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Suzy Welch Dishes
I wouldn't have seen Jack as a guy who would just pick up four kids and be daddy to them.
Believe me, Jack didn't see that either. He said to me, "You've got these four children and a dog." I said to him, "Look, they're part of the package." He got it instantly. He got it. And so, right after I said they were part of the package, he said, "Well I guess I better go meet them." It was very early on. He came to the house, they lined up and met them, and he's never been out of their lives since. He's been a major force and presence in their lives; and he made the decision to raise them with me. What other move were we going to take? He got me. He understood that there was not a separate Suzy from the Suzy with the children.
It's unusual for a man of that kind of alpha-ness to want to take on that role.
I didn't realize at the time how unusual and exceptional that was because so much was happening and because he just assured me that it was going to be OK. The kids fell in love with him. One of the first things he said to the kids—he said to all four children when I was out of the room—"I promise you, no more harm will ever come to your mother." My kids have seen me go through some years alone, they've seen the time leading up to my divorce, they had seen what had happened after Jack and I had met. And as far as they were concerned, I was under siege. I was crying a lot, I was scared. And here was this man who sat them down and said, "I love your mother and promise you no more harm will come to her." And he was right. They fell in love with him.
And they weren't jealous and competitive?
My oldest son, Roscoe, who's now in college, thought at the beginning that he was the man of the house, and they had to work it out. The two of them had to work it out. They'd much rather be alone together than with me there, so they worked it out. There was one—out of the four, the oldest was like, "Wait a minute, isn't that my job?" But they did. It took a year.
You talk about it quite a bit in the book: that third thing, which is the marriage, which is more important than either of you.
It is the missing thing in good marriages—when you don't have the sense that this is a marriage. There's the two of you and then there's the marriage. The marriage is the special thing.
Read part two of Tina Brown’s interview with Suzy Welch.
Tina Brown is the founder and editor in chief of The Daily Beast. She is the author of the 2007 New York Times best seller The Diana Chronicles. Brown is the former editor of Tatler, Vanity Fair, The New Yorker, and Talk magazines and host of CNBC's Topic A with Tina Brown.
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Tina Brown is the founder and editor-in-chief of The Daily Beast. She is the author of the 2007 New York Times best seller The Diana Chronicles. Brown is the former editor of Tatler, Vanity Fair, The New Yorker, and Talk magazines and host of CNBC's Topic A with Tina Brown.
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Marshal
This story is not unusual or very interesting. Remove Jack Welsh's fame and money and what do you have? There are a million stories out there in the naked city. Ho hum.
Greenie
I disagree. Jack really has nothing to do with this process and she was using it before she met him. I think the 101010 concept is brilliant and plan to start using it immediately. I guess if you have a perfect life you don't need it, but some of find it brilliant! I've already bought the book and love it! Thank you Suzy!!!
vankuyk
She is what us executives call a gold digger.
This comment has been removed by The Daily Beast's editors.
This comment has been removed by The Daily Beast's editors.
Schneiderman
And... the phrase that is rendered "strum and drawn" should be the German, sturm und drang... which is common expression for storm and stress...
Barbara7
Tina...Very disappointed in you...Puff piece if ever there was one...You should be embarassed...And Suzy Welch's LIFE Lessons?..#1 Naked amibition at all costs (and 'use' your 4 children to disguise same) #2 Find someone as unbearably self absorbed, egotistical and self promoting as yourself #3 Think as if somebody cares...Please go away and take Jack with you...boring...
This comment has been removed by The Daily Beast's editors.
This comment has been removed by The Daily Beast's editors.
jowilliams
I'm surprised with the reactions to this story...I found it to be actually very enjoyable and interesting. Welch is candid, funny, and charismatic as usual. I got my hands on the book yesterday and so far is is a wonderful read.
anna43
Have any of you actually read this book? I just got it after seeing Suzy talk about 10-10-10 on the Today Show -- I finished it in one sitting because I couldn't put it down.
Suzy's scandal is such old news -- she is happily married to Jack Welch and the 10-10-10 book is as much a great love story as a self-help book. Suzy's writes very openly about her own life and struggles -- it's riveting. 10-10-10 itself is also incredibly useful -- I wish I had had it as a working mother wracked with guilt. Tina, great article!
BeantownMom
I chose to use 10-10-10 to resolve why anyone needs to feel obligated to leave such horrible hatred...in 10 minutes no one will care what the above had to say, in 10 months no one will remember, in 10 years..Suzy and 10-10-10 will have reached new and greater heights than any of these naysayers. I say, live and let live, turn the page, and get a life people.
Congreve
So what did you find out? That Suzy "discovered" chapter 2 of Stephen Cover' s book with 10-10-10?
sahasthra
Wow- Great interview! I am going through a heartbreaking divorce right now, and it is so reassuring to hear a story from someone on the other side, living the happy life that they prayed would be there for them when the dust had settled. Thanks for sharing your story- I'm going to go out and get the book!
LifeCoach
Agree- very moving and powerful interview Tina! I too have had my share of relationship problems with my marriage and there's always going to be people who have no business making statements about your world...that have to put their 2 cents in..if I've learned anything in my life, it is important to make decisions about your life that work for you-and not for what other people think (or who leave idiotic comments like the ones here). I used Welch's 10-10-10 to justify and resolve my own personal life issues and found that by giving reason to the decisions-it not only gave clarity to my children, but justification to myself for why I dissolved my marriage. I own the new book and highly recommend it to everyone-including everyone who has commented here today-by reading the book you'll realize that 10-10-10 is all about adding purpose, values and reason to your lives. Suzy Welch totally "gets it"...kudos!
Greenie
Are Caroline and Barbara friends of Jack's second wife? Honestly, I have never seen such a grounded "famous" couple as Suzy and Jack! Kudos to them both for finding true happiness!
Johnnorth
Sahasthra is righter by a mile than some of the uptight commentators. I thought it a fascinating and indeed moving interview because Suzy comes over as a real human giving honest answers that have insight, wit and charm. Green-eyed Barbara7 must have a very unhappy life.
Thank you.
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