No Vietnam Surprises Allowed

“On management style: “Well, I’m no laissez-faire, let- me-know-how-things-are-in-six-months kind of guy. I want to know what’s going on. I don’t want some proud guy to get into his own Vietnam and suddenly hand me his res- ignation. Hell, his resignation couldn’t bring back the ten million dollars he’d lose.”’ On work: “Sure, a lot of guys bitch around here about the long meetings, detailed reports, and hard work. But no one complains anymore about the crazy decisions that come out of New York headquarters.””

“guys have to find the genuine snapping turtle from the general turtle population. I want their reports to specifi- cally, directly, and bluntly state the facts. Not high-flung rhetoric. Just facts. Reports that include action recom- mendations, a summary of the problems, reasons why the recommendations are being made and the specific position of the manager preparing the report. We allow no bull or evasion.” On monopoly: “If we are to compete overseas, we can’t be hamstrung at home. We will resist any attempt to deprive us of our proper rights. It is clear that whatever the guise, by imaginary and legal means, what we are experi- encing are direct attacks on bigness as such.””