--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As I looked across the company, there are…" description: "\"As I looked across the company, there are three things that keep coming up that we need to work on: culture, our operating rigor, and capital allocatio..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73b/john-l-flannery-17949_business_as-i-looked-across-the-company-there-are_737957.jpg" --- # As I looked across the company, there are three things… ![“As I looked across the company, there are three things that keep coming up that we need to work on: culture, our operating rigor, and capital allocation.” quote by John L. Flannery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73b/john-l-flannery-17949_business_as-i-looked-across-the-company-there-are_737957.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73b/john-l-flannery-17949_business_as-i-looked-across-the-company-there-are_737957.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73b/john-l-flannery-17949_business_as-i-looked-across-the-company-there-are_737957.jpg) > “As I looked across the company, there are three things that keep coming up that we need to work on: culture, our operating rigor, and capital allocation.” [John L. Flannery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-l-flannery/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker identifies three recurring issues in the company—culture, operational rigor, and capital allocation—that need attention. **In simple terms:** Three key problems: culture, rigor, capital. Key Takeaway Address these three areas to improve performance. Themes management strategy finance Mood analytical strategic Type business leadership When to use this quote - corporate restructuring - performance reviews - budget planning - leadership training Key Concepts organizational behavior resource management process improvement Questions to Reflect On - Which of these three is most urgent? - How can they be tackled simultaneously? A Different Perspective Focusing only on these may overlook other hidden challenges. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Company](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/company/) [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [“there’s a fine line between having a strong culture and operating like a cult. For”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-m-grant/there-s-a-fine-line-between-having-a-strong-culture-and-operating/) [Adam M. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-m-grant/) > [Culture is your operating system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/culture-is-your-operating-system/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [I've been in fortunate position of never really having to battle with my record company to do the things I wanted to do in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonny-lang/i-ve-been-in-fortunate-position-of-never-really-having-to-battle-with/) [Jonny Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonny-lang/) > [Most chief executives rise to that position by being good operating managers. Few have extensive experience or training with capital allocation. What CEO wants…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitney-tilson/most-chief-executives-rise-to-that-position-by-being-good-operating/) [Whitney Tilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whitney-tilson/) > [I have long believed the corporate world is plagued by poor capital allocation decisions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitney-tilson/i-have-long-believed-the-corporate-world-is-plagued-by-poor-capital/) [Whitney Tilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whitney-tilson/) > [I think as a company, if you can get two things right--having a clear direction on what you are trying to do and bringing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-zuckerberg/i-think-as-a-company-if-you-can-get-two-things-right-having-a-clear/) [Mark Zuckerberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-zuckerberg/) > [People should have values, so by extension, a company should. And one of the things you do is give back. So how do you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/people-should-have-values-so-by-extension-a-company-should-and-one-of/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [Accounting consequences do not influence our operating or capital-allocation decisions. When acquisition costs are similar, we much prefer to purchase $2 of earnings that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/accounting-consequences-do-not-influence-our-operating-or-capital/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [There is no secret to success except hard work and getting something indefinable which we call 'the breaks.' In order for a writer to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/countee-cullen/there-is-no-secret-to-success-except-hard-work-and-getting-something/) [Countee Cullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/countee-cullen/) > [“I’ve found it takes at least two and generally three things to alter the course of a life: You slip around the truth once,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-hamilton/i-ve-found-it-takes-at-least-two-and-generally-three-things-to-alter/) [Jane Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-hamilton/) > [The impossibility of separating the nomenclature of a science from the science itself, is owing to this, that every branch of physical science must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-lavoisier/the-impossibility-of-separating-the-nomenclature-of-a-science-from/) [Antoine Lavoisier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-lavoisier/) > [“We Will Let You Down: If We’re Close Enough to Help, We’re Close Enough to Hurt Bob Nobody wants to be the church that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-briggs-2/we-will-let-you-down-if-we-re-close-enough-to-help-we-re-close-enough/) J.R. Briggs > [My mother taught me three things, respect, knowledge-search for knowledge, it's an eternal journey. That's like my hair-cut, the line, 360 degrees, find knowledge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/my-mother-taught-me-three-things-respect-knowledge-search-for/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [I was having such a hard time when I made Sylvia. I gave everything I had for that role. It's one or two or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwyneth-paltrow/i-was-having-such-a-hard-time-when-i-made-sylvia-i-gave-everything-i/) [Gwyneth Paltrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwyneth-paltrow/) > [In my opinion, sexiness comes down to three things: chemistry, sense of humor, and treatment of waitstaff at restaurants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhoda-janzen/in-my-opinion-sexiness-comes-down-to-three-things-chemistry-sense-of/) [Rhoda Janzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhoda-janzen/) ## More by John L. Flannery > [We are growing both in the U.S. and in India, and all our business plans are made accordingly. So we are expanding both in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-l-flannery/we-are-growing-both-in-the-u-s-and-in-india-and-all-our-business/) [John L. Flannery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-l-flannery/) > [The thought process of India was more around its potential as a cost arbitrage. We always recognised the potential of India, but we were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-l-flannery/the-thought-process-of-india-was-more-around-its-potential-as-a-cost/) [John L. Flannery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-l-flannery/) > [First and foremost, localization is a customer strategy, it's not a cost arbitrage or whatever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-l-flannery/first-and-foremost-localization-is-a-customer-strategy-it-s-not-a/) [John L. Flannery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-l-flannery/) > [It's quite clear we've got strong franchises at the core of this company.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-l-flannery/it-s-quite-clear-we-ve-got-strong-franchises-at-the-core-of-this/) [John L. Flannery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-l-flannery/) > [I think, to many people in the company, I am somewhat of an outsider.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-l-flannery/i-think-to-many-people-in-the-company-i-am-somewhat-of-an-outsider/) [John L. Flannery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-l-flannery/) > [Our collaboration in building innovative technologies will support the Make in India vision of the Indian government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-l-flannery/our-collaboration-in-building-innovative-technologies-will-support/) [John L. Flannery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-l-flannery/) > [We've reinvented ourselves many, many, many times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-l-flannery/we-ve-reinvented-ourselves-many-many-many-times/) [John L. Flannery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-l-flannery/) > [In all our businesses, we are out to build local capability in four basic aspects - product line, manufacturing and supply chain, the service…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-l-flannery/in-all-our-businesses-we-are-out-to-build-local-capability-in-four/) [John L. Flannery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-l-flannery/) > [When a customer is really not happy, it's a very unpleasant experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-l-flannery/when-a-customer-is-really-not-happy-it-s-a-very-unpleasant-experience/) [John L. Flannery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-l-flannery/) > [If you look across a 30-year career in the company, I've executed in a wide arrange of environments. In financial services all around the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-l-flannery/if-you-look-across-a-30-year-career-in-the-company-i-ve-executed-in-a/) [John L. Flannery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-l-flannery/) > [Going back to the past is not productive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-l-flannery/going-back-to-the-past-is-not-productive/) [John L. Flannery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-l-flannery/) > [Our global structuring activities and restructuring activities really don't impact India.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-l-flannery/our-global-structuring-activities-and-restructuring-activities-really/) [John L. Flannery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-l-flannery/) > [Energy is our largest business in India but still has huge room to grow in new areas like renewables and distributed energy - as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-l-flannery/energy-is-our-largest-business-in-india-but-still-has-huge-room-to/) [John L. Flannery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-l-flannery/) > [I have a long history of looking at things from an investor's perspective by training and background.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-l-flannery/i-have-a-long-history-of-looking-at-things-from-an-investor-s/) [John L. Flannery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-l-flannery/) > [Mergers and acquisitions, we are always looking for that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-l-flannery/mergers-and-acquisitions-we-are-always-looking-for-that/) [John L. Flannery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-l-flannery/) [Explore all 36 John L. Flannery quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-l-flannery/) ## More Business quotes > [Companies with cultures that celebrate diverse opinions and encourage the exchange of ideas have an advantage when solving difficult problems. A company that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-mcmillon/companies-with-cultures-that-celebrate-diverse-opinions-and-encourage/) [Doug McMillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-mcmillon/) > [You can laugh at me, but I understand show business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ksenia-sobchak/you-can-laugh-at-me-but-i-understand-show-business/) [Ksenia Sobchak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ksenia-sobchak/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Take some books and read; that’s an immense help; and books are always good company if you have the right sort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/take-some-books-and-read-that-s-an-immense-help-and-books-are-always/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [I'm a business first and foremost so whatever my business is, it's separate from my personal. It's like whatever I do business wise, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/i-m-a-business-first-and-foremost-so-whatever-my-business-is-it-s/) [Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/) > [Many early-stage entrepreneurs make one simple mistake: Describing this 'big picture' in vague concepts and words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunil-nagaraj/many-early-stage-entrepreneurs-make-one-simple-mistake-describing/) [Sunil Nagaraj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunil-nagaraj/) > [Nobody has a crystal ball, and part of evolving a business plan is to say, 'I might have said we're going left, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-kavanaugh/nobody-has-a-crystal-ball-and-part-of-evolving-a-business-plan-is-to/) [Ryan Kavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-kavanaugh/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [ “\[S\]ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn’t cross your mind until it’s too late. (Once,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/s-ometimes-when-you-are-a-food-person-the-possible-irrelevance-of/) [Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/) > [If you have a different mindset, you will have a different outcome: if you make different choices from your peers, your life will then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-you-have-a-different-mindset-you-will-have-a-different-outcome-if/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [“Some say the Earth is angry Because he wants no company; I say the Earth is angry Because he lives alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin/some-say-the-earth-is-angry-because-he-wants-no-company-i-say-the/) [N.K. 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