First, they share a habit of mind that is best described as “applied curiosity.” They tend to question everything. They want to know how things work, and wonder how they can be made to work better. They’re curious about people and their back stories.
And rather than wondering if they are on the right career path, they make the most of whatever path they’re on, wringing lessons from all their experiences.
“I can find interest in a lot of different things and try to put that to work in a positive way, connecting the dots and considering how the pieces fit together,” said Gregory Maffei, whose background includes a college degree in religious studies, and is now the chief executive of Liberty Media, the giant company with interests in everything from SiriusXM to Formula One racing.
Second, C.E.O.s seem to love a challenge. Discomfort is their comfort zone.
“Usually, I really like whatever the problem is. I like to get close to the fire,” said Arkadi Kuhlmann, a veteran banking chief. “Some people have a desire for that, I’ve noticed, and some people don’t. I just naturally gravitate to the fire. So I think that’s a characteristic that you have, that’s in your DNA.”
The third theme is how they managed their own careers on their way to the top. They focus on doing their current job well, and that earns them promotions.
That may sound obvious. But many people can seem more concerned about the job they want than the job they’re doing.
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