my life and work, by henry ford

Henry Ford was born in 1863 on a farm in Dearborn, Michigan. From a young age, he exhibited an interest in mechanics. He was a tinkerer, and by the age of 13, had put together a watch that could keep time. 

His greatest interest lay in making machines that would travel the roads and in 1892, he built his first motor car. His autobiography is full of wisdom and advice, on business and on life. I’ve captured some of those points below:

Advice on Business

• Before starting to build something, draw out a plan and work out every detail 
• The only foundation of real business is service
• The health of every organization depends on every member – whatever his place – feeling that everything that happens to come to his notice relating to the welfare of the business is his own job
• More important than specific duties or titles, is developing a culture where people are wholly intent upon getting work done
• In workplaces, there is a habit of making work secondary and recognition primary
• Pay employees well. It is the right thing to do, and is good for business

Advice on Life (Quotes)

• Power and machinery, money and goods, are useful only as they set us free to live
• And out of the delusion that life is a battle that may be lost by a false move, I have noticed a great love for regularity
• There is also the great fear of being thought a fool
• The highest use of capital is not to make more money, but to make money do more service for the betterment of life