--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I look for people who work to solve…" description: "\"I look for people who work to solve problems and help colleagues, I sack politicians.\" — Lou Gerstner" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7d/lou-gerstner-21499_colleagues_i-look-for-people-who-work-to-solve-prob_1862295.png" --- # I look for people who work to solve problems and help… ![“I look for people who work to solve problems and help colleagues, I sack politicians.” quote by Lou Gerstner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7d/lou-gerstner-21499_colleagues_i-look-for-people-who-work-to-solve-prob_1862295.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7d/lou-gerstner-21499_colleagues_i-look-for-people-who-work-to-solve-prob_1862295.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7d/lou-gerstner-21499_colleagues_i-look-for-people-who-work-to-solve-prob_1862295.png) > “I look for people who work to solve problems and help colleagues, I sack politicians.” [Lou Gerstner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-gerstner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Values problem‑solvers and teamwork, while criticizing political maneuvering. **In simple terms:** Hire do, fire politicians. Key Takeaway Prioritize competence over bureaucracy. Themes leadership efficiency politics Mood pragmatic direct Type business leadership When to use this quote - corporate hiring - team building - policy reform - project management Key Concepts management organizational behavior accountability innovation Questions to Reflect On - What qualities define a true problem‑solver? - How can politics be used positively? A Different Perspective May oversimplify political roles that can be constructive. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Colleagues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/colleagues/) [Colleagues Sack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/colleagues-sack-2514852/) [Help Colleagues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/help-colleagues-1562265/) [Helping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/helping/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Politician](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politician/) [Politicians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politicians/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Sack Politicians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sack-politicians-2514851/) [Solve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solve/) [Solve Problems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solve-problems/) ## Related quotes > [For me, the team always comes first, and without the help of my colleagues, I am nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-neves/for-me-the-team-always-comes-first-and-without-the-help-of-my/) [Ruben Neves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-neves/) > [It's not all about the figures. It's about how you play for the team, how you help your colleagues, how you work defensively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-eto-o/it-s-not-all-about-the-figures-it-s-about-how-you-play-for-the-team/) [Samuel Eto'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-eto-o/) > [All modern U.S. presidents are perforce politicians, prisoners of their past pronouncements, their party, their constituency, and their colleagues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-judt/all-modern-u-s-presidents-are-perforce-politicians-prisoners-of-their/) [Tony Judt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-judt/) > [Dear Math, I can't solve your problems, I got mine to solve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dear-math-i-can-t-solve-your-problems-i-got-mine-to-solve/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I must have assistants who will solve their own problems and tell me later what they've done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-c-marshall/i-must-have-assistants-who-will-solve-their-own-problems-and-tell-me/) [George C. Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-c-marshall/) > [Pushing away the people who care the most isn't going to solve your problems, its only going to make them harder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/pushing-away-the-people-who-care-the-most-isn-t-going-to-solve-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Don't solve problems. Pursue opportunities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/don-t-solve-problems-pursue-opportunities/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [“But think about it - what if there were a deus ex machina in real life? Everything would be so easy! If you felt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/but-think-about-it-what-if-there-were-a-deus-ex-machina-in-real-life/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [Art does not solve problems but makes us aware of their existence. It opens our eyes to see and our brain to imagine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-abakanowicz/art-does-not-solve-problems-but-makes-us-aware-of-their-existence-it/) [Magdalena Abakanowicz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-abakanowicz/) > [That's probably the best part of holding office is being able to solve problems and really help people who feel like no one cares…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-szeliga/that-s-probably-the-best-part-of-holding-office-is-being-able-to/) [Kathy Szeliga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-szeliga/) > [As we raise ourselves in the spiritual consciousness, we are better able to solve the problems of life. We are happy. We are at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-klemp/as-we-raise-ourselves-in-the-spiritual-consciousness-we-are-better/) [Harold Klemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-klemp/) > [The point is to solve problems, not point fingers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-harman/the-point-is-to-solve-problems-not-point-fingers/) [Jane Harman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-harman/) > [“RVM Thoughts for Today : "Just because you have problems , it doesn't mean you should not have Dreams. Instead, let your dream become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rvm/rvm-thoughts-for-today-just-because-you-have-problems-it-doesn-t-mean/) [RVM](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rvm/) > [Sometimes we have to go deep inside ourselves to solve our problems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-star/sometimes-we-have-to-go-deep-inside-ourselves-to-solve-our-problems/) [Patrick Star](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-star/) > [Give life long enough and it will solve all your problems, including the one of being alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colum-mccann/give-life-long-enough-and-it-will-solve-all-your-problems-including/) [Colum McCann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colum-mccann/) ## More by Lou Gerstner > [Every now and then, a technology comes along that is so profound, so powerful, so universal, that its impact will change everything. It will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-gerstner/every-now-and-then-a-technology-comes-along-that-is-so-profound-so/) [Lou Gerstner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-gerstner/) > [Customer complaints are the schoolbooks from which we learn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-gerstner/customer-complaints-are-the-schoolbooks-from-which-we-learn/) [Lou Gerstner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-gerstner/) > [The rewards system is a powerful driver of behavior and therefore culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-gerstner/the-rewards-system-is-a-powerful-driver-of-behavior-and-therefore/) [Lou Gerstner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-gerstner/) > [For the first month, I listened, and I tried very hard not to draw conclusions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-gerstner/for-the-first-month-i-listened-and-i-tried-very-hard-not-to-draw/) [Lou Gerstner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-gerstner/) > [The thing I have learned at IBM is that culture is everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-gerstner/the-thing-i-have-learned-at-ibm-is-that-culture-is-everything/) [Lou Gerstner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-gerstner/) > [IBM needed - an enormous sense of urgency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-gerstner/ibm-needed-an-enormous-sense-of-urgency/) [Lou Gerstner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-gerstner/) > [I don't want to use the word reorganization. Reorganization to me is shuffling boxes, moving boxes around. Transformation means that you're really fundamentally changing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-gerstner/i-don-t-want-to-use-the-word-reorganization-reorganization-to-me-is/) [Lou Gerstner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-gerstner/) > [It is not about bits, bytes and protocols, but profits, losses and margins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-gerstner/it-is-not-about-bits-bytes-and-protocols-but-profits-losses-and/) [Lou Gerstner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-gerstner/) > [I came to see, in my time at IBM, that culture isn't just one aspect of the game; it is the game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-gerstner/i-came-to-see-in-my-time-at-ibm-that-culture-isn-t-just-one-aspect-of/) [Lou Gerstner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-gerstner/) > [We built this company from the customer back, not from the company out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-gerstner/we-built-this-company-from-the-customer-back-not-from-the-company-out/) [Lou Gerstner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-gerstner/) > [I just think we should look at this as a chess match," he said, "between the world's greatest chess player and Garry Kasparov.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-gerstner/i-just-think-we-should-look-at-this-as-a-chess-match-he-said-between/) [Lou Gerstner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-gerstner/) > [If the practices and processes inside a company don't drive the execution of values, then people don't get it. The question is, do you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-gerstner/if-the-practices-and-processes-inside-a-company-don-t-drive-the/) [Lou Gerstner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-gerstner/) > [Everything starts with the customer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-gerstner/everything-starts-with-the-customer/) [Lou Gerstner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-gerstner/) > [No institution will go through fundamental change unless it believes it is in deep trouble and needs to do something different to survive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-gerstner/no-institution-will-go-through-fundamental-change-unless-it-believes/) [Lou Gerstner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-gerstner/) > [Technology has limitations on what it can accomplish. You do not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-gerstner/technology-has-limitations-on-what-it-can-accomplish-you-do-not/) [Lou Gerstner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-gerstner/) [Explore all 29 Lou Gerstner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-gerstner/) ## More Colleagues quotes > [I've never been motivated by money. My peers and colleagues inspire me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-chase/i-ve-never-been-motivated-by-money-my-peers-and-colleagues-inspire-me/) [Robin Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-chase/) > [It's wonderful to see more of my colleagues recognizing the importance of investing in STEM education and scientific research and development.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-foster/it-s-wonderful-to-see-more-of-my-colleagues-recognizing-the/) [Bill Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-foster/) > [I am sorry to upset my colleagues by saying we wasted four years in opposition, but if you do get so badly defeated as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-clarke/i-am-sorry-to-upset-my-colleagues-by-saying-we-wasted-four-years-in/) [Kenneth Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-clarke/) > [My sister-in-law works for a group that supports orphanages in Cairo. She and her colleagues take care of children left behind by circumstances beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/my-sister-in-law-works-for-a-group-that-supports-orphanages-in-cairo/) [Mohamed ElBaradei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/) > [Don’t let yourself be. Find something new to try, something to change. Count how often it succeeds and how often it doesn’t. Write about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atul-gawande/don-t-let-yourself-be-find-something-new-to-try-something-to-change/) [Atul Gawande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atul-gawande/) > [UN peacekeeping operations are now increasingly complex and multi-dimensional, going beyond monitoring a ceasefire to actually bringing failed States back to life, often after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/un-peacekeeping-operations-are-now-increasingly-complex-and-multi/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [“The whole organization seemed to be in free fall, indulging in a collective fantasy in which experienced colleagues refused to admit that their every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-whole-organization-seemed-to-be-in-free-fall-indulging-in-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There is a danger of Scottish politics being between two sets of dinosaurs... the Nationalists who can't accept they were rejected by the people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-lamont/there-is-a-danger-of-scottish-politics-being-between-two-sets-of/) [Johann Lamont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-lamont/) > [We must continue our fight to ensure that Federal, State, and local authorities have the resources and support necessary to combat this growing epidemic.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-lewis/we-must-continue-our-fight-to-ensure-that-federal-state-and-local/) [Ron Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-lewis/) > [The questions of traditional and redefined marriage are highly emotional and a difficult and sensitive topic. Living in the D.C. area and having gay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercedes-schlapp/the-questions-of-traditional-and-redefined-marriage-are-highly/) [Mercedes Schlapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercedes-schlapp/) > [Very often, we are confronted by people who want us to pray their way or colleagues who want us to think their way. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-klemp/very-often-we-are-confronted-by-people-who-want-us-to-pray-their-way/) [Harold Klemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-klemp/) > [For all the civilians saved thanks to the presence of peacekeepers, there have been those who were lost - the United Nations personnel who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-eliasson/for-all-the-civilians-saved-thanks-to-the-presence-of-peacekeepers/) [Jan Eliasson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-eliasson/) > [I have always been very calm and with all the triumphs I have had I have always been sure to thank my colleagues and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulinho/i-have-always-been-very-calm-and-with-all-the-triumphs-i-have-had-i/) [Paulinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulinho/) > [As a former undercover CIA officer, I've worked with my colleagues in the 114th Congress to approach the growing terrorist threat from a number…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-hurd/as-a-former-undercover-cia-officer-i-ve-worked-with-my-colleagues-in/) [Will Hurd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-hurd/) > [ In the end, many of his more militant colleagues began to feel that \[Ho Chi Minh's\] tendency to compromise, and his reluctance to confront… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-duiker/in-the-end-many-of-his-more-militant-colleagues-began-to-feel-that-ho/) [William J. Duiker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-duiker/) [Browse all 1,024 Colleagues quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/colleagues/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I look for people who work to solve problems and help colleagues, I sack politicians.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Lou Gerstner" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-gerstner/i-look-for-people-who-work-to-solve-problems-and-help-colleagues-i/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Colleagues" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-gerstner/i-look-for-people-who-work-to-solve-problems-and-help-colleagues-i/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7d/lou-gerstner-21499_colleagues_i-look-for-people-who-work-to-solve-prob_1862295.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7d/lou-gerstner-21499_colleagues_i-look-for-people-who-work-to-solve-prob_1862295.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7d/lou-gerstner-21499_colleagues_i-look-for-people-who-work-to-solve-prob_1862295.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I look for people who work to solve problems and help colleagues, I sack politicians.” — Lou Gerstner", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Lou Gerstner", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-gerstner/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I look for people who work...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-gerstner/i-look-for-people-who-work-to-solve-problems-and-help-colleagues-i/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-gerstner/i-look-for-people-who-work-to-solve-problems-and-help-colleagues-i/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```