方洪波：势在我行，日变日新
1月15日，在刚刚迈入21世纪第三个十年之际，历史的交汇点上，面对百年未有之大变局，美的集团董事长兼总裁方洪波向全体员工发表了“势在我行，日变日新”的主题演讲，引领所有美的人一同回顾、感恩，一同反思、自省，一同重构、前行。
苦难和危机不是财富
过去的2020，疫情突如其来，一切都变得异常艰难。但是，美的集团上下，经受压力，激发了斗志；遭遇冲击，显示了韧劲；尝到苦难，重拾了珍惜；认识脆弱，学会了坚强。美的很快地复工复产，全球所有美的人同舟共济，一起并肩度过难关。
在这个过程中，我们做出了一系列的重大布局，这对于美的3年后、5年后、10年后的发展具有里程碑的意义。这也将成为我们未来的财富，过去几十年，美的都是这样走过来的。过去所有的困难和挑战，都让美的更加强大。
2020年，历经痛楚，说不出再见。每一天都很漫长，我们焦虑无奈，但越是艰辛的年代，越要回看、总结，会发现2020年可能是个分水岭，有些企业会成为伟大的企业，有些企业可能从此衰亡。
越是在疫情这种特殊的时代背景下，越要进行更深刻的思考。疫情是一面“照妖镜”、放大镜、显微镜，把我们的问题暴露出来。我们要反思做错了什么？会不会错失下一个时代？
敢于自我否定是一种自信
“太阳系是银河系里的一滴水，
地球是太阳系里的一滴水，
我们又是地球上的一滴水，我们如此地渺小，
放眼过去300年，商业文明的进步都是新旧势力斗争的结果，从燃油汽车 VS 马车，再到如今新能源汽车 VS 燃油汽车。新势力相信所有东西都可以改变，所有的危机、挑战和困难都是机会，旧势力、旧行业都纷纷被颠覆。美的要做新势力，接纳和拥抱新思维，不能成为旧势力的陪葬品，真正地到用户中去，正如我们今天的“一盘货”、“T+3”、去库存、去中心化。
美的没有东西可守
在这样一个大变局时代，要求我们高度敏感、对变化高度敬畏，接受和承认新事物；快速迭代自身能力，对不确定快速判断决策。
过去的成功法则需要全面迭代，不仅要重构，而且要剧烈重构，包括行业格局、商业模式、产业结构、业务变革、行业规则、机制体制、产品形态、新业态催生、管理逻辑等各个层面。美的站在大时代转折点，必须重新定义自己，以加速的步伐重构自己。快马加鞭，只争朝夕。
没有任何竞争优势是永恒的，而且优势越来越短暂。美的没有东西可守，我们要敢于尝试，敢于犯错误，不确定年代，不经历错误就不知道未来的方向。美的投资未来，要敢于进行颠覆性投资。我们要捍卫未来，而不是驻足过去。
善弈者谋势，布未来之局
We will meet again
相逢的人终会相逢
——1939年英国情歌
我们，为了未来与想成为的那个自己相逢而努力。
美的，为了未来与想成为的那个美的相逢而努力。
Paul : Beyond the Trend, Leading the Change
On January 15th, after just entering the third decade of the 21st century, at the cross-roads of history, facing changes unseen in a century, Paul, the Chairman and President of Midea Group, delivered a keynote speech titled: 'Beyond the Trend, Leading the Change ' to all Midea Group employees, leading them to reflect, show appreciation, and do some soul-searching, as we look to reconstruct and move forward together.
In this era of drastic change, Mideans around the world have walked hand in hand through 2020, and have pulled through the sufferings and crisis together. Facing such uncertainties, what is Midea’s identity? What should Midea do now? Where is Midea heading?
Using a thorough analysis of Midea’s internal and external difficulties, Paul Fang redefines who Midea is, announcing the four new strategic building block to illuminate the direction for Midea’s future: “Identify the trend, go beyond the trend” -evolve rapidly, dare to explore the unknown, become the new power, think outside of the box, and take control of the future!
The sudden outbreak of COVID-19 made everything extremely difficult in 2020. However, Mideans around the world have pulled through 2020 together. We were able to swiftly resume work and production. We faced this with courage and determination. By suffering together we have become more resilient and come to understand what is most precious; by discovering our weaknesses, we have become more robust.
During this process, we have arranged a series of strategic initiatives, which will become essential to Midea’s development in the next 3 years, or 5 years, or even 10 years. These initiatives will lay a foundation for our future wealth. Midea has gone through decades like this. Decades of experience and challenges have forged Midea with the resilience it has today.
We faced a lot of difficulties in 2020. In all those hard days, we were anxious and helpless. But when looking back what we have gone through, we find that 2020 could be a turning point, after which some companies will achieve greatness and some could be knocked out.
In times like 2020, we need to do some radical thinking. COVID-19, which can be seen as a mirror, microscope or magnifying glass, clearly revealed some of our mistakes. We need to honestly re-evaluate ourselves, where did we go wrong? How can we ensure not to miss-out on the coming new era?
To admit something to oneself requires self-confidence
We shall re-evaluate ourselves to have a better start again
Over the last 300 years we have borne witness to flourishing commercial civilizations that resulted from battles between the rising power and the declining one. Whether it was the conflict between car and carriage, or the modern day conflict between electric vehicles and gas powered ones, the new power always believed that old powers and industries could be overturned and that crisis, and problems could be turned into opportunities. Midea should aim to be the new power, embracing a modern mindset, rather than becomea power in decline. We need to understand our consumers, in more ways like our 'overall shared inventory', 'T+3', reducing inventory, and decentralization.
A philosopher once said: 'Individuals without the process of life is meaningless.' To admit something to oneself requires self-confidence and today, Midea should admit our shortcomings in order to improve and become stronger. The world changes fast. Our mindset needs to change with it, with growth and self-reflection along the way.
Midea has nothing to keep hold of
In this fast-paced era, everything faces restructuring
In an era of unprecedented change, we need to be highly sensitive and respectful of changes, accept and recognize new things; Quickly develop our innate abilities, and speedily make decisions about uncertainties.
Past triumphs will be surpassed, restructuring will be comprehensive including: Industrial layout, business models, industrial structure, business reform, Industrial rules, mechanism and systems, product forms, emerging business types, Management logic, etc. Midea stands at the turning point of the great era, it must seize the day, redefine and reconstruct itself at top speed.
No competitive advantage remains forever, and they are persisting less and less time. Midea has nothing to keep hold of. Do we dare to try, dare to make mistakes, dare to believe in the future? In the future of Midea investment, we must dare to make ground-breaking investments. We should fight for a bright future instead of reminiscing on old times.
A good chess player identifies trends and plans for the end game
Quickly develop our innate abilities, and remove uncertainty with swift judgement and decision making
A sailor can only show their true courage when faced with a great storm. Midea is a big player, and we must cut through all the waves. We need to reflect and completely reshape ourselves, as we have no other options at this moment.
Midea has redefined its five core business divisions: Smart Home Business Group, Electromechanical Business Unit, HVAC & Building Technologies Division, Robotics & Automation Division, and Digital Innovation Business. In order to adapt to the trends, Midea has upgraded the Three Strategic Focuses to Four Strategic Building Blocks, namely Technology Leadership, Direct to Users, Digitalization & Intelligence Driven, and Global Impact.
Our key work in 2021 shall lie on Innovation, Breakthrough, Incubation. We shall break fresh ground and improve ourselves via digitalization. Every day is a brand-new day. We shall embrace changes to become the new force.
Midea will stay young, and our dream will flourish forever
'We will meet again'
——A UK love song in 1939
We will meet again is a love song from World War II. The virus is also a war. Because of the pandemic, lots of our team member are separated around the world, and they cannot get together. I sincerely hope that all of us around the world could enjoy a reunion next year.
Every era with drastic changes and high uncertainties was a great era. We are all a part of it. What should we do to live up to this great times? We need to consider where we will be in the future.
We must dare to imagine Midea’s future. If we stay young, redefining ourselves, the future of Midea will be profoundly different. We should create our own future rather than just being a witness of it.
We will become who we want to be.
Midea will become what it wants to be.