INSTANT MBA: 'Success Is Not About Money. It's Not About Power. It's About Leaving.'

Advertisement

Today's advice comes from Ursula Burns, CEO of Xerox, via Fortune:

Advertisement

"Success is not about money. It's not about power. It's about leaving. [My mother] would always say that you have to leave the place — any place you are — a little bit better than you came in."

Burns recounted her mother's advice in this article because she says her mother was a huge influence in her life and was desperate to make sure her three kids were well-educated. Burns started at Xerox as an engineering intern in 1980 and spent 20 years there before she almost decided to leave the company to go to Dell.

Complimentary Tech Event
Transform talent with learning that works
Capability development is critical for businesses who want to push the envelope of innovation.Discover how business leaders are strategizing around building talent capabilities and empowering employee transformation.Know More

In the end, she decided to stay with Xerox, helped the company reach new heights and left it a better place — just like her mom advised her.

"And the third thing [my mother] always said is that there are a lot of things that can happen to you, but there are a whole bunch of things that you can happen to. So make sure that you happen to the right things."

Advertisement

Want your business advice featured in Instant MBA? Submit your tips to tipoftheday@businessinsider.com. Be sure to include your name, your job title, and a photo of yourself in your email.