Key Moments
Değişmeyen Tek Şey Değişimdir! | Ahmet Rona Yırcalı | TEDxSırrı Yırcalı Anatolian HS
TEDKey Moments
Family businesses struggle to adapt to change, but embracing it leads to sustained success and innovation. The key is to question the status quo and look for opportunities in challenges.
Key Insights
The Yırcalı family has been in industry for four generations, spanning 100 years, demonstrating significant adaptability in the Turkish economic landscape.
A decision was made to halt operations at a family factory founded in 1923 due to its obsolete location and economic infeasibility, redirecting resources to the more viable animal feed sector.
Appointing a woman as a general manager 50 years ago in Balıkesir, a region where this was highly unconventional, proved successful and led to a thriving enterprise employing 2,000 people with 85% of production exported.
The speaker cites Süleyman Demirel's quote, 'Yesterday is yesterday, today is today,' emphasizing the need to adapt decisions and strategies based on current circumstances, not past successes.
Establishing the Balıkesir Chamber of Industry and the Organized Industrial Zone (OSB) faced significant resistance, taking over 6 months and 5 years respectively to gain acceptance and operationalize.
The establishment of the Turkish Education Foundation (TEV) in 1967, spearheaded by Vehbi Koç, encountered resistance from florists and religious figures due to its innovative approach of replacing traditional flower tributes with donations.
The unchanging nature of change in business
In a world facing shared economic conditions, technological advancements, and uncertainties, individual perspectives on challenges vary significantly. While some see insurmountable problems, others identify opportunities for solutions and innovation. This inherent difference in outlook drives individuals to question limitations and explore possibilities. However, change also brings apprehension, fueled by the fear of failure or unexpected outcomes. The speaker, drawing from nearly a century of family business experience across four generations, emphasizes that adaptability is not just beneficial but essential for survival and success. He notes that what worked for previous generations may not guarantee future success, and clinging to past achievements can become the biggest obstacle to progress.
Strategic pivot from a legacy factory
The speaker shares an early experience with a family factory founded by his maternal grandfather in 1923. By the time he became involved, the factory, initially established outside the city, had become landlocked within the growing urban area, making its operations logistically challenging and economically unviable. Despite the deep emotional and historical significance of the factory, a difficult decision was made to cease its operations. This move, though emotionally taxing, was strategically sound. Instead of incurring further losses or trying to revive an outdated model, the family redirected their efforts and resources into the animal feed sector, a related industry. This proactive decision, made despite the difficulty, ultimately led to better outcomes and success, illustrating the importance of adapting to changing economic and urban realities.
Pioneering female leadership in industry
A significant example of embracing change and challenging societal norms was the appointment of a female general manager to one of their companies, BES, approximately 50 years ago. In Balıkesir, at that time, such a position for a woman in industry was virtually unheard of, and potentially rare even nationally. The chosen candidate, Filiz, was already a deputy general manager at a foreign firm. Her confidence in managing local dynamics, stating she could handle Balıkesir after successfully managing Germans, proved prescient. Under her leadership, the company not only thrived economically but also integrated successfully with the local community. Today, this initiative has grown into a major enterprise employing 2,000 people, with 85% of its production geared towards exports, showcasing how forward-thinking decisions, even against prevailing norms, can yield substantial long-term rewards.
The necessity of questioning and adapting
The speaker repeatedly urges the audience, particularly the younger generation, to question established practices and assumptions. When told something is impossible, one should ask why. When faced with a problem, one should consider if it hides an opportunity. He emphasizes that simply preserving what was inherited is insufficient; the focus should be on developing and improving upon it for future generations. This requires venturing beyond comfort zones, taking risks, and adopting new perspectives. The core message is encapsulated in the idea that 'the only constant is change,' necessitating a dynamic approach to life and business.
Navigating economic crises with bold investments
Another illustration of navigating change and crisis involved the decision to build a new factory within an Organized Industrial Zone (OSB) in the early 2000s. Construction began in 2002, coinciding with significant economic crises in Turkey in 2002-2004, marked by currency devaluation and soaring interest rates, which brought the national economy to a standstill. Despite this turbulent environment, the investment continued. The situation became more precarious with the global financial crisis of 2008. At this point, the team considered halting the project, fearing they could not manage it. However, with encouragement from bankers and courage from within the family, they persevered. As a publicly traded company, the decision carried responsibility towards shareholders. Ultimately, the project succeeded and has become a valuable enterprise, demonstrating the rewards of resilience and long-term vision during times of economic upheaval.
Overcoming resistance to organizational change
The establishment of the Balıkesir Chamber of Industry in 1981 and the Organized Industrial Zone (OSB) both faced considerable opposition. Creating the Chamber required securing 60% of industrialists' votes, and it took over six months of persuasion to overcome resistance from those who preferred maintaining the existing provincial branch structure. Similarly, establishing the OSB, despite having pre-prepared infrastructure, took approximately five years to gain widespread acceptance among industrialists who were accustomed to developing their own land from scratch. These experiences highlight the difficulty of enacting change, even when the benefits are clear, and the prevalence of a mindset that prioritizes the status quo over progress and innovation.
Challenging traditions for a greater cause
The speaker uses the example of the Turkish Education Foundation (TEV), founded in 1967 by Vehbi Koç, to illustrate how even noble initiatives can face resistance. TEV's innovative approach of encouraging donations in lieu of traditional flowers for events aimed to fund scholarships for students. This seemingly straightforward concept encountered significant pushback from florists who lost business and from religious figures who opposed the redirection of charitable practices. Despite the clear benefit to young people and the nation, the struggle to establish TEV and its core fundraising mechanism was immense, taking years to overcome opposition and gain widespread acceptance. This resistance, rooted in differing viewpoints and traditions, unfortunately, persists even today for various causes.
The role of AI and understanding history
Looking towards the future, the speaker identifies Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a transformative force that the younger generation will need to embrace. Just as telephones and computers became indispensable, AI will fundamentally alter how we live and work. He urges students to prepare for this by engaging with AI, even as its future applications remain uncertain. He recounts a visit to a factory in China where robots were not only manufactured but also managed production lines and trained other robots, a scene that might seem futuristic now but will likely be commonplace by the time today's students graduate. Furthermore, he stresses the importance of understanding history, particularly local history like the Kuvayi Milliye movement in Balıkesir during the Greek occupation, to better understand the present and inform future decisions. He encourages critical questioning of leadership and contributions to society, emphasizing that innovation requires a solid understanding of the past.
Mentioned in This Episode
●Organizations
●Concepts
●People Referenced
Common Questions
The core message is that change is the only constant, and adapting to new circumstances, questioning the status quo, and embracing innovation are crucial for success, both personally and professionally.
Topics
Mentioned in this video
Mentioned for his famous quote 'Yesterday is yesterday, today is today,' which the speaker uses to emphasize the need to adapt to changing times.
The speaker's maternal grandfather, founder of the Muharrem Hasbi factory, established in 1923.
Mentioned as the figure who initiated Turkey's opening up and export-oriented policies, which influenced the development of Balıkesir.
Founder of the Turkish Education Foundation (TEV), established in 1967, which the speaker's father was involved in.
Quoted at the end to reinforce the message that 'change is the only constant,' with the saying 'Yesterday is yesterday, today we must say new things.'
A company/organization mentioned in relation to appointing a female general manager 50 years ago, highlighting pioneering change.
A foundation established by Vehbi Koç in 1967 to provide university-level scholarships, which faced initial resistance.
The industrial chamber of Balıkesir, which the speaker was instrumental in founding in 1981, facing significant initial opposition.
Organized Industrial Zone in Balıkesir, the establishment of which also faced opposition, but eventually became a hub for many factories.
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