Introduction:Mr. Zong Qinghou passed away, and I would like to share a few feelings.
Yesterday, Wahaha released an obituary saying that the founder of the group, Zong Qinghou, died at the age of 79 due to ineffective medical treatment. I was on my way on a business trip when I heard the news, and to be honest, I couldn't believe it. But the overwhelming ** reports made me realize that this turned out to be true.
I have always had a lot of respect for the older generation of entrepreneurs. Their entrepreneurial spirit has always been a role model for me to learn from.
Mr. Zong Qinghou is one of the representative figures of the first generation of private entrepreneurs in China. He started from scratch at the age of 42, starting from selling popsicles on three wheels, and single-handedly built a huge beverage empire - Wahaha Group.
Wandering in the torrent of the times and rising in the tide of reform, Mr. Zong Qinghou has the epitome of the "flowering" generation of entrepreneurs, simple, diligent, with great love in his heart and responsibility on his shoulders.
Today, allow me to share three points with you.
"Employees over the age of 45 will not be dismissed."In Wahaha, Zong Qinghou has such a special regulation, that isEmployees over the age of 45 cannot be dismissed.
In fact,As long as he didn't make a big mistake of principle, Zong Qinghou would never dismiss anyone.
Why? Zong Qinghou explained in an interviewEveryone's level is high and low, and the company can arrange suitable positions and employment mechanisms that can go up and down, but as long as it is not illegal and undisciplined, it should not be directly fired.
He said:"I'll never dismiss peopleHe's doing a good job here, why are you firing him? Even if there is a difference in ability, will the poor never find a job? The boss should care about the interests of the employees and the small family of the employees, so that he has no worries."
Over the years, the news of layoffs in large factories has come and gone, and some companies will even "touch the porcelain layoffs", in order to reduce costs, they will lay off employees over 35 years old.
On the Internet, "35 years old" has become a hurdle in the workplace.
Before the age of 35, you are a "human resource"; After the age of 35, you are a "labor cost", no one wants you anymore, not only will you be laid off, but it will also be difficult to find a suitable job.
However, Zong Qinghou will never dismiss a person because of the age and ability of employees, he is willing to accept those who are not capable enough, give them a platform, and give them a chance to improve themselves.
People drown themselves, ** reach themselves, this is the pattern of Zong Qinghou.
"I'm working for my employees."Not only does he not dismiss employees easily, Zong Qinghou also believes that entrepreneurs have the responsibility to help employees get rich.
He has emphasized many timesThe individual entrepreneur does play a key role in the enterprise, but without the efforts of all employees, the enterprise cannot be run.
Therefore, Zong Qinghou often publicly calls for entrepreneurs to often raise wages for employees.
Wahaha did the same. In addition to the high year-end bonus red envelopes, employees are basically given salary increases every year, and nearly 1 billion yuan is spent to build employee talent apartments to help employees solve housing problems.
In a live broadcast, Zong Qinghou said: "We will raise salaries for employees every year, solve housing problems, eat Chinese New Year's Eve dinner together every New Year, give out red envelopes, and take care of employees' 'small families', so that employees can develop the 'everyone' of the enterprise." ”
When talking about "996", Zong Qinghou believedBosses shouldn't force "996" on employees.
Running a business is the pleasure of the boss himself, and for the boss himself, you can "996", no matter how busy and tired you are, but you should not tie your employees to this "chariot".
In Zong Qinghou's view, for the sake of the interests of the enterprise, it is very bad and inhumane to squeeze the time of employees indefinitely and treat employees as "tool people".
Although he is very angry with employees, Zong Qinghou is very "harsh" to himself.
He usually travels without bodyguards, no assistants, chooses second-class seats when he takes high-speed rail, and takes economy class when he takes planes.
He also has no requirements for life, eats three meals a day in the company canteen, likes to eat tofu and vegetables, does not go out to spend money, 30 yuan a pair of cloth shoes can be worn for a year, and the annual expenditure is less than 50,000 yuan.
He is simple in life, but extremely diligent in work.
In the past 30 years, Zong Qinghou has worked more than 16 hours a day, basically no holidays 365 days a year, and has been on business trips for more than 200 days a year, running around production bases and first-line markets across the country.
Zong Qinghou believes that diligence is very important. God rewards hard work, in business life,If measured by 100 points, diligence accounts for at least 70 or 80 points.
Some bosses treat their employees as cattle and horses, only to increase their wealth on their own books, but Zong Qinghou said:
"I'm working for my employees."”
What is Entrepreneurship? For several years, we have been calling for entrepreneurship. But entrepreneurship has never been a slogan, it's a practice.
In Mr. Zong Qinghou, you can strongly feel the entrepreneurial spirit of the older generation of entrepreneurs.
What is Entrepreneurship?
1.Standing at the head of the tide, actions speak louder than words
At the age of 42, he went to the sea to start a business, like a tide maker standing on the tide of the times, Zong Qinghou led Wahaha all the way through obstacles, and finally achieved a generation of Zhejiang business legends. This not only has the dividends of the reform of the times, but also is inseparable from Zong Qinghou's own self-improvement and struggle.
When the industry is getting more and more volatile and the competition is becoming more and more fierce, do you choose to surrender, or go against the current, and keep striving and surpassing?
As an entrepreneur, you are not qualified to retreat, no matter what kind of wind and waves, what kind of difficulties you face, you must have the courage to stand at the head of the tide, actions speak louder than words.
2.Bow down and get in
Zong Qinghou has led Wahaha for more than 30 years, and the biggest feature is to stick to the next line and run the market in person.
He travels more than 200 days a year, often holding meetings with distributors at all levels to search for information on what drinks sell well at home and abroad.
Many bosses are reluctant to do their own work if they do too much, but in this day and age, every day is facing new changes, if you can't get into the game and always give instructions in the office, then how can you do it well.
3.Pioneering and innovative
From Wahaha AD calcium milk, to Wahaha pure water, to Wahaha Nutrition Express ......Zong Qinghou never sticks to the rules, and has always insisted on pioneering and innovating.
The New World cannot be found on the old map. The industry has changed, the environment has changed, and the old experience will become an obstacle today.
A true entrepreneur can break the rules, have the courage to abandon the old ideas, always explore, think of good ideas, innovate products, and seize market opportunities.
4.Social responsibility
Zong Qinghou has a strong sense of family and country and social responsibility. He once said: "Enterprises are not only to make money, but also to contribute to society." ”
For more than 30 years, he has paid more than 60 billion yuan in taxes for the country, provided a large number of employment opportunities for the society, and personally did public welfare, funded education, and helped the poor.
If a person only thinks about making quick money for himself and does not take social responsibility, then he must not be able to go far.
In the movie "Dream Travel", it says:A person will experience death twice. The first time was when he stopped breathing; The second time was when he was forgotten.
People may be forgotten, but the thoughts and wisdom engraved in the depths of people's hearts will never be forgotten.
Finally, I wish Mr. Zong Qinghou a good journey.