Henry Kravis
I thought at the time that I wanted to go into institutional sales, selling stocks and bonds to institutions. In those days, which was the 1960s, the institutional salesman was making about $100,000 a year. I thought that was just an enormous amount of money.
Henry KravisI want people who will stand up to me. People who are not afraid to say exactly what's on their minds, even though that's probably not what I want to hear. That's what I want.
Henry KravisI was an economics major in college, and every summer after school, I would drive my car from California, from Claremont men's college at the time, to New York. And I worked on Wall Street.
Henry KravisSince we formed the firm in 1976, we've bought some 38 different companies, and we spent about $65 billion, buying these different companies.
Henry KravisIn hindsight, I wouldn't trade it for anything. It's been just a phenomenal career for me so far, and I don't see any reason why I should change.
Henry KravisIt's not just buying the company. Sure, we picked the right companies, and we picked the right management and, most importantly, we've given them the right incentive to perform.
Henry KravisMy next summer I worked in the research department of Goldman Sachs, and my last summer I was in institutional sales and corporate finance.
Henry KravisThe trouble, in my opinion, with corporate America today, is that everything is thought of in quarters.
Henry KravisI really went there because it was very strong in economics and political science, and those were the two areas that I wanted to focus my future on.
Henry KravisI always like to refer managers in corporate America as the renters of the corporate assets, not the owners.
Henry KravisMy father wanted me to go into the oil business. He was in the oil and gas business as a consulting petroleum engineer up in Tulsa.
Henry KravisIf you have something at risk, you think differently.
Henry KravisAs I said there is nothing wrong with failing. Pick yourself up and try it again. You never are going to know how good you really are until you go out and face failure.
Henry Kravis