Lesson Learned in Himalayas
By Yoon Ja-young
Staff Reporter
What are the similarities between a mountaineer heading to a peak in the Himalayas and a CEO sitting in a big swivel chair? For LIG Insurance CEO Koo Cha-joon, they share a lot in common. He says management is like an expedition, venturing into the unknown with courage.
Koo is known as a lover of marathons and mountaineering. But he's more than just an amateur ― he joined an expedition team to Mt. Everest.
He started explorations and marathon running in 1999, when he joined LIG after leaving the manufacturing industry, where he had worked for 26 years. He had the chance to meet s two of the country's famous mountaineers ― Park Young-seok and Oh Eun-sun ― and was impressed by their spirit of challenge, passion and courage, which are required of not only mountaineers but also entrepreneurs.
Koo adapted some of the principles he learned from climbers and marathoners to management.
First of all, both mountain climbers and managers require basic strength. The Asian financial crisis that the country went through over a decade ago and more recently, the global financial crisis, show how one should build up strength in order to survive hardships, which can come anytime.
Flexibility is also required for both explorers and CEOs. When one goes on an expedition or runs a marathon, they expect to encounter the unexpected, such as sudden weather changes. Koo says the same goes for corporate management. The global business arena is rapidly changing and no business can succeed if it fails to keep up to date. Rapidly adapting oneself to the changing environment and coming up with solutions is a key to success, according to the CEO.
Koo also stresses persistence. After setting up plans, one should be persistent enough to push for them. Just like the mountaineer who heads for the peak or the marathoner who makes the last dash toward the finish line, management requires endless effort and persistent will.
He tells LIG Insurance employees that eventually "you have to fight against yourself." One should never let down in hardship if he or she wants to achieve something. Only those who temper themselves can enjoy the joy of victory and the glory of success.