#303: How to Do Crazy Good Turns -- Frank Blake
The Tim Ferriss Show
Jack New Trot - What's It All About?
The CEO of a major U.S. technology company was known for his ability to disagree with the boss and get things done. He would ask employees about their strengths and weaknesses, then find out why they were being let go or kept in certain positions. "He wasn't doing it on a kind of percentage. Tell me who youknow who lags and who's ahead," says co-founder Michael Dell.
Frank Blake (@frankblake) served as chairman and CEO of The Home Depot from January 2007 to May 2014, and then as chairman through January of 2015. He previously served as deputy secretary for the US Department of Energy. Prior to that, he served in a wide variety of executive roles at General Electric.
Frank's public sector experience includes having served as general counsel for the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), deputy counsel to Vice President George H.W. Bush, and law clerk to Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens.
Frank serves on the board of directors for the Georgia Aquarium, Proctor & Gamble, Macy's, and is currently serving as board chairman of Delta and Grady Memorial Hospital. He holds a bachelor's degree from Harvard University and a jurisprudence degree from Columbia University School of Law.
Frank also produces a short-form podcast called Crazy Good Turns, which tells inspiring stories about amazing people who do things for others. In this wide-ranging conversation, we discuss a book that inspired both of us, advice from Jack Welch, the art of customer service, "productive conflict," and much, much more. Enjoy!
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