In 1979, Chrysler, the third largest automobile
producer in USA had acquired $1700 millions of credit, a record in the
industrial world at that time. They have borrowed from 400 banks. There was $1
million of cash in the bank while the daily expenses averaged at $80 million.
Analysts, experts, newspapers, stock market and all others unanimously declared
the impending doom. There was not a single voice of hope. Iacocca, who took over the chairmanship
on a near million dollar salary, said he would not have signed the contract had
he known the truth.
Workers did not work. The CFO could not speak about finances. Strikes abound. On the floor gambling, murder, and prostitution were organised. The chairman accepted the challenge, and announced he would draw $2 as annual salary till the company turned around. He asked the intransigent banks to wait, cut the salaries of rebellious workers, dismissed 34 out of 35 VPs, designed a new model K-car, offered money-back guarantee, an innovation in the automobile market, sold the car himself on the TV, earned twice the amount of the debts in three years, discharged the ten year government guarantee in three years and took home $20 million in pay, bonus, stocks, etc.
To accept a bleak situation with a sense of
responsibility is spiritual. Courage, sacrifice, determination are equally
spiritual. The Spirit of the ORGANISATION listens to the call and
fulfils what only a few years ago appeared impossible. Iacocca invoked the
Spirit physically while Tom Gooth did so spiritually.
v
Not
to rely on or resort to the old methods;
v
Total
reliance on what is beyond and unseen;
v
An
inner calm hitherto not reached, are some ways essentials to invoke the Spirit.
Should a man have simple, pure, spiritual faith, the Spirit inside can be invoked as a blissful inspiration without seeing double, as did Iacocca.
Life
is a field of success and failure. Unfailing success is the prerogative of the
Spirit, which in ordinary parlance means Truth and Faith.