"It is one thing to search for truth in the ivory tower and quite another to take those lessons, however wrenching, and apply them to a living, breathing business like Intel. Grove's most powerful lessons have been in the doing."
This comment was made by Grove's biographer, Richard S. Tedlow, when being interviewed about "Andy Grove: The Life and Times of an American," which he wrote while collaborating with Grove.
The particular segment of the interview was talking about Grove being a great teacher and student of business.
Tedlow's insight is invaluble in today's world of cheap information and everybody thinking they're an "expert," simply based on the fact they can at little or no cost put their thoughts up on the Internet, and eventually get a hearing from a number of sources or people.
That's why we do have to be careful of the sources of information we access. It's one thing to spew forth unproven theories and ideas, with no clue to if they can really work in the real business world. It's quite another to tap into a vast reservoir of experience and practical business learning, and put that for people to access and draw from.
The basic point is to beware of ivory towers, and not just the obvious ones. Many people speak from their own ivory towers today, thinking because they can speak, they have something worthwhile to say.
For us in business, practical experience and application is a far better teacher than someone issuing their "wisdom" from their perch of theory.
In the end, look for those who have practical experience in business, and adapt their insights into what you're trying to do. Forget the wannabees, your business success is too important to get involved in a lot of their silly experiments.
Once you get to a solid financial place for your business, from there you can try out some more radical experiments from a position of strength. To do it when you're walking on the edge of a financial razor is a very quick way to fail.
Other Andy Grove Resources:
Andy Grove's Rational Exuberance
The Digital Age . . . driven by the passion of Intel's Andrew Grove
The History and Influence of Andy Grove
Andy Grove enters new post-Intel role as activist capitalist
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