I’ve been recently reading Bill George‘s book “Authentic Leadership.” In chapter 12, “Innovations from the Heart, he titles one subection “Passion Begets Innovation.” He recommends that leaders committed to innovation must work hard to not dampen innovation with bureaucracy, but rather give “preference to the mavericks and the innovators” and protect “new business ventures while they are in the fragile, formative stage.”

Last night, I had dinner with one such maverick, my good friend Terry Gardner, who is a brilliant technologist and passionate advocate of innovation. Terry begged me, “Let me spend more time in front of customers. Sun has been such an innovative company. Let me get out there and tell our story. We’re passionate about this, you know.”

Terry didn’t know I had been reading the book. He was just being Terry. Passionate Terry. And I appreciate that.

Yes. He will be with a customer tomorrow!

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