Konosuke Matsushita, the renowned entrepreneur, often chose to dine with his employees in the company cafeteria. One day, beef steak was served for lunch. While the employees were happily enjoying their meals, the chairman barely touched his food. After the meal, he quietly turned to his attendant and said,
“Please bring the chef to me.”
Noticing that more than half of the steak remained on the chairman’s plate, the attendant felt a twinge of concern as he went to fetch the chef. A few moments later, the visibly nervous chef arrived and cautiously asked,
“Was there something wrong with the food, sir?”
The chairman replied with a gentle smile.
“Not at all. The steak was excellent. I simply wasn’t feeling well today, and I’m sorry I couldn’t enjoy it more. I called you here simply to let you know that.”
He had concerned that the chef might feel disheartened upon seeing the unfinished meal. His thoughtful gesture became a shining example of kindness and leadership—leaving a lasting impression on everyone present.
13