Joseph J. Grano - You Cant Predict a Hero

Table of Contents

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.

THEODORE ROOSEVELT

By Lee Iacocca

I never thought Id say this, but there are days when I despair of our countrys future.

Im 82 years old and Ive seen what America can do. Ive seen us overcome the Great Depression and emerge victorious in World War II. Ive seen us send men to the moon and return them safely home again. From the private sector Ive worked with governments to deal with the oil crisis of the 1970s and to turn around one of Americas great companies. How did we do it? With leadership, both from the private sector and our elected leaders. And with an active, informed population, engaged and discerning about their personal and electoral choices.

In recent years, however, theres been a lack of leadership in business and politics, and a lack of involvement and wisdom among our citizens. Our government often seems run by incompetents, ideologues, and naysayers. Our corporations appear to be run largely by selfish elitists concerned more with the health of their own wallets than the health of their companies. And our fellow citizens look to be more concerned with appearance than substance.

Meanwhile, were more dependent on foreign oil than ever, our deficits continue to soar, entitlement reform goes unaddressed, our health care crisis explodes, our trade deficit grows wider, our competitive edge in the marketplace vanishes, and our middle classthe great engine of national prosperityslowly dies. Thats why I asked, in my recent book, Where Have All the Leaders Gone?

Well, one of them can be found right here in the pages of this book. Joe Grano epitomizes what I call the nine Cs of leadership: curiosity, creativity, communication skills, character, courage, conviction, charisma, competence, and common sense.

His current work with Centurion Holdings shows his ongoing curiosity. His creativity is evident in the way he has always reached beyond the conventional wisdom to solve problems. Joes communication skills are unparalleled, as anyone who has ever heard him speak can attest to. Everyone who has ever worked with him can attest to his character. As for courage, the scars he still bears are all the proof you need. His conviction has been clear every time he has stood up for doing what is right, regardless of the cost. Joes charisma is obvious when you watch as he inspires college students in giant lecture halls and fellow CEOs around conference tables. As for competence, this is a man who turned around a troubled Wall Street firm in a year, and then set it on the right future course. And theres no one who brings a more common sense approach to problem solving than Joe, as youll read in his suggestions for how we, as a nation, can address the current and looming crises we face.

Joe Grano is the kind of leader we sorely miss, both on Wall Street and in government. I share with him the hope that the story he tells in these pages helps inspire a new generation of national leaders to pick up the torch.

By its very nature, a book on leadership takes a myopic view of the world. Individual leadership is obviously crucial, particularly in a crisis. But it is never the only part of the story. A great leader can motivate employees to overcome adversity, inspire soldiers to brave fire and take a hill, or rouse a populace to make personal sacrifices for a greater common cause. Yet without the best efforts of those motivated employees, inspired soldiers, and aroused citizens, the crisis will turn into catastrophe.

Simply put, Im a successful businessman who grew up working class and climbed the economic ladder on the strength of hard work, street smarts, leadership skills, and, to be immodest, character. While I am not a complete unknown, particularly among Wall Streeters, mine is certainly not a household name. The average man or woman on the street is not clamoring to hear what Joe Grano has to say.

Yet by virtue of when I was born and came of age in this country, I have served at the front lines of some of the major turning points in our nations historythe crises, moments of harrowing struggle, and extraordinary success that our country and economy have gone through over the past forty years. While many books offer theories on leadership and ruminations on ideologies, I share with you the experience of what it means to lead at a time of crisiswhen the stakes are human life, our countrys freedom, peoples life savings and livelihoods, and your own character. In the process, I hope that I help you become as good a business leader as you can be, enabling you to survive, and perhaps even thrive, in difficult circumstances.

My experience is hard won, and in many cases a baptism by fire, whether turning a demoralized rifle company into the most effective combat unit in Vietnam, piloting a venerable but declining Wall Street firm through stock market crashes to emerge more profitable than ever before, or helping my industry and my country weather the terrorist attacks of 9/11. I have led others through moments of great physical, psychological, and economic struggle, and through a unique vantage point, I have seen our worlds leaders and what enables them to weather and triumph in times of crisis.

Leading others through both success and adversity can take an enormous personal toll in terms of health and relationships with loved ones, as Ive witnessed personally. But with this belief in a greater good, a moral responsibility to do right by others, and a strength to make hard decisions and stick by them, anything is possible.

The leaders I most admire have never been those you see on the front pages or on the evening news but rather those I call the quiet heroes who, far from the spotlights, motivate, teach, inspire, and that is lead.

Joe Grano has done thatin war, in the boardroom, and with his family and friends. He tells his story as a great leader shouldhumbly, and with an eye to teaching readers how they can benefit from his experiences.