What was your first job?
I grew up outside of Detroit, and was the first in my family to go to college. I went to Xavier University in Cincinnati, and then on to get my graduate degree at the University of New Hampshire, working all sorts of jobs throughout my college years. I was in the U.S. Army Reserves, then when they released hundreds of Lieutenants due to a winding down of the war, I found myself looking for a job more quickly than I had anticipated. I took a job as a budget analyst for RCA's computer systems division. I hated it, and I was away from my wife for six months, which made it even harder. But I stuck it out.

What challenges did you face in moving to the next step in your career?
One day I heard on the radio that RCA was shutting down the division. I hadn't even heard it from my employer yet! I had no money saved and had a pregnant wife and child at home. My parents were kind enough to take us in, and we lived in the basement of their modest house in New Hampshire for a couple weeks (which wasn't ideal for any of us)! I declined two job offers that just weren't what I wanted. My mom was getting frustrated, and I told her that I was going to wait until I found the "right" job for me. She thought I was nuts.

But I found the right job. I went to work for The Carborundum Company in Niagara Falls, NY for $1100 per month in 1971, and stayed there for 11 years. It was a diversified industrial company (similar to 3M). We were multinational before anyone really used that term (half of our sales were outside US).

How was that job different from your first?
I really liked working for Carborundum because it didn't pigeonhole people. I got to work in finance, marketing, product management, and general management. Young people who worked there were given a lot of responsibilities, and it was a great opportunity to learn and excel. I got to see successful people first-hand early on there.

What did you learn in that job that has carried with you during your career?
That was when I realized that you don't have to be a Harvard grad or be born with a silver spoon in your mouth to succeed. You need to have integrity and work hard. And I did. I became a corporate officer when I was only 27 (it was a Fortune 300 company). I got in the "big time" early in my career because I saw successful people and believed I could be one too. My goals changed, as did my whole sense of self. I proved that I had what it took to be successful.

What did you learn from your co-workers there?
Another guy joined the company at the same time as me. He had gone to Princeton and Harvard and made $100/month more than I, and that really made me mad. But I stopped being mad and worked hard and became more successful than he did instead. I believe you need something to push you. My background was different than his, but I knew I was just as good as he and I proved it.

Three others and I were instrumental in the sale of Carborundum to Kennecott Copper. I agreed to work for Kennecott and moved to New York City. I told them I needed a 40% raise if they wanted me to move thinking they'd never give it to me and I'd get to stay put. But they did.

I got to New York and hated the job. It was pure staff work with no challenge. So I called Carborundum and asked for a position as a product manager. They told me I was too senior and couldn't pay me enough. But doing something I genuinely enjoyed was more important to me. I took the job which was two-tiers lower than where I was with a 30% pay cut. We moved back to Niagara Falls from Westchester county; it was a big lifestyle change, but I knew it was right for me. Contributing is what truly motivated me. The money wasn't nearly as important to me. In New York I had a big title and a huge office, but wasn't enjoying the work. I took control of my own destiny, and I quickly moved up to marketing manager and then general manager. I knew where I wanted to be and I did what it took to get there. This time it was my wife, not my mother, who thought I was nuts!

You say how important it is to take risks to further your career. How did that benefit you?
Kennecott was later acquired by British Petroleum, and a headhunter from Allied Signal called me and said they wanted me for their Vice President and Controller position, but I wasn't interested. I just didn't really like finance. But I took the interview and the CEO told me he'd give him a division to run if I "didn't screw up for 2 years." You have to go to a company that has integrity and gives people chances like that if you want to excel. I was running the plastics division within two years and was later promoted to run a group of plastics companies. I was then asked to move to LA to run a division of Alllied Signal Aerospace, and the boss wasn't happy that I was coming because he had his own plans for who would succeed him. But, I went, listened, learned and worked hard, and became President within a year. There was no guarantee I'd make it in a business I knew nothing about and some of the senior people didn't want me there. But it worked out well. In 1998 I was recruited to be the CEO of Raytheon.

Shortly after I joined the company it became clear that there were some severe challenges. I brought in modern management practices, and those coupled with focus, discipline, and orientation to performance and teamwork allowed the company to thrive. After I knew the company was doing well, I decided to step down and enjoy a new phase of my life. I now sit on three boards, and enjoy traveling, playing, and finally spending time with my family.

What is your best advice for someone starting his or her first job?
"If you're not willing to lose, then why should you win? You have to be willing to take a risk, because you never know what you can do until you try to do it."