The CEO Code

Introduction

HOW DO PEOPLE REALLY CHANGE?

It ain’t the roads we take; it’s what’s inside of us that makes us turn out the way we do.

—O. Henry

Frustration was in the air. Three executives and their driver were crammed into a small minivan. Stuck in heavy late afternoon traffic, they were going nowhere. Downtown Los Angeles is legendary for gridlock. Horns were blaring, and it was hot and stuffy in the van.

One of the executives, Andy, was the president of a major construction company. While Andy was riding shotgun, the other two executives sat in the back seat. The driver was doing his best but they were making no progress; the streets had turned into a parking lot. One of the executives in back checked his watch. “It’s quarter till, we’re going ...