In 1945 Masura Ibuka decided to begin company in the ruins of war-torn Japan with 7 people and $1,600 in personal savings. They started the business, and then had a brainstorming session to decide what sort of products to make. They thought about sweetened bean paste soup, miniature golf equipment, and slide rules. They decided to make rice cookers, but the cookers didn’t work. So they tried a tape player, and it flopped in the market. Who wants to work in a company like that? 8 guys in a bombed out basement with $1,600 who can’t cook rice? But Masura Ibuka did something remarkable: he sat down and thought about what he wanted his company to be like. Not what he wanted them to make, or what sort of profit he wanted to turn: what he wanted the place to feel like. What kind of a company would it be, and on May 7, 1946 he wrote this: Purposes of Incorporation · To establish a place of work where engineers can feel the joy of technological innovation, be aware of their mission to society, and work to their heart’s content. · To pursue dynamic activities in technology and production for the reconstruction of Japan and the elevation of the nation’s culture. · To apply advanced technology to the life of the general public. Management Guidelines · We shall eliminate any unfair profit-seeking, persistently emphasize substantial and essential work, and not merely pursue growth. · We shall welcome technical difficulties and focus on highly sophisticated technical products that have great usefulness in society, regardless of the quantity involved. · We shall place our main emphasis on ability, performance, and personal character so that each individual can show the best in ability and skill. Now who wants to work in a company like that? Congratulations, you just signed up as one of the first seven employees of Sony.