Henry Ford

'If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses.' Developed the Model T based on his vision of what customers needed rather than what they requested. Believed customers couldn't articulate their desire for affordable, reliable automobiles because they had no reference point for such products.

Stayed focused exclusively on motor business throughout career, avoiding diversification into other industries. Produced only Model T from 1908 to 1927, rejecting pressure to create multiple models. 'Any customer can have a car painted any color that he wants so long as it is black' exemplified extreme focus on core product.

Focused entirely on perfecting one automobile model rather than creating multiple luxury variants. The Model T embodied radical simplification - reliable, affordable transportation stripped of unnecessary complexity. Believed in 'making one product well at scale rather than many luxury products.'

'Whether you think you can, or you think you can't—you're right.' Convinced investors and employees that mass-produced automobiles were achievable when most considered them luxury items. 'I cannot discover that anyone knows enough about anything on this earth definitively to say what is and what is not possible.'

'I never employ an expert in full bloom.' Preferred hiring people without preconceived notions about how things should be done. Believed experienced professionals were too constrained by conventional wisdom to innovate breakthrough solutions.

'The natural thing to do is work' and 'No work with interest is ever hard.' Believed manufacturing created genuine value for society by producing useful goods. 'Power and machinery, money and goods, are useful only as they set us free to live.' Saw industrial production as fundamentally liberating force for humanity.

Built River Rouge Plant as world's largest industrial complex, bringing suppliers in-house to control entire production process. Brought raw materials in one end and finished automobiles out the other. Created self-contained facility that controlled quality, costs, and timing of every component.

'We are charged with discovering the best way of doing everything.' Continuously refined Model T production, reducing assembly time from 12 hours to 2.5 hours. Believed everything could always be improved, never satisfied with status quo. 'Our invariable reply to it can't be done is go do it.'

Used the word 'service' 129 times in his autobiography, stating 'Money comes naturally as a result of service.' Believed business exists primarily to serve customers rather than generate profits. 'Industry exists to make things that people use' - saw manufacturing as fundamentally about creating value for end users.

Introduced $5 daily wage in 1914, more than doubling worker pay from industry standard. Created five-day, 40-hour work week in 1926. Believed high wages would create customers for Ford products while improving worker productivity and loyalty.

Built Ford Motor Company entirely through earnings, avoiding borrowing. Called debt the 'slave motive' that constrained business freedom. Bought out all minority stockholders in 1919 for $105,820,894 to maintain complete control and avoid external financial pressures.

'Waste is due largely to not understanding what one does or being careless in doing it.' Obsessed with eliminating waste in time, materials, and processes. Assembly line innovation reduced Model T production time from 12 hours to 2.5 hours. 'Hiring two men to do the job of one is a crime against society.'

Reduced Model T price from $825 in 1908 to $360 in 1916 through manufacturing improvements. Believed in making products affordable for ordinary people rather than maximizing margins on luxury items. Demonstrated that high wages and low prices could coexist profitably.