Through the book Humanities for CEOs, I was reminded that today’s top CEOs draw wisdom and answers from classics like The Art of War and Romance of the Three Kingdoms. I too read The Art of War during my training period while serving as a KATUSA soldier in college. I recall my American platoon leader recognizing the book I was reading and expressing surprise to his colleagues, saying, “A KATUSA private is reading this military strategy book.” I, on the other hand, was puzzled, wondering, “How does an American even know about The Art of War?” Just as Apple’s Steve Jobs was deeply immersed in Eastern philosophy, great leaders throughout history have cultivated their capabilities through the classics. I reaffirmed that humanities education is essential for understanding and winning people’s hearts.

While prioritizing employee satisfaction over customer satisfaction may sound paradoxical at first, this is precisely the fundamental driving force that enables employees to create excellent products and services. Therefore, the CEO must lead by example and establish fair principles for rewards and punishments. He emphasizes the need to deliberate between character and competence, distinguish between mere complainers and genuinely negative employees, and earn employees’ loyalty through sincere, heartfelt appreciation. Dramatic examples of winning talent include the anecdote of appointing an elderly man who could recite multiplication tables to attract more talent, and Liu Bei’s act of throwing his infant son onto the ground before General Zhao Zilong—who had just rescued his child from the battlefield—to prioritize the general’s safety. Of course, from a modern perspective, Liu Bei’s actions might appear child abuse.

To cultivate talent, build organizational culture, develop leadership, and create a sustainable company—common challenges for all CEOs—it is essential to establish a healthy **‘sovereign-subject relationship’**. Based on this, I learned the know-how for building a sustainable enterprise created not by one outstanding CEO, but by all employees working together. I happened to encounter this book at a time when I needed to hire employees. It allowed me to absorb the very essence of wisdom mastered by world-class managers like a tonic. It even feels as if Zhuge Liang himself were advising me from beside me. Pondering which talent will breathe new vitality into our organizational culture, I rise at 4:30 a.m. today, dedicating my utmost effort to finding that talent.