Lead, Follow or Get Out of the Way

The charismatic car man and uber-mensch, Lee Iacocca, said in his last pitch before leaving the once-troubled Chrysler Corporation: “lead, follow or get out of the way.” Iacocca took Chrysler’s helm in the late 1970′s as the company was headed for the auto-maker graveyard. In a controversial move, the US Government guarantees loans to Chrysler and Iacocca  staged one of the most stunning turnarounds of a major corporation in America’s history.

Mr. Iacocca’s success at Chrysler was largely due to a simple premise – that the American people deserved a quality automobile at a reasonable price built domestically. (Early Ford and Volkswagen stories sound familiar?) With the malaise of the Carter years still gripping the nation and the promise of the ‘Reagan Revolution’ not yet materialized, regular folks were hungry for good news. Iacocca’s message was just what the economy doctor ordered.

Chrysler did what Iacocca had envisioned and became an early producer of higer MPG cars, put the minivan on the map and often touted new, cutting-edge car styling and engineering. When Mr. Iacocca left the company in the early 90′s, he had done a yeoman’s job of guiding Chrysler away from the brink to a promising future. He was truly a leader.

Yesterday, T. Boone Pickens walked up the Hill and pitched his ideas. Unlike the congress members listening, Mr. Pickens has put megabucks behind a wind project in Texas which he offers as a model for this fossil-to-renewable plan. Other than predictions of $300/bbl oil in ten years if the status quo remains, Mr. Pickens challenged congress to “…either do it or get out of the way”.

I don’t believe for a second that the US Government is capable of ‘doing’ this type of project, or should they. It is up to we the people to take on this challenge and a proven business leader is making a pitch to do just that. There will be many critics, but who are they and what is their solution? Will they they put up 8 or 9 figures of their own to lead a movement? Not likely.

There are times when the talk ends and the action begins. Now would be a good time!

Reuters: Pickens sees $300 oil unless U.S. cuts crude imports