U.S. Comptroller General Asks MPAs to Do Better than Satisfactory
by Kate McCann
According to Paul Anderson, the CEO of Duke Energy, “Life is
either an exciting adventure or nothing at all.” Speaking at the
McCombs School of Business Feb. 8 as part of the VIP
Distinguished Speaker Series, Anderson said that he gained
several important things from business school, such as
confidence.
The rest, though, he learned along the way. In his remarks,
Anderson shared life lessons about personal development and
career success with nearly 500 undergraduates.
For one thing, said Anderson, employees must be sure to deliver
the results they promise. “In the world of business, there are
two things: results and reasons,” he said. “Only your mother
cares about reasons.”
“Know your limitations,” Anderson continued, “but don’t let
those limitations limit you.” Nobody is going to take you by the
hand and be consistently interested in your career, he added, so
it is up to you to make your way, being ethical, being polite,
and using correct grammar and spelling.
There is a clear distinction between authority and
responsibility, and it is best to seek responsibility in the
workplace. The authority will follow, said Anderson. He
instructed students to make the most of their job, no matter how
bad it may seem.
In a pithy moment, Anderson noted that people should “marry well
or marry often,” and discussed the importance of marrying a
person with whom you may share your personal and professional
lives.
Anderson told a personal anecdote about accepting a job as CEO
of BHP Billiton and moving to Australia to help a struggling
company turn itself around. Through this experience, Anderson
said, he learned the importance of communicating effectively.
“People know the answers,” he said. “You only have to let them
out.”
People should attack every task with passion, said Anderson, and
not be seduced by power. As Duke Energy continues to improve, it
is clear that Paul Anderson lives by his own words.
For information on specific programs at the McCombs School, consult our contacts page. For media information, contact the Communications Director by phone at 512-471-3314 or by email at CommunicationsDirector@mccombs.utexas.edu.
