Every marketting and management person should know about Lee Iacocca

         Management and Marketing are the two very important functions in any Industry. Primarily, we need to run the organization well and we need to market our products. For a manager, it is very difficult to deal with humans and getting the work done and it will always be challenging. For a Marketing guy, the difficulty lies in reaching the targets in time and facing stiff competition in the Market. I do believe that unless these Management and Marketing people acquire a definite set of skills, it is very difficult for them to survive. We may find many books in the Market on management strategies, management and also marketing and marketing techniques. Most of the books are written by scholars and the successful personalities rarely find time to write books and spread their experience and knowledge. Even if the successful people find time to spread their experience and knowledge, they may not effectively disclose the secret of their success or how to succeed. Many big personalities like Bill Gates, Stiffen Hawking, Bill Clinton, A.P.J.Abdul Kalam, Warren Buffet etc., have written books trying to expose their experience which can be useful for the society. Except few like Stiffen Hawking and A.P.J.Abdul Kalam, many could not reach out the target readers or getting the desired result.

          I had the privilege of reading the biography of "Lee Iacocca" who was the vice-president of Ford once and Chairman of Chrysler next finally when he has retired. It was a best seller and I have read the book for some 20 times and I have vividly enjoyed reading that. It is a story of an emigrant, it is about American society, it is about personal interests, reaching out the targets, step by step achievements, organizational politics, blood relationships, set-backs, come-backs and finally about a true successful person. Like our A.P.J.Kalam's "Wings of Fire", the biography of Lee Iacocca teaches us many things. As it is the result of personal experience and victory finally, the expressions in the book are very valuable to everyone who wants to succeed in their life.

          Lee Iacocca was an emigrant and settled in USA. He was a bright student in school and as every emigrant does, he has devoted himself to disciplined life and studies. Acquired a degree in designing and pursued his dream of becoming an employee in Ford Motors. But, his interest lay in dealing with humans as he says he wanted to be in Marketing. Now a day, many embrace marketing responsibility as a compulsion and it is very rare to see embracing marketing without any base. But, Lee Iacocca has decided to take on the challenge at a very young age, but, his employer could not support him in getting the job in Marketing though they appreciate his ability. Lee has tried on his own and could get a job in Marketing in the same Ford Motors and by achieving the targets he has acquired positions in the Marketing Wing of Ford Motors. Finally, after so much effort and achievements, Henry Ford has given Lee an opportunity to be vice-president of Ford Motor Company. But, Henry scared about Lee's ability, focus and exposure and he could have thought that Lee can be a big threat to himself and his family's presence in the company at the top level. He has even diluted the vice-president's position and created all sorts of problems to Lee. Lee had to tolerate all the politics as he thought he could not leave the company at 50's and that to after spending life time in Ford Motors. But, Henry has fired Lee for no fault and without assigning any reason. Ford was second largest motor company in USA at that time and even now and being vice-president of it, is something very big position. He may not find a position equal to vice-president of Ford at that age. But, he has sustained. Chrysler which was in the 10th place at time, offered Lee a job giving a good status and pay which is equal to Charmin’s remuneration at that time. They had to amend their rules for making the way for Lee. Chrysler was literally bankrupt at that time. Lee has taken the charge and used all his experience and skills in turning the Chrysler a successful company. Despite his best efforts Chrysler could not recover soon due to the recession at that time. For the first time, Lee could convince the USA government and got a rescue package. Though, it is very common now as we see packages to Ford and GM under obama’s administration and even before, their policy is not in favour of rescuing a sick company. They think that giving rescue package is nothing but rewarding a bad performer. But, advocating his case well, Lee could get rescue package from Government and Chrysler soon recovered and improved its place. After some time, Chrysler has come to 3rd position from 10th and all credit goes to Lee Iacocca naturally. Once many requested Lee to run for presidency of United States, but, he refused. It is only a brief.

         The Book highlights:

              1. The importance of taking challenging tasks.

              2. Being good at basic things like reading and writing.

               3. It clearly says that one need not study in Harvard or Cambridge to be successful in life.

               4. It deals with the basic qualities required for a Marketting guy.

              5. It deals with the management strategies and how to manage an organization.

              6. It is an eye opener that talent will sustain though it faces some set-backs.

              7. It exposes the organizational politics and how to deal with it.

              8. It exposes as to how to make a balance between job obligations and personal commitments.

            Every Management and Marketing guy will naturally read about Lee Iacocca.  I strongly feel that for effective management and successful marketing, the experiences of Lee and how he has tackled the crisis are very significant. His statements and advice to the younger generation, is very much useful for every MBA student, management personal and marketing guys.

            Please read Lee Iacocca’s biography and get free tips as to how to be successful in life, business or chosen field.