What should Medtronic employees focus on?

When given the opportunity following Medtronic's conference call Tuesday morning to ask new CEO Omar Ishrak a question, I asked him what employees should take away from the 75-minute conference call with analysts (assuming they listened in).

Here's what he said:

"First of all growth is important. We need to return this company to growth. People say we're growing, and we are, but we need to improve. That's fundamental to our long-term success.

"And, there are opportunities for growth. There's no reason why we shouldn't grow. We need to match the technology to the opportunity.

"The other thing is this whole concept of the economic value proposition. We really have to think, in everything that we do, what's the real value? That will improve our overall productivity.

"Better execution from everybody. That means more rigor, more follow-through. People work hard enough, I don't think that's an issue. It's just more rigor, more consistency and commitment and then delivery.

"Also, globalization. In other words employees at Medtronic have to become global citizens to a large degree. They must become interested in emerging markets, experts in emerging markets and help reach those emerging markets with the management team. It's a common charge we must all be unified (behind) as we extend Medtronic's mission around the world."

"(Medtronic is) so focused on health care and its singular sense of purpose. GE is a more of broad multi-national.

"It was so apparent when I came here that employees not only know the mission, but they believe in it. We're here because of it, and we're inspired by it. That's huge. It's a big motivational factor for me, personally. "

That mission statement -- which in part calls for the company to "alleviate pain, restore health and extend life" -- has been intact for more than 50 years.