Summit Farmer
Chapter 1637 - 1635: Henry Ford’s Epiphany

Chapter 1637: Chapter 1635: Henry Ford’s Epiphany

Henry Ford had truly opened his heart to Peter Brown today, saying things he wouldn’t normally share with anyone.

Peter sipped his tea, pondered over Henry’s thoughts for a while, and couldn’t help but nod, "Brother Montgomery, I’ve learned a lot!"

Henry gave a bitter smile and said, "I am someone who has taken many detours. If someone had told me these things when I was younger, I might have been able to avoid some of them."

Seizing such a rare opportunity, Peter really wanted to listen carefully and asked, "Brother Montgomery, there’s no one else here. Can you talk about how people should choose their paths?" Although Peter had many insights of his own, he was eager to hear what Henry had to say.

Henry replied, "There are idealistic and pragmatic views on this matter, it depends on how you see it. As the saying goes, ’Believe, and it exists; doubt, and it doesn’t.’ Let me start with the idealistic perspective. We won’t discuss the karma from a previous life that leads to a good life in this one. Just by looking at your appearance, I can largely understand your life."

"Oh!"

Peter looked at Henry in astonishment, never expecting him to say something like that.

"Extend your hand and look for yourself; if your little finger’s tip surpasses the joint line of your ring finger, your life will be filled with many opportunities. If it is shorter, you won’t have much luck in your life, which is why some people prefer to grow the nail of their pinky finger past that joint line."

Peter looked at his own hand, wondering if that could really be true.

Henry chuckled and continued, "Now, look at the lengths of your index and ring fingers. It’s better if they are the same length. If your index finger is shorter than your ring finger, you’ll have a hard time getting ahead in life and tend to be bullied. So, it does make sense for those with short index fingers to let their nails grow a bit."

After saying this, he looked at Peter, "Sounds a bit fanciful, doesn’t it?"

Peter just smiled and said, "I didn’t realize there were so many details." In fact, Henry didn’t know that Peter had already played around with this idea in the office long ago.

Laughing heartily, Henry then said, "Sometimes you do need to study some physiognomy, it really can help in selecting talented individuals."

Peter scratched his head and replied, "It still feels somewhat fantastical to me."

Henry said, "Then let’s talk about something more realistic. If one wants to be successful, firstly, it’s about choosing the right thing to do. If you choose a company with no prospect for growth, no matter how hard you work, your chances of success won’t be significant. Thus, many people enter companies with no future and work tirelessly, misled by their leaders to toil away until they eventually realize it was all for nothing, having wasted their years and gained nothing."

"You’re right. Some people work on things even their bosses have no vision for. Even if they do a great job, all they’ll probably get is a meager salary, with no chance of getting rich," Peter said.

"Exactly. I don’t mean to look down on certain industries or companies, or even some small shops, but no matter how capable you are, if the platform isn’t right, all the effort is in vain."

Peter just nodded.

Henry continued, "Even if a company appears to be promising, when you join, you have to decide for yourself whether you’re there to get rich or to build a career. That’s extremely important. In that company, no matter how well you perform, you might just remain an employee without any chance of advancing. At most, you’ll gain experience. However, some companies, despite not looking particularly impressive, have great potential prospects which can benefit your life or future."

Seeing Peter deep in thought, Henry gave a wry smile and said, "When I first graduated, I had the opportunity to join a public institution but chose the corporate route instead. Looking back now, if I had gone into the public sector, I might have had more room for growth and wouldn’t be contemplating a return to public service at this stage in my life."

Peter didn’t inquire much about Henry’s affairs but could tell that Henry regretted his decision to join the corporate world.

After taking several deep drags of his cigarette, Henry laughed and said, "Look at me, why am I even discussing this? I just want to tell you that our group is a great platform. While it might not be very useful for me anymore, it is an excellent platform for young people like you, particularly someone with skills like yours. Don’t be fooled by the favorable terms some other companies offer right now. You need to look long-term. Once you make a name for yourself in this group, you’ll naturally be able to move to a public institution or even enter politics. Think about it; even a minor local official can come to our company and call the shots. What would your life be like if one day you could enter, perhaps even at a higher level than theirs?"

Although Peter didn’t care about becoming an official, he nodded in agreement with Henry’s words, recognizing the value in his experienced advice.

"Brother Montgomery, I really don’t want to leave the group," Peter confessed.

"Hmm, it’s good that you think this way. Even if you become a boss on your own, you’ll be cut down without someone to protect you. So, the best strategy is to be the one protecting others," Henry advised.

These words resonated with Peter once more, reminding him of the Carter Clan and reinforcing how right Henry was. This was not something to be taken lightly.

"Peter, your situation is not bad at all, much better than where I started. You became a vice manager right away. Secure this position and obtain every certification you can. Then you’ll truly become a core member of the company. At that point, anyone who wants to mess with you will have to think twice. Once you have a broader network, you’ll be able to rise even higher," Henry told him.

"Brother Montgomery, I can’t thank you enough. If you hadn’t spelled these things out for me, I’d still be clueless," Peter said gratefully.

"It’s a blessing for a person to receive guidance at crucial points in their life. I guess that’s as far as I go—no more climbing the ladder for me. But you, you have potential. I’m just hoping you’ll go even further. I still have some people in the branch office. I’ll speak to them, so in the future, they’ll rally around you. You’ll protect them, and they’ll support you, helping you to go further," Henry explained.

"I understand," Peter said.

Knowing that Henry’s main intention today was to pass his people on to him, Peter acknowledged that since Henry’s departure, his faction hadn’t fared well and everyone was feeling uneasy. With Peter’s protection, they would have security, and he would gain strength—a win-win situation.

Seeing Peter grasp his intentions, Henry’s face showed an even broader smile. "In the future, think about things more, and discuss them with your team. United effort is key. As the leader, you lead the way, and others will naturally follow," he advised.