Hikotaka Takeuchi, professor at Harvard Business School, in the new (and fantastic) Uniqlo Made For All publishing piece found in their stores.
Clerk-to-Chief is more of a realized dream in Japan and within the Far East, but there are some notable Western examples. The surprising thing is that these great creation stories aren’t told as often as they could be; they are really powerful inside and outside of the organization. When I was working within GM, the parking lot attendant at the Renaissance Center headquarters used to bullshit with me while he was running my card. One day he handed me my card and said, “I’m next in line to be chairman, right behind Earl.” Behind him with the day’s Detroit Free Press draped over his chest, Earl was in full slumber, but looking chairman-esque nonetheless.
