My message to Washington is the United States has gone through incredible crises, and our leaders have been able to find common ground. And that's what our leaders have to do. Kenneth Chenault More Quotes by Kenneth Chenault More Quotes From Kenneth Chenault For me, integrity is the consistency of words and actions. Part of the way that you do that is to ask people questions on some of the most difficult issues that you confront. 'Take me through where you felt you had to compromise your values.' Kenneth Chenault me you integrity people Many people don't focus enough on execution. If you make a commitment to get something done, you need to follow through on that commitment. Kenneth Chenault you focus people commitment For me, one of the lessons from 9/11 is that you have to give the organization context for how you're acting, and you've got to communicate constantly, in this case particularly with all the changes that were occurring in the financial marketplace and in the economy. Kenneth Chenault changes me you organization Harvard Law provided an opportunity to learn from a faculty that had shaped the laws of our country and helped to change the world around us. It also offered an opportunity to study with the brightest students and to test myself against the best. Kenneth Chenault best myself change opportunity There are clearly some policies that need to change, and the reputation of the credit card industry is not high. Reforms need to take place. Kenneth Chenault high place reputation change My message to Washington is very simple. Face reality. Be leaders. Demonstrate accountability. Engage in principle compromise. And understand your job is to find solutions. Kenneth Chenault face job simple reality I think what's important to understand is if the United States hits the debt ceiling and is unable to pay its debts, the consequences will be immediate and dramatic. Kenneth Chenault will understand think important What's increasingly clear is that when you are open to a discussion of leadership, and you're relating it to your company, it is much easier to get people to become open. Kenneth Chenault your you leadership people Regular feedback is one of the hardest things to drive through an organization. Kenneth Chenault drive things feedback organization I say this all the time: Everyone can make a conscious choice to be a leader. Kenneth Chenault say choice leader time Companies will need to pursue a more diversified business model, but I think those companies that have what I call a focused diversified business model will be more successful. Kenneth Chenault will think focused business For a number of major companies, if you can't access the commercial markets, you can't fund your business. That's a big problem. You can't pay your bills. Kenneth Chenault your you problem business I was attracted to law school because I believed it would help me prepare for a career in the real world. Kenneth Chenault me law world school My plans were to practice law and then possibly go into public service. Kenneth Chenault service public-service practice law I moved back to Boston and joined some of my Harvard classmates at Bain & Co. I quickly realized I enjoyed business. Kenneth Chenault some back classmates business You've got to develop relationships. You can't do things just in a formal context. Kenneth Chenault relationships just things you I had very little exposure to business growing up. I also was very focused on the Civil Rights Movement. And I saw law as a vehicle to really bring about substantial change. Kenneth Chenault focused business change law I've always tried to seek out environments with excitement. Kenneth Chenault seek tried always excitement Small businesses create half of the jobs in the private sector. Kenneth Chenault private create small half If people support independently owned small businesses in their community, they can make a difference. Kenneth Chenault small support community people
