How Must A CEO Think?
Businessworld|May 26, 2018

Here’s a hint: it’s all within the ‘mindset of achievement'

Clifford Alvares
How Must A CEO Think?

IF A CEO’S ROLE WERE THAT SIMPLE, ANYONE WITH a net connection and a computer could have become a Jeff Bezos. This is, of course, not one of the best opening sentences ever written, but you got to give it to Bezos for being one of the most striking and charismatic CEOs ever seen.

“The truth is that I’ve watched Amazon from the start and I think what Jeff Bezos has done is something close to a miracle, and the problem is if I think something is going to be a miracle I tend not to bet on it,” Warren Buffett said of Jeff Bezos at the recent Berkshire Hathaway annual meet in Omaha.

But is it really a miracle? While Amazon’s amazing growth may seem like a miracle, Bezos has worked relentlessly to pull through what appears like surreal growth. Amazon was founded in 1994 and its market value is now $766 billion, making Bezos the first billionaire passing the $100-billion club. But Amazon went through its toughest phase in the early 2000s as the company almost went bankrupt. Bezos took a series of tough decisions, laid off 14 percent of Amazon staff, and rebounded to $400 million in profitability in 2003. Since then, there has been no looking back as Amazon added more and more segments, Kindle, and cloud-computing services.

Truth is, most CEOs are faced with such decisions. Many witness at least one major blowup that ends a career or proves extremely costly for the business. The job of a CEO is not easy. You might have done great in the interview with the board, but that might not prove useful in the long run. A CEO may show high performance through the interview, but that won’t help him/her in surviving the role.

So what are the key traits that sets great CEOs apart?

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM BUSINESSWORLDView all
MEMORIES & IMPRESSIONS
BW Businessworld

MEMORIES & IMPRESSIONS

Ratan Tata was an exceptional human being. He was a visionary leader, esteemed industrialist, and a humanitarian, who left an indelible mark on India and the world.

time-read
3 mins  |
October 19, 2024
The Robotaxi Market
BW Businessworld

The Robotaxi Market

The robotaxi market is shaping up to be a high-stakes battleground as tech giants and automakers race to transform urban mobility.

time-read
1 min  |
October 19, 2024
And the Nobel Prize Goes to AI
BW Businessworld

And the Nobel Prize Goes to AI

The recent Nobel Prize T awards to AI pioneers affiliated with Google have sparked a broader conversation about Big Tech's influence on research and the limitations of traditional prize categories.

time-read
1 min  |
October 19, 2024
Ola Electrified
BW Businessworld

Ola Electrified

Once considered a trailblazer in India’s electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem, Bhavish Aggarwal’s Ola Electric now faces a major accountability crisis.

time-read
1 min  |
October 19, 2024
Sharp Slide in Industrial Output on Eve of Deepavali
BW Businessworld

Sharp Slide in Industrial Output on Eve of Deepavali

India’s index of industrial production (IIP) saw a sharp reversal in August, contracting by 0.1 per cent, in stark contrast to the 4.7 per cent growth in July, mostly because of significant contractions in mining and electricity generation.

time-read
1 min  |
October 19, 2024
Heralding the Solar Era with Sustainable Electrification
BW Businessworld

Heralding the Solar Era with Sustainable Electrification

RAJEEV KASHYAP on the economics of solar power, the hurdles in scaling it, and much more

time-read
2 mins  |
October 19, 2024
A WELL-GREASED MACHINE
BW Businessworld

A WELL-GREASED MACHINE

The OmniBook X14 laptop runs on first-generation Snapdragon X Elite, which bets big on Al-enabled productivity and battery life, but falls short when it comes to overall experience, says Deep Majumdar

time-read
4 mins  |
October 19, 2024
DO NOT LETA HEALTH CRISIS RUIN YOUR FINANCIAL HEALTH
BW Businessworld

DO NOT LETA HEALTH CRISIS RUIN YOUR FINANCIAL HEALTH

For a family of four living in a metro, it is recommended to opt for a family floater health insurance plan with a sum insured of at least Rs 15-20 lakh

time-read
7 mins  |
October 19, 2024
Disruption Ahead: Beyond Organisation Charts and Structures
BW Businessworld

Disruption Ahead: Beyond Organisation Charts and Structures

ALBERT EINSTEIN FAMOUSLY said, “We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.

time-read
3 mins  |
October 19, 2024
Dr. Rahul Shivajirao Kadam: A Visionary Leader Blending Sustainability, Innovation, And Social Empowerment
BW Businessworld

Dr. Rahul Shivajirao Kadam: A Visionary Leader Blending Sustainability, Innovation, And Social Empowerment

We are on the stage of global warming, and these technologies not only help prevent further damage but also leave behind a better environment for future generations.

time-read
2 mins  |
October 19, 2024