Today Suzy Welch is a sought-after management consultant, speaker and coauthor with her husband, retired GE CEO Jack Welch, of a business bestseller and weekly business column. But 13 years ago, the journalist turned MBA turned Harvard Business Review editor was juggling a demanding job, four kids and a first marriage headed for divorce. She hit bottom on an especially disastrous business trip, from which blossomed a formula for making critical decisions she used to turn around her life and career.
In the ensuing years, Welch divorced and later began a much publicized relationship with Jack Welch that led to their 2004 marriage and current writing partnership. During the same time, she started sharing her decision-making formula, which is based on considering the immediate, near future and long-term consequences of decisions, something she shortened to 10 minutes, 10 months, 10 years, or “10-10-10.” After writing and lecturing about the process, Welch chronicles it in her new book, 10-10-10: 10 Minutes, 10 Months, 10 Years, A Life-Transforming Idea.
I interviewed Welch recently for this Q&A on making career and life decisions that’s just been posted on CBS’ new personal finance and career Website, MoneyWatch.com.
Michelle, kudos on landing this interview! I saw her book today at a B & N and thought of you. It sounds like an interesting concept, so I may have to buy the book (they’ve gotten so expensive I rarely make an impulse purchase these days).