, but the history of the lives and accomplishments of men give much evidence to prove that almost every man has a limit to the degree of success that he can attain without losing control of one or more of the factors or powers that have made him successful.

"The world needs men who can stand success and who, when they have found it, will use it in the interest of mankind."

George M. Verity on "Success and Character"

Select the link below or the image above to read the entire article.

George M. Verity: Success and Character

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IBM Wild Ducks: The Royal Dissenter

7/11/2022

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Mr. Buck Rodgers, an amazing IBM executive marketing manager, defined the type of Wild Duck that was known within IBM as a "Royal Dissenter."

After years of study and experience around Wild Ducks, I often wonder: What is harder:

(1) Being a Wild Duck when the executives around you don't believe in outspoken individuals?

(2) Maintaining that internal "something," no matter the conditions, that keeps an individual outspoken?

For me it is the latter.

I do believe, though, that IBMers of the 20th Century had an easier time being a wild duck than today's employees. Why? Because in a Watson Sr., Watson Jr., T. Vincent Learson, or Frank T. Cary administration, we knew the corner office had our backs.

Come hell or high water, they had our backs!

I think 21st Century Royal Dissenters at IBM would be wise to follow Kierkegaard's advice:

"If what the wild goose tried to do is to be commended in any way, then it must above all watch out for one thing--that it hold on to itself. As soon as it notices that the tame geese have any kind of power over it, then away, away in migratory flight."

In simple words: Find another company to work for! Fly away from the tame ducks—geese.

Read about Buck Rodgers "Royal Dissenters"

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Eisenhower: Old Thoughts but Forever Truths

7/1/2022

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"In our hatred of war—in our repudiation of rule by force which means enslavement—we still cannot forget those ennobling traits of human character which alone can carry men forward to victory, when war is thrust upon us. … Weakness cannot cooperate with anything.

"We have got to be strong."

Select to read the book review.

Words from John Gunther's "Eisenhower: The Man and the Symbol" describing our former President.

“Eisenhower is extremely deft at handling a group, almost any kind of group. His talent for conciliation, for welding a team, is one of his salient characteristics.”
“He sees other points of view. He is commendably quick to modify his own.”
“There is nothing static or cramped about Eisenhower. His attitude is always supple and aware.”
“He is open-minded and likes to take advice.

“People in lower echelons say, ‘If we can only get this issue to Ike, it will be all right.’ ”

It is this last quote that reminds me of IBM's Open Door policy from the 20th Century. It seems that we IBMers knew that if we could just get the information to one of the Watsons ... everything would be alright. Then again, so did first-line and middle management who made it a point to seriously consider all their actions in the area of human relations.

Select the icon below to read the full book review of John Gunther's "Eisenhower: The Man and the Symbol."

Review of John Gunther's Eisenhower

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George M. Verity: "Success and Character"

IBM Wild Ducks: The Royal Dissenter

Eisenhower: Old Thoughts but Forever Truths

Peter E. Greulich

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