Yes, Welch destroyed GE just to increase stock prices/valuation in the short term. Long term they lost their vision and their way. Some efficiency experts are really good, Welch was not one of them. I did a lot of cringing through those years. The bullshit got thick, workload became ridiculous. I had my fill by 2002 but had no where [local] to go. Then came up with my real estate idea and left the company in June 2004. I noticed their stock price descended over the years after I left, lol! Almost 7 years later TI bought them. My high school buddy had moved to CA in the mid 1980s after college, got a job as a device engineer at QualComm, worked there about 10 years. He held on to his stock and options and, with a bit of day trading, is living a good life and has not had to go back to work for anyone. Tale of two corporations.