Death is inevitable for all living things. It is strange that despite the inevitability, we must constantly remind ourselves of death. This includes everyone without exception. Regardless of power or position… Ancient philosophers said “memento mori” to those who forgot about this absolute truth. In other words, “remember death, remember that you are mortal…”

I was very impressed when I first read it. According to the historians, the victorious generals of wars in ancient Rome used to wear a crown often made of oak leaves, called corona civica, at the triumph parades in the streets of Rome. Over time, the use of this crown was restricted with emperors only. On this occasion, I learned that the crown of the well-known Roman Emperor Julius Caesar was a corona civica. At the ceremonies, one of the duties of the slaves holding this crown above the victorious and proud generals’ heads was whispering “memento mori” into the ears of the generals. Most probably, the same phrase was whispered into the ear of the future Roman Emperor, the proud and victorious Roman commander Caesar.

Who knows how often Caesar, who accomplished many achievements, conquests and reforms, recalled his death throughout this process. The Roman Republic, borders of which he expanded, became an Empire by the time of his death and continued to grow and expand. Today we travel around the Roman Empire’s memory and remnants spread over three continents.

It is possible to see many similar examples in business life. There is an increasing number of examples of initiatives that have been created with small investments that develop with the right timing and smart strategies, and even “grow prodigiously”. Those who have a share in this success also show up in the business world like a proud Roman general. Among all the applause and praise, it is not hard to be under the illusion that power and glory will last forever. And there is no one whispering them “Remember that you are mortal.”…

However, remembering death does not interfere with living the day. Rather, it reminds us that power, position and everything is transitory. With the hope that it becomes our lifelong instructor and guide: “Memento mori!”

While thinking about the celebration of the 167th year of our company on October 1, 2014, I considered the most fundamental factors that bring success to a company within the framework of the hot topic of “sustainability”. Yes, a company can fail to catch the future despite its remarkable successes today or it may go bankrupt today despite its bright and high-potential future plans. The secret to the art of entrepreneurship is the balance between the present and the future. The survival of a company must be ensured while performing successful operations today. This is surely not easy at all. It is not within everyone’s means to be able to always play this game in the highest league. The history of many successful companies clearly reveals this fact. Guaranteeing the future is always associated with financial and moral investments. These include investments in new technologies and products, new regional markets and sales channels, as well as investments in securing the customer portfolio, trust, new generations, people, and the environment. The most important factor behind all these investments is the responsibility of the company towards its customers, employees, society, and the environment.
There is no exact solution to guarantee the future of a company in an uncertain future. Strategic planning always includes a rational and an emotional element. The right path is understood later on. However, the costs for good or bad decisions are paid faster today, compared to a few years ago. At strategic decision stages, it is the entrepreneur’s call. He takes decisions deliberately by taking risks, and at the same time by assuming the responsibility of not risking everything. The most important conditions for continuous success are multidimensional thinking, seeing the big picture, and getting good grades. In this context, particularly the interests of all stakeholders should be considered (shareholders, customers, employees, and the environment).
For me, continuous success* is based on five factors:
• Flexibility
• Belief
• Consistency
• Striving
• Reliability