Swimming Across. A remarkable journey: Andris Grof to Andrew Grove (Part 1 of 2)

“I am asked sometimes what I would like to be remembered for. My answer is always the same. I would like to be remembered for helping to build an organization that sustains itself long after my tenure.”  Andy Grove, 2004 annual report, his last as the chairman of Intel.

A lot has been written and known about Andrew Grove “the man whose microchips have changed the world and its economy”.  But the way to know more about Andris Grof, the boy who grew up in Second World War Hungary before coming to America, is by……diving into the memory lane.

Friday Reflections for Out of Box Thinking Students: Thursday, May 12, 2005 9:33 PM
Subject: A remarkable journey: Andris Grof to Andrew Grove

 Notable Quotes: from Andrew Grove

“Joining Intel...was the second best decision, and the second best initiative I have undertaken in my life." He then said, "The first one...took place 10 years earlier when I met the young woman who was to become my wife."  Andy at recent Sales Marketing Conference

Fourth Grade: Once again, I got good grades without having to work hard. The only subject in which I was marked down was ‘Behaviour” The teacher’s commentary that accompanied me throughout school was “Andris is too lively.”  

“I didn’t generally have a lot of run-ins with my parents, but when did I misbehave, my parents were a united pair: my mother lectured and my father yelled.”

Point to Ponder for OBT Students: pay special attention to following: Andy’s books in order: Physics and Technology of Semiconductor Devices, High Output Management, One on One with Andy Grove, Only the Paranoid Survive and Swimming Across.

Story Line:  Swimming Across: A remarkable Journey from Andris Grof to Andrew Grove

One of the responses to April (2005) Reflection 'The other side of Andy Grove* stated  “This is a total tease….I wish I had more time to read. And now you have made me curious about reading this book (Swimming Across). Actually I am very curious about Andy. I have heard so many things about him and his influence on Intel culture. I am amazed that he has had a wife (ie a successful marriage) and children even with so much time dedicated to Intel. “

A lot has been written and known about Andrew Grove “the man whose microchips have changed the world and its economy”, the chief architect of Intel’s world prominence, the time magazine “Man of The Year”, the author of many books and the former professor at Berkeley and Stanford.

But the only way (that I know of) to know anything about Andris Grof, the boy who grew up in Second World War Hungary before coming to America, is by diving and taking laps in Swimming Across, his biography till he reached the shores of America. Written in a simple language, Andy candidly recounts many childhood memories; surviving scarlet fever, his imagination, teenage fantasies, life during two foreign occupations, his encounters with girls, his loving and united family, closeness with friends, many adventures (For others they would be called mischiefs but since we are talking about Andrew Grove, shall we call them adventures?), Hungarian uprising and the final journey to America. It is the story of courage, persistence, love, struggles and triumphs, and how they have shaped his life.

At a parent’s teacher conference during Andris secondary school year, Mr.Volesnski, the physics teacher, told the assembled parents “Life is like a big lake. All the boys get in the water at one end and start swimming. Not all of them will swim across. But one of them, I am sure, will. That one is Grof.”

And the book ends with Andy saying “As my teacher Volenski had predicted, I managed to swim across the lake-not without effort, not without setbacks, and with a great deal of help and encouragement from others. I am still swimming.”

As Andy takes his final laps (as an employee) in the lake Intel for remaining five days, we salute him with a poem from the author of his favorite childhood book, ‘The Jungle book’.

http://www.kiplingsociety.co.uk/poems_if.htm

Thanks for the great memories. Thanks for making a positive difference in many lives around the world. 

Reflection: Yesterday I attended a virtual event ‘Andy Grove Remembrance’; the fifth anniversary of his passing from this earth. Many people shared their memories including ones who had worked for him and interacted with him for over 50, 40, 30 years ago to his last day. It was so clear that Andy still lives (swimming) in the hearts and minds of these people after all these years.

It brought back many memories for me; including few reflections I had written about him and some memorable learning experiences from encounters with/about him. Today’s reflection is one of those memories that resurfaced. I had written that reflection especially for my OBT students to show the emotional and personal side of Andy. Their impression of Andy was a logical, technical, no-nonsense and hard driving left brain person. The progression of his books shows the entire spectrum of his balanced (left/right brain) personality. As one of the notes in the story line demonstrates, the students were very touched knowing about emotional side of Andy.

Two days after I had published that reflection I got the email from Andy: Thanks for the nice note.  How do these things help in your course?  a

 I called him and explained my thinking. He seemed satisfied. The call ended without any 'constructive confronation' and left a lifelong memory.

Part 2: Back to Basics 2: Conversation with Andy's former TA and successful Executive, plus Lessons from encounters with Andy.(to be published on Monday March 29^th)

Comments

[Shardamandir Friend]

Impressive story👌

[Carol]

Learning from the life of a giant!

[Harshvir Singh]

I have always thought about reading a book on/by Andy Groove. This thought provoking and inspiring article has spurred me to do so in the next few days .

[Thomas]

He changed the course of my career in many ways.

[humble warrior]

remarkable story! Thank you!

[A note from PV]

Thanks for sharing this reflection, Anand. A very inspiring story of courage, imagination, grit and perseverance of an icon of our times and the Valley.