Khalil Eter
A quote attributed to Carlos Ghosn in the interview clip supplied with this piece offers a challenging starting point:
My advice for young professionals: Put your interests at the same level as the company's, because they will forget your sacrifices.
I see this from different perspectives.
Good companies always keep their employees’ interests in mind. They understand that the more they invest in developing their people, the more the company reaps the benefits.
On another note, I highly recommend putting the company's interests ahead of your own, especially when you're entering the job market.
My advice? Learn, learn, and learn some more, until your name becomes as influential as Carlos Ghosn’s name. Then, maybe, you can put your interests on an equal level with those of the company you work for.
Nissan’s 1999 Revival Plan called for a worldwide headcount reduction of 21,000, including through natural attrition, early retirement, and the sale of non-core businesses.
I won't say it was because those employees were putting their interests first. But he certainly put the company's interests ahead of theirs, and on a massive scale.
That’s business, unfortunately. In my view, that is a risk when you put your benefits above, or at the same level as, the company’s.
View the interview clip referenced by the author
Historical context: Nissan’s 1999 Revival Plan.
