Page 41 - How to Create a Winning Organization

The Pyramid of Success
Enthusiasm comes from within and is expressed in different 23
ways. It is not necessarily jumping up and down and making a lot
of noise. My high school coach, Glenn Curtis, was very demon-
strative in expressing his Enthusiasm. Ward “Piggy” Lambert, my
great coach at Purdue, had a very controlled, intense manner. Both
men, however, had genuine enthusiasm, and those they supervised
were the beneficiaries of this excitement for the game.
When they are joined together, Industriousness and Enthusiasm
become the driving force, the engine that powers all subsequent
blocks of the Pyramid. To my knowledge, the most effective lead-
ers have these qualities in full measure. Take Jack Welch, for ex-
ample, the former CEO of General Electric and the man declared
“Manager of the Century” by Fortune magazine. Mr. Welch trans-
formed the century-old corporation into one of the biggest and
most valuable in the world. Importantly, Enthusiasm was at the
center of the leadership assets he possessed. Jack Welch loved his
job—not liked it, loved it. His Enthusiasm was infectious, and it
ignited the spirit and Enthusiasm of those he worked with.
I tried to have the same effect on the people I led.
These two qualities, Industriousness and Enthusiasm, were se-
lected soon after I had chosen the Pyramid structure as my teach-

INDUSTRIOUSNESS AND ENTHUSIASM ARE
THE TWIN CORNERSTONES OF SUCCESS

Each of the foundation’s cornerstones, by itself, is a force of
considerable magnitude. Combined, Industriousness and En-
thusiasm create an irreplaceable component of great leader-
ship. Hard work and enthusiasm are contagious. A leader who
exhibits them will find the organization does too.