Exceeding Expectations

Lee Iacocca was born in 1924 to very poor parents who, in search of employment migrated to America from Italy. Iacocca worked hard for his education and obtained his masters degree in engineering. After completing his studies he got a job in the Ford Company. He continuously received promotions right up to being the president of the Ford Company. He subsequently developed differences with Henry Ford and in consequence had to leave the Ford Company in 1978.

Iacocca was then appointed as the President of another company—the Chrysler Corporation. This company was bankrupt at that time. Iacocca worked very hard for three years and managed to turn the company around. In fact, he now says with pride: “I am the company.” In his autobiography, he writes of many important things to be observed and many precious experiences in the successful running of an enterprise. One of these is as follows: “The key to success is not information. It is people. And the kind of people I look for to fill top management spots are the eager beavers. These are the guys who try to do more than they are expected to.” (The Times of India, September 22, 1985)

In carrying out any task, exceeding expectations is a sure sign of a sincere and educated person. Those who try to work in this way are bound to achieve a success even greater than their own hopes would lead them to expect.