Introduction
Chairman Lee Kun-hee, who grew Korea Samsung into a world-class company and passed away, is remembered as an icon of leadership and innovation that is ahead of his time. His quotes are deeply inspiring and insightful to not only managers but also everyone, and reminded them of the value of change, challenge, and growth.
1. “Change everything except your wife and children”
“At the end of the day, I must change. If you want to change, make a thorough change. I’m not kidding. You must change everything except your wife and children.” These words, which were coined in the 1993 New York Declaration in Frankfurt, symbolize Chairman Lee Kun-hee’s commitment to fundamentally reform the constitution of Samsung. It is a strong message that without change, there will be no survival or growth.
2. “Line up next to the rich. You have to go to the wild ginseng field to dig wild ginseng.”
This is a practical but insightful advice to be close to the rich if you want to be rich. It emphasizes the importance of networks and the environment, meaning that good opportunities and success are easier to come by successful people.
3. “Don’t just eat the rice cake that came in. If you don’t have it, go out and make it.”
This is a request for an active attitude to create opportunities for yourself and not to settle for what has been given in the past. It reminds us of the importance of creativity and the spirit of challenge.
4. “Don’t envy the rich. Let him learn to live.”
It means that the person should not just envy the results, but also learn the process, habits, and ways of thinking to reach success. It shows the pragmatic thinking of Chairman Lee Kun-hee that penetrates the essence.
5. “Don’t think about it. Losses bring profits.”
The advice is not to stick to short-term gains and losses, but to invest and manage with a long-term perspective. Sometimes, it means that the courage to take a loss leads to greater success.
6. “Experts can leave Samsung”
“If professionals who left Samsung start their own businesses or go to other companies and help the whole country, you don’t have to think about Samsung alone.” It symbolizes the open leadership of Chairman Lee Kun-hee, who values the cycle of talent and the development of the whole society.
7. “If you have a strong personality, you need to keep your spirits up”
In the era of diversity and creativity, it is a message that companies develop only when individuality is not suppressed, but rather saved. It contains the philosophy of respecting talent and creative management.
8. “If you do one thing a thousand times, you become a doctor”
It emphasizes the value of effort by saying that constant repetition and immersion eventually create professionalism. It reminds us of the importance of growth through constant improvement and self-improvement, not just repetition.
9. “You can’t win by doing the same as your competitor. Change will survive.”
It is a cold management philosophy that you cannot survive competition without differentiation and innovation. It emphasizes the need for courage and creative thinking that is different from others.
10. “If you’re complacent now, the future is up to others”
This means that you can lead the future only by constantly challenging and changing, not settling for the current success. It is a quote that reiterates the importance of change and innovation.
11. “Crisis is an opportunity”
It means not to be afraid of a crisis, but rather to use it as a springboard for new growth. It contains positive thinking about finding opportunities in difficulties.
12. “Quality is the life”
It is a management philosophy that puts the quality of products and services first. This quality management played a big role behind Samsung’s global success.
13. “Samsung is a second-rate, third-rate team. It should be a first-rate team.”
It emphasized the spirit of challenge that we should always move toward higher goals and not stay satisfied with ourselves. It shows the will of constant self-innovation.
14. “Customer complaints are the best ideas”
It means that new innovations and ideas emerge from customer dissatisfaction and discomfort. It reminds us of the importance of customer-centered management.
15. “Do what others don’t”
It contains the spirit of challenge to pioneer a new path that others have not tried, not everyone’s path. It symbolizes Samsung’s innovative DNA.
16. “Don’t be afraid of failure. Go for it”
This means that if you are afraid of failure, you cannot achieve anything. It shows the positive mindset of Chairman Lee Kun-hee that he grows through challenges and failures.
17. “Technology doesn’t work overnight”
Realistic advice that technological innovation and development require a long time and effort. Emphasize the importance of constant research and investment.
18. “If you don’t have talent, there’s no future”
This is a quote that contains Chairman Lee Kun-hee’s talent management philosophy that a company’s competitiveness comes from talent. It emphasizes the importance of securing and fostering talent.
19. “If you don’t change from the top, you don’t change from the bottom”
The message is that the entire organization can change only when the leader changes first. The beginning of change reminds you of the leader himself.
20. “Samsung’s future is in your hands”
It is a word that instills a sense of responsibility and ownership in both Samsung employees and the people. It emphasizes the role and importance of each member of the organization.
TOMOYU 