Inspiring Lessons From Two Famous Business Icons
Posted by
eli
on 7/27/09• Categorized as Business Advice
I always admired J.C. Penney and Thomas J. Watson, two pioneering business icons and internationally famous leaders of business and industry during their time.
James Cash Penney, known as J.C. Penney, was the founder of that big American department store chain bearing his name. While Thomas J. Watson was the founder of International Business Machines, popularly known as IBM, the giant computer maker.
J.C. Penney And A Little Luncheon Story.
J.C. Penney started out as a lowly clerk in general store. On the first day of his work, an employee went to lunch with him. Penney ate quickly and, soon as he finished, wanted to go back to the store.
“Don’t be a sucker,” the older employee said, “take your time” But Penney refused to tarry longer than he had to and went back to the store.
Within two months, Penney was made manager of the store. Other promotions followed in quick succession. In due time, he started his own chain of stores, which eventually expanded to over 1,500 stores across the United States.
Thomas J. Watson And True Caring
Thomas J. Watson, the founder of IBM, always had his door open to his employees. Not only that, but he continually visited his factories and spent hours talking with workers.
One day, an employee flew in to New York to see Watson and sought his help for a younger brother with an incurable diseases. Within hours, the patient was under a top specialist in a well-known hospital.
The employee apologized for perhaps overstepping himself, but Watson interrupted him: “When I said bring your problems to me, I meant exactly that.”
Personal Observation:
Those were the days, the good old days. I think business leaders today don’t do like this anymore. What do you think? What is your observation about today’s business leaders?
Inspiring stories indeed. I agree that there are few business leaders who do today what Penney and Watson did in the past.
We need more of such inspiring stories, presented in a brief and concise manner that save a lot of time to read.
I like this post. Nice to read and easy to digest. Please post more of these.
I just passing by and browsing the web. I am not a blogger, but I know how to appreciate good articles when I see and read one. And your article is good. Cheers!
Most of the business today do short sighted decisions: they don’t care about the future but only about the maximum profit they can earn today.
Thank you very much for honoring me with your recommendation. I don’t really know what else to say other than thank you for confirming that what I’ve achieved what I set out to do with MBMT.
What your post touches is a sad but true statement on the way business is done now. It appears to me that business is more about money and less about people when it should be the other way around. After all, without people there would be no business to speak of.
Thanks again and I hope this finds you well.
I believe from my experience big business is just that, BIG BUSINESS! All they really care about is profit and sales, not the ones bringing them in. It is refreshing to find companies these days that are practicing old methods. I know of two and I am connected to both of them. Will I get rich overnight? NO! But I will build a residual income that will last me the rest of my life w/o having to work for someone else or work for 30 plus years. These companies still exist today and if you want to be part of one you will have to search diligently. Thanks for the post!
Friends 4 Life!