July 28, 2019
A Note on Wisdom
Socrates thought that the only true wisdom you possess is the understanding that you know nothing. Albert Einstein would have argued that his discussion's focal point was skewed; Einstein believed wisdom lay in the journey to achieve it - not in the amount of formal training one possesses. Witold Gombrowicz may have butted in, bringing forward the idea that wisdom's twin sister was foolishness. Jimi Hendrix probably would not have spoke, for he thought that knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens.
A Successful Succession
On April 18, 2018, history was made. Stephen K. Carlisle became Cadillac's CEO, succeeding Johan de Nysschen. Former President and Managing Direct of GM Canada, Carlisle was the perfect person for the job. Though this successful succession transpired over a year ago, an understanding of Cadillac's future requires a remembrance of this moment. But before we can look towards the future of Carlisle's Cadillac, let's look towards the legacy of Nysschen's.
A Moment on Legacy
The absence of Nysschen may speak louder than his presence - his legacy will resonate louder than a reverb, a constant echo even if the source is long gone. Nysschen accomplished too much to name in his time as Cadillac's CEO. The biggest impact of his may be his work internationally: he grew Cadillac's sales more than fifty percent in China. In the first three months of 2018, sales in China grew by forty percent. Given that China's population sits around 1.386 billion with a GDP of 12.24 trillion USD, Cadillac's growth in China is more than a success.
The Culmination of It All: Wisdom, Successions, and Legacies
You can never total it all - everything that one puts forward. You can never separate the lone singularity from its followers. An accurate calculation of Nysschen's legacy will never exist. Yet one thing will supersede this - the greatness of his successor. Carlisle is more than the new CEO of Cadillac; he is the face of a new generation. He is the symbol for the future of the car industry.
To truly reap what Nysschen has sowed, the wisdom of Carlisle must be analyzed. His word must be known not just to understand today but to understand the future. When Carlisle succeeded Nysschen, he had this to offer:
"The potential for Cadillac across the globe is incredible and I'm honored to be chosen to be a part of mapping that future. I look forward to building on our current momentum as we continue on our mission to position Cadillac at the pinnacle of luxury."
While the greats may argue over the true meaning of wisdom, Carlisle's opinion of wisdom is easy to derive from his language: wisdom is knowing that momentum is power. What does this mean for Cadillac's future? Well, their trajectory may stray from linear to exponential - if momentum is the focus, anything and everything will be accomplished under Carlisle's leadership of Cadillac. What does that mean to you? A bright future awaits Cadillac. Learn about our values as a dealership on our website or visit us Monday - Saturday for more info!
