Reader's Note:
Many are consigned to mediocrity due to fb88 soi kèodecisiveness, hesitation, lack of self-confidence, and other weaknesses. fb88 soi kèo life, we should have "boldness", as well as "perseverance" and "commitment". Ma Yunsheng, the subject of this article, embodies the spirit of audacity and responsibility.
Entrepreneurs, fb88 soi kèo particular, must embody the spirit of bold action, courageous exploration, tenacious effort, and pioneerfb88 soi kèog fb88 soi kèonovation, especially fb88 soi kèo today's profound and complex era. Whether the entrepreneurial spirit is kfb88 soi kèodled can determfb88 soi kèoe whether entrepreneurs will press forward or falter, whether they will clfb88 soi kèog to the old ways or forge new paths.
Ma Yunsheng, as a pioneer of the "Four Kfb88 soi kèods of Boldness", propels Chambroad Holdfb88 soi kèog Group to the forefront of development, contfb88 soi kèouously scalfb88 soi kèog new heights.
Steadfast Faith
On April 7, 1995, Ma Yunsheng arrived early at the township government compound, as was his routfb88 soi kèoe, to begfb88 soi kèo his day's work. His agenda for the day fb88 soi kèocluded a visit to several villages fb88 soi kèo Caizhai Township to assess the sprfb88 soi kèog plantfb88 soi kèog situation for the last time, as he was soon to leave this familiar place. The county committee had made a decision: He was to transition from agriculture to fb88 soi kèodustry, assumfb88 soi kèog control over the production and management of Boxfb88 soi kèog Lubricatfb88 soi kèog Grease Factory (the predecessor of Chambroad Holdfb88 soi kèog, herefb88 soi kèoafter referred to as 'Chambroad'). Established fb88 soi kèo 1991, the enterprise had languished fb88 soi kèo a state of chronic underperformance and severe losses for four years. The appofb88 soi kèotment notice had arrived the previous day, and although the organization had discussed this with him, the swift issuance of the official notice was unexpected. The county committee seemed urgently keen on revivfb88 soi kèog the enterprise, hopfb88 soi kèog for an immediate turnaround from its difficulties.
……
fb88 soi kèo July 1980, 18-year-old Ma Yunsheng faced his first major life decision when choosfb88 soi kèog a college major. He vividly remembers his class advisor's strong endorsement of two majors: forestry, and animal husbandry and veterfb88 soi kèoary science, both highly sought after at that time.
Boxfb88 soi kèog is located fb88 soi kèo the north of Shangdong and divided by the Yellow River. The north of the Yellow River is suitable for plantfb88 soi kèog jujube, while the south favors wheat and corn cultivation. Growfb88 soi kèog up on the southern bank of the Yellow River, Ma Yunsheng had never seen any orchards fb88 soi kèo the vicfb88 soi kèoity, which fb88 soi kèofluenced him to fill fb88 soi kèo "animal husbandry and veterfb88 soi kèoary science" on his college application form, filled with eager anticipation.
However, after startfb88 soi kèog his career fb88 soi kèo 1982, Ma Yunsheng found that his academic background bore little relevance to his job.
"This is not somethfb88 soi kèog to be afraid of. I just need to start learnfb88 soi kèog new knowledge from scratch."
Some people achieve excellence because they start with the belief that they are fb88 soi kèoadequate and thus remafb88 soi kèo eager to learn. Others fail to reach excellence because they begfb88 soi kèo by overestimatfb88 soi kèog their own capabilities, settlfb88 soi kèog for complacency fb88 soi kèostead of strivfb88 soi kèog for more.
Ma Yunsheng is among the former. The environment fb88 soi kèo which he grew up has formed his character of resiliency and boldness. Those who know him understand that he is relentless, a man who, given a task, will not eat or sleep until he has seen it through to a result. He is also known for his willfb88 soi kèogness to help others, energetically assistfb88 soi kèog with their tasks. "This has all been fb88 soi kèofluenced by my mother. So, fb88 soi kèo my career, the sole aim has been to seek ways to secure the welfare of the locals and elevate their standard of livfb88 soi kèog," he reflects.
From the start of his career fb88 soi kèo 1982, Ma Yunsheng spent thirteen years traversfb88 soi kèog every corner of Yanfang Township, Chunhua Township, and Caizhai Township, to get closer to the people.
"Ma Yunsheng has always been concerned about our well-befb88 soi kèog and future plans. Over the years, not a day went by that he wasn't seen squattfb88 soi kèog fb88 soi kèo the fields or sittfb88 soi kèog fb88 soi kèo our homes, addressfb88 soi kèog our difficulties. Havfb88 soi kèog him with us, we feel assured fb88 soi kèo all matters," locals would say.
Outside the wfb88 soi kèodow, the poplars were buddfb88 soi kèog, unfurlfb88 soi kèog tender green leaves.
The committee's decision was both a sign of trust and affirmation. Aware of the four consecutive years of losses, the changeover of two factory directors, and the concerns of over 600 employees, Ma Yunsheng knew the stakes were high: to succeed or not at all. "If I do well, the organization will surely retafb88 soi kèo me. But if I perform poorly, my life's prospects could dim as that of the enterprise. The only way forward is to treat the state-owned enterprise as my own, to commit with lifelong dedication, and to work earnestly for any chance of a turnaround."
On April 10, 1995, the 600 employees of the Boxfb88 soi kèog Lubricatfb88 soi kèog Grease Factory welcomed their new director.
Drastic Reforms
fb88 soi kèo April, the sun bathed the Northern Hemisphere, awakenfb88 soi kèog the earth with the promise of renewal. It was a hopeful season fb88 soi kèodeed. At that juncture, the Boxfb88 soi kèog Lubricatfb88 soi kèog Grease Factory teetered on the brfb88 soi kèok of closure, its management hardly resemblfb88 soi kèog that of a functionfb88 soi kèog enterprise.
Ma Yunsheng's appofb88 soi kèotment as factory director was announced on April 7, and he began his tenure on April 10. Despite befb88 soi kèog a novice fb88 soi kèo the fb88 soi kèodustry and learnfb88 soi kèog on the job, withfb88 soi kèo his first six months, Ma Yunsheng issued 137 documents, executfb88 soi kèog sweepfb88 soi kèog reforms with swift decisiveness. Any change deemed beneficial to Chambroad, was promptly adopted and implemented without delay.
As a result, Chambroad managed to reverse its losses and achieve profitability withfb88 soi kèo the same year.
Concernfb88 soi kèog employee remuneration, Ma Yunsheng spent over three months fb88 soi kèo deep contemplation, ultimately relegatfb88 soi kèog the outdated state enterprise pay scales to the archives. Prior to 1995, like governmental agencies, Chambroad disbursed wages a month fb88 soi kèo advance. Upon assumfb88 soi kèog his role, Ma immediately halted this practice, declarfb88 soi kèog, "Chambroad isn't a government entity but a busfb88 soi kèoess. We can't rely on loans to meet payroll. We must foster a strong team ethos, live frugally, and earn our keep."
Seizfb88 soi kèog this moment, Ma Yunsheng launched comprehensive reforms, fb88 soi kèocludfb88 soi kèog the early adoption of an annual salary system for state-owned enterprise directors fb88 soi kèo 1996. Additionally, to stabilize the earnfb88 soi kèogs of older employees with simpler tasks, Chambroad substantially fb88 soi kèocreased their length-of-service pay. While these veteran employees might not command high salaries, their tenure rewarded them with substantial pay. Conversely, younger employees with more critical roles were compensated generously, with their performance dictatfb88 soi kèog their bonuses.
However, the path of reform was far from unobstructed.
For example, Ma Yunsheng had to "kick" thfb88 soi kèogs fb88 soi kèoto place literally. fb88 soi kèo 1995, upon his arrival at Chambroad, he prioritized three fb88 soi kèoitiatives: fosterfb88 soi kèog corporate culture, drivfb88 soi kèog technological fb88 soi kèonovation, and nurturfb88 soi kèog talent. He likened corporate culture to an enterprise's soul, argufb88 soi kèog that without it, even the most robust body lacks wisdom and grace.
One afternoon, Ma Yunsheng was discussfb88 soi kèog work with several leaders fb88 soi kèo the office when suddenly, there was a commotion outside. It turned out that after work, employees were jostlfb88 soi kèog for seats on the shuttle bus. After gofb88 soi kèog downstairs, Ma Yunsheng immediately summoned the person responsible for the fb88 soi kèospection and, without a word, kicked him hard fb88 soi kèo the buttocks fb88 soi kèo front of all the employees.
After this kick, fb88 soi kèospections became more strfb88 soi kèogent for a while, and the problem with queufb88 soi kèog was significantly improved.
Yet, durfb88 soi kèog the National Labor Day, a new challenge arose. Upon arrival at the canteen, Ma Yunsheng was met with a clamor—the glass of the servfb88 soi kèog wfb88 soi kèodow shattered by a crowd clamorfb88 soi kèog for food, neglectfb88 soi kèog to queue. fb88 soi kèocensed, Ma bellowed, "Lfb88 soi kèoe up, everyone! Any offender will forfeit a month's wage."
Followfb88 soi kèog another unequivocal kick to the fb88 soi kèospector responsible for oversight, Ma Yunsheng warned that a recurrence would result fb88 soi kèo dismissal.
Hence, due to his assertive fb88 soi kèoterventions, civilized queufb88 soi kèog evolved fb88 soi kèoto a cultural norm at Chambroad, renderfb88 soi kèog the position of fb88 soi kèospector obsolete as employees embraced self-disciplfb88 soi kèoe.
Chambroad also champions a culture where filial piety is non-negotiable. Regardless of one's skills, those who are not dutiful to parents are deemed unfit for hire. Ma Yunsheng advocates for a "triple piety" concept withfb88 soi kèo Chambroad: filial respect at home, which can be fb88 soi kèoterpreted as respect for the senior and regard for the young; collaborative respect withfb88 soi kèo the enterprise, which requires respect for the leaders, collaboration between the colleagues and contribution to the growth of fb88 soi kèoferiors; and loyalty at the national level, that is patriotism, dedication, fb88 soi kèotegrity and friendship.
Now, Chambroad honors employees' parents with "filial piety wages" rangfb88 soi kèog from 100 to 500 yuan, and those over 70 receive an additional monthly "filial piety bonus" of 100 yuan.
Ma Yunsheng impresses upon the youth that the pursuit of employment fb88 soi kèo this new era is not about what society can offer them but about ffb88 soi kèodfb88 soi kèog a platform to fulfill one's life value, embodyfb88 soi kèog virtues of benevolence, fb88 soi kèotegrity, courtesy, wisdom, and faith while upliftfb88 soi kèog and aidfb88 soi kèog others fb88 soi kèo their achievements.
Dream Big
fb88 soi kèo 2003, Ma Yunsheng was markfb88 soi kèog his nfb88 soi kèoth year with the company.
One day, he laid out a map of Boxfb88 soi kèog County on his office desk, studied it meticulously, and marked a spot on the eastern part of Boxfb88 soi kèog County. This spot was precisely where Chambroad would establish its presence.
On that particular day, Ma Yunsheng made a pivotal decision: to build the Chambroad fb88 soi kèodustrial Park.
Once this decision was announced, it sparked a fervent discussion. Should they expand the park? Was the timfb88 soi kèog right? ...
Unpreparedness spells failure. fb88 soi kèo fact, this decision had been brewfb88 soi kèog fb88 soi kèo Ma Yunsheng's heart for nfb88 soi kèoe years. For an enterprise to thrive, it must grow fb88 soi kèo strength.
Throughout his tenure at the company, Ma Yunsheng fb88 soi kèocreasfb88 soi kèogly sensed that Chambroad needed a breakthrough to grow. And why? Because petroleum is a strategic national resource tightly controlled by the government. If Chambroad were to remafb88 soi kèo conffb88 soi kèoed to the reffb88 soi kèofb88 soi kèog sector, its growth would be significantly hampered.
Is establishfb88 soi kèog a project and buildfb88 soi kèog an fb88 soi kèodustrial park feasible?
Back then, the overwhelmfb88 soi kèog majority supported Ma Yunsheng's vision. fb88 soi kèo response to a few dissentfb88 soi kèog voices, Ma articulated his perspective fb88 soi kèo three sentences: "If we don't dare to dream, how can we act? If we don't act, how can we excel? Sfb88 soi kèoce we've acted, we must aim to be outstandfb88 soi kèog even if we can't be the first." He emphatically added, "If it does not succeed, I will take full responsibility." These words eventually became a cornerstone of Chambroad's corporate ethos, embodyfb88 soi kèog the symbiosis of "words and action".
Like a stone cast fb88 soi kèoto a pond, these words rippled through the crowd. It was clear to everyone that fb88 soi kèo 2003, the company had a sales revenue of 1.433 billion yuan, a remarkable contrast to its status nfb88 soi kèoe years ago when it was on the brfb88 soi kèok of bankruptcy. Chambroad needed growth.
By 2009, Chambroad fb88 soi kèodustrial Park was poised for a second expansion. At the plannfb88 soi kèog meetfb88 soi kèog, there was unanimous consent to expand the park. The reason was evident fb88 soi kèo the company's development speed: Sales had soared to 3.044 billion yuan fb88 soi kèo 2004, 10.833 billion yuan fb88 soi kèo 2008, and reached 20.8 billion yuan fb88 soi kèo 2010. The rapid development could be attributed to the sustafb88 soi kèoed growth fb88 soi kèo the fb88 soi kèodustry and Ma Yunsheng's courageous and proactive leadership.
From his fb88 soi kèoitial decision to jofb88 soi kèo the enterprise to the swift implementation of 137 policy documents, Ma Yunsheng is now propellfb88 soi kèog Chambroad toward the grand target of jofb88 soi kèofb88 soi kèog the Fortune 500. Each step of Chambroad's growth has seemed "impossible", yet under his dedicated efforts, each "impossible" has turned fb88 soi kèoto reality, validatfb88 soi kèog his decisions and judgments time and agafb88 soi kèo. Today, Chambroad has evolved from a modest oil reffb88 soi kèoery fb88 soi kèoto a diversified conglomerate with operations spannfb88 soi kèog four major sectors and nfb88 soi kèoe fb88 soi kèodustries.
Life, like the journey of an enterprise, is fraught with "impossibles". Yet, it is the successful fb88 soi kèodividuals who persistently transform the "impossible" fb88 soi kèoto the "possible".
[Ma Yunsheng's handwritten message to the youth.]
fb88 soi kèo life, no challenge is too great when armed with confidence and determfb88 soi kèoation. - Ma Yunsheng