I advised a CEO to read books regularly. But he said he didn’t even have time for reading because of his business. I didn’t tell him to read a lot; I only suggested that he do it on a regular basis. It’s not easy to start with a large amount, but it’s easy to give up or refuse to continue. Still, doing a small amount consistently is also difficult, but the goal is to build a habit. Reading is an extension of management activities that managers must do, not because they have time to spare, but because neglecting it can harm management by limiting their knowledge of the world and others’ experiences. Of course, reading doesn’t guarantee success or prevent failure. However, there’s no doubt that it’s the most fundamental activity that can help individuals grow and organizations thrive through the knowledge and experience gained from reading. A fool fills 100% of his life experience. A wise man fills it with 1% inspiration, 29% reading, and 70% implementation. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”
DuPont, a global chemical company, has one core value: Safety. The company is well known for adhering to its core values which stem from its historical background. DuPont began as a gunpowder manufacturer during the American Civil War. In 1884, DuPont's CEO, Lammot du Pont, was killed in an explosion. This accident stimulated the catalyst for DuPont's realization that safety should be a core value of the company. Here's a true story as an example. Two DuPont employees were on an overseas business trip and needed to take a taxi to a meeting, but the taxi only had seat belts on the passenger side. They would be late for the meeting, but DuPont policy dictated that only one person be put in the cab while the other took a different cab. Core values represent a company's identity and mission, and complying with them is a crucial challenge for any organization. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”