McCaw Cellular

"This represented a pivotal time for Craig McCaw both as a person and as a businessman. The sale of his company had triggered a profound self-reassessment. Without McCaw Cellular commanding his attention, he was now forced to see what remained in his life. The man who built back doors into every business deal had formed no strategy for life after McCaw Cellular. So now, thinking it over, he decided to reinvent himself. A tycoon who already spent a considerable amount of time away from his busi- nesses decided he wanted—more freedom. McCaw decided to recast himself. He would shed some old habits even his black-caterpillar mustache of many years would get the razor and inject himself only where his presence was truly critical. He would skip board meetings of his own companies and monitor his deputies"

"largely disappeared from press coverage. More amazingly, McCaw largely disappeared from Nextel itself. Hardly anyone inside Nextel ever saw him. Tim Donahue, Nextel's number two, said, "I talk to him rarely." When they did talk, McCaw's advice was simple—the same message he had delivered at McCaw Cellular—move fast, but don't skimp on quality. Beyond that, he refused to talk about details. "Report- ing to him is like reporting to the wall," Donahue said. "You tell him you want to do something and he says, 'Well, okay.' " A little weird? Yes—and it worked."