Lee Iacocca Quotes
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The only rock I know that stays steady, the only institution I know that works, is the family.
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In the great undertakings, there is glory, even in failure.
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I was stunned. It was a complete takeover. Chrysler had $12 billion in cash and was stronger at the time and should have bought Daimler.
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We are continually faced by great opportunities brilliantly disguised as insoluble problems.
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There is no substitute for accurate knowledge. Know yourself, know your business, know your men.
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In a corporation, there can only be one guy in the end: the CEO.
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I always go back to Harry Truman: Should we drop an atomic bomb to save 100,000 lives? That's a hell of a decision to make. Did he make that decision by himself? No, he had advisers.
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The discipline of writing something down is the first step toward making it happen.
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The kind of people I look for to fill top management spots are the eager beavers, the mavericks. These are the guys who try to do more than they're expected to do - they always reach.
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The trick is to make sure you don't die waiting for prosperity to come.
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The ability to concentrate and to use time well is everything.
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Your legacy should be that you made it better than it was when you got it.
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The ability to concentrate and to use your time well is everything if you want to succeed in business--or almost anywhere else for that matter.
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Leadership means setting an example. When you find yourself in a position of leadership, people follow your every move.
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There's a world of difference between a strong ego, which is essential, and a large ego-which can be destructive.
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That's the American way. If little kids don't aspire to make money like I did, what the hell good is this country?
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If you own up to your mistakes, you don't suffer as much. But that's a tough lesson to learn.
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Incompetency begets incompetency. The last thing a guy who isn't sure of himself wants is a guy backing him up who is sure of himself.
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I forgot to shake hands and be friendly. It was an important lesson about leadership.
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We at Chrysler borrow money the old fashion way. We pay it back.
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In times of great stress or adversity, it's always best to keep busy, to plow your anger and your energy into something positive.
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Motivation is everything. You can do the work of two people, but you can't be two people. Instead, you have to inspire the next guy down the line and get him to inspire his people.
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It pains me to see my old company, which has meant so much to America, on the ropes. But Chrysler has been in trouble before, and we got through it, and I believe they can do it again. [...] Let's face it, if your car breaks down, you're not going to take it to the White House to get fixed. But, if your company breaks down, you've got to go to the experts on the ground, not the bureaucrats.
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Start with good people, lay out the rules, communicate with your employees, motivate them and reward them. If you do all those things effectively, you can't miss.