People who write their own job descriptions should go far. Tim Harbert wrote his 13 years ago now he is the president of State Street Global Advisors (SSgA).

Not that Harbert knew it was going to be his job description when he wrote it. At the time, he was a management consultant with Price Waterhouse and SSgA was just another client receiving advice on strategic and operational issues. He issued the firm his final report, wished it good luck finding someone to implement his recommendations and thought no more about it. SSgA offered him the job two weeks later.