Sharing from Alex Chao
▲ Author/CIO Alex Chao
Recently I read a few books and would like to share some ideas to all of you.
1. Jobs fade-out, Bezos in.
As a big fan of Steve Jobs, I am really sad and feeling lost after Jobs passed away. However, after read a book which put on my desk for two years already, I am kind of relief now. The book title is "The Everything Store: Jeff Bezos and the Age of Amazon". Jeff Bezos is the founder and CEO of Amazon. In 2014 he was recognized as “the best performing CEO in the world” by Harvard Business Review. This is how HBR introducing Jeff Bezos: He has invented a new philosophy in running a business.
What is the meaning of “new philosophy” quoted in the HBR magazine? Well, I think the good answer is here: During the 2012 AWS re:invent seminar Bezos raised a new concept to all audience.
"I very frequently get the question: What's going to change in the next ten years? And that is a very interesting question; it's a very common one. I almost never get the question: What's not going to change in the next 10 years? And I submit to you that that second question is actually the more important of the two -- because you can build a business strategy around the things that are stable in time."
"So the effort we put into those things, spinning those things up, we know the energy we put into it today will still be paying off dividends for our customers ten years from now. When you have something that you know is true, even over the long term, you can afford to put a lot of energy into it."
This stunning message and though serves as a wakeup call to me and suddenly made me feel refreshed totally. Especially in the days of “information anxiety symptom” spreading everywhere in the world that many people are bustling and hustling, or being blind following, or even changing for no reason. Yes, I got it. Here comes my new idol (2nd to Steve Jobs).
Despite the challenges and complaints from investors, Bezos' persistence did not stop Amazon from continuing its growth pace by investing in the fundamental infrastructures. The company establishes lots of warehouse, logistic and fulfillment centers on the world. Because “cheaper”, “more selection”, and “faster” are important factors that never change.
On July, 11 2016, Amazon's market capitalization in New York stock market is only next to Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Exxon Mobile, becoming the 5th largest company in the United States. What a good performance and result to be the best footnote to depict Bezos persistence in the past 20 years, he always "Finding and investing the future by learning from the past.” Personally, I am very confidence that Amazon is going to be the Top 3 in the near future, surpass Apple is also can be expected soon.
2. A whole new world, if we have strong institution.
Ms. Lung Ying-tai: the most famous female writer in Taiwan and also the former minister of Taiwan MOC (Ministry of Culture), she raised a good question in her column in these days. She said: “Strong institution” is the reason why Germany becomes one of the great powers in just few years after the recovery and reconstruction from the World War I and World War II - the most destructive wars in human history.
The most extreme icon of Germany's "strong institution" can be found on the battlefield during the World War II. “Tank” plays an important role in the final decisive battle. When United States used the pipeline manufacture way to produce average, cheap but huge amount of tanks, the Germany was insist to use handy craft way to produce their tanks slowly, no comprise on quality and SOP compliance. Despite the powerful function, sophisticated design and good quality the German tanks, the production volume is far behind the US. Which lead Germany defeated eventually.
In the German institution, culture and value system, there is no difference between crafting “Tank” and “Leica camera”. Both hold the same attitudes on sophistication, precision, and perfection. So the definition by Ms. Lung is that: “institution” is not just institution, running a good performance institution relies on “system”, and the system need to be based on a good “culture” to sustain it. In the end the good culture require a group of people with the common value and belief that everyone in the tribe willing to make a movement, so that everyone believe they can change the environment, the organization.
So "institution" is not just the simple meaning by its word definition. “Institution” covers organization, system rules, culture, values, beliefs and behavior standards. In the past 15 years by following the “Gung Ho” culture, Telexpress is stepping higher and higher. We start from a 5 person team and now we are a 2000 people’s big family. For sure we are going to become a 3000 to 5000 company within the coming decade. Except the soft culture of “Gung Ho” spirit, I think it’s time we should start to consider establishing a more rigid management system which includes the organization, system rules, culture, beliefs and behavior standards – the so called institution.
How to increase the effect of "institution power" and where should we start from? Honestly, I don't have concrete answer for you, but perhaps Amazon's corporate values is a good reference that we can apply in our office; maybe it’s slow but surely our office will getting more active every day.
『Have Backbone; Disagree and Commit』
Leaders are obligated to respectfully challenge decisions when they disagree, even when doing so is uncomfortable or exhausting. Leaders have conviction and are tenacious. They do not compromise for the sake of social cohesion. Once a decision is determined, they commit wholly.
