Blog about Leadership

Lee Iacocca

Lee Iacocca, the man who revived the Chrysler brand after the tumultuous petroleum crisis of the late 1970s, was the former CEO of Chrysler and a leader with recognizable success.

Quote about what is most valuable in Business from Lee Iacocca:
“In the end, all business operations can be reduced to three words: people, product and profits. Unless you’ve got a good team, you can’t do much with the other two.”

People Matter Most

As the former President of Ford and Chrysler points out, the most important factor for businesses is the people; the same is true for any organization. It is people who make, market, and sell products. It is people who streamline services and operations. It is people who develop the competitive advantage for an organization. It is people who are the primary focus of leaders.

Where have all the Leaders Gone?

About Lee Iacocca and his new book “Where have all the Leaders Gone?”, David Siegfried wrote the following:

“Iacocca is outraged. Now 82, he has seen the U.S. overcome some of its worst crises, including the Great Depression and World War II, through great leadership. As the CEO of Chrysler Corporation, he brought the company back from the brink of bankruptcy and worked with the government to overcome the fallout from the 1970s oil crisis. Now, he says, our government has fallen under the grip of arrogant ideologues and spineless detractors. Our business leaders are more obsessed with stock options and trumping each other’s multimillion-dollar salaries than with finding creative solutions to pressing problems, such as the health-care crisis, our loss of competitive edge in the global marketplace, the massive trade deficit, and the slow death of the middle class. He describes his frustration as his successor at Chrysler sold out to Daimler-Benz, and the once proud, independent company lost its soul. Although Iacocca presents a brutal analysis of cronyism in Washington, D.C., the abysmal situation in Iraq, and failed policies at home, he is not a pessimist. With a reputation as a straight shooter, he hopes to inspire more young people to vote. This is a surprisingly outspoken take on the pressing need for real leadership in this country.”

Check out more about Lee Iacocca and his new book “Where have all the Leaders Gone?” here.

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