--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If we can just take a few companies, and…" description: "\"If we can just take a few companies, and use those as models, as examples, to show the rest of corporate America how they can become more competitive, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/553/henry-kravis-18319_america_if-we-can-just-take-a-few-companies-and_3117063.png" --- # If we can just take a few companies, and use those as… ![“If we can just take a few companies, and use those as models, as examples, to show the rest of corporate America how they can become more competitive, that's what I'd like to do and that's what I hope to do.” quote by Henry Kravis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/553/henry-kravis-18319_america_if-we-can-just-take-a-few-companies-and_3117063.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/553/henry-kravis-18319_america_if-we-can-just-take-a-few-companies-and_3117063.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/553/henry-kravis-18319_america_if-we-can-just-take-a-few-companies-and_3117063.png) > “If we can just take a few companies, and use those as models, as examples, to show the rest of corporate America how they can become more competitive, that's what I'd like to do and that's what I hope to do.” [Henry Kravis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-kravis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Using successful companies as examples can inspire broader corporate competitiveness. **In simple terms:** Model firms can spark industry-wide improvement. Key Takeaway Showcase best practices to drive change. Themes leadership competition modeling Mood inspirational strategic Type motivational leadership When to use this quote - industry workshops - consulting projects - executive training Key Concepts benchmarking strategic imitation corporate culture Questions to Reflect On - How can you adapt a model to your own context? - What barriers might prevent replication? A Different Perspective Success stories may not be universally applicable. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Companies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/companies/) [Competitive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competitive/) [Corporate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corporate/) [Corporate america](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corporate-america/) [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) ## Related quotes > [I try to use models at least for the main characters because of the nature of my art. I tend to focus on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-try-to-use-models-at-least-for-the-main-characters-because-of-the/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [I carry out my work thus: I never use models or nature for the figure, drapery or anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tenniel/i-carry-out-my-work-thus-i-never-use-models-or-nature-for-the-figure/) [John Tenniel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tenniel/) > [“This isolation has left Americans quite unaware of the world beyong their borders. Americans speak few languages, know little about foreign cultures, and remain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fareed-zakaria/this-isolation-has-left-americans-quite-unaware-of-the-world-beyong/) [Fareed Zakaria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fareed-zakaria/) > [Highway spending, which I think most everybody says is badly needed in this country, creates American jobs, and also makes America more competitive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-conrad/highway-spending-which-i-think-most-everybody-says-is-badly-needed-in/) [Kent Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-conrad/) > [I want to make sure that we make America more competitive. And that we do those things that make America the most attractive place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-want-to-make-sure-that-we-make-america-more-competitive-and-that-we/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [Big companies often use their leverage to take stakes in would-be suppliers, especially in the technology business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-berenson/big-companies-often-use-their-leverage-to-take-stakes-in-would-be/) [Alex Berenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-berenson/) > [WrestleMania is a major event and that's an understatement obviously, but it's a major event from the standpoint that many other companies use WrestleMania…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-ross/wrestlemania-is-a-major-event-and-that-s-an-understatement-obviously/) [Jim Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-ross/) > [In many cases, companies use the crisis moments to pivot to do better. We like to be part of that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-edelman/in-many-cases-companies-use-the-crisis-moments-to-pivot-to-do-better/) [Richard Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-edelman/) > [“corporations buy up and own smaller companies and use the same ingredients. The smaller company brands are often the ones marketed as healthy and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-johnson/corporations-buy-up-and-own-smaller-companies-and-use-the-same/) [Matthew Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-johnson/) > [Black-and-white photos tell the truth. That's why insurance companies use them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-sekula/black-and-white-photos-tell-the-truth-that-s-why-insurance-companies/) [Allan Sekula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-sekula/) > [Some companies use off-balance-sheet partnerships to raise money or to buy assets without ever telling their shareholders in their financial statements.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-berenson/some-companies-use-off-balance-sheet-partnerships-to-raise-money-or/) [Alex Berenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-berenson/) > [In the '70s and '80s, what private equity did is it changed corporate America. It started holding companies accountable, and for the first time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-kravis/in-the-70s-and-80s-what-private-equity-did-is-it-changed-corporate/) [Henry Kravis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-kravis/) > [I always like to refer managers in corporate America as the renters of the corporate assets, not the owners.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-kravis/i-always-like-to-refer-managers-in-corporate-america-as-the-renters/) [Henry Kravis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-kravis/) > [The trouble, in my opinion, with corporate America today, is that everything is thought of in quarters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-kravis/the-trouble-in-my-opinion-with-corporate-america-today-is-that/) [Henry Kravis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-kravis/) > [I hate the stereotype of the pitfalls of the child actor. There are so many amazing examples - Natalie Portman, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Jodie Foster,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-bell/i-hate-the-stereotype-of-the-pitfalls-of-the-child-actor-there-are-so/) [Jamie Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-bell/) ## More by Henry Kravis > [Giving back is something that comes from the heart to me. It's not that I do it because it's the right thing: I do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-kravis/giving-back-is-something-that-comes-from-the-heart-to-me-it-s-not/) [Henry Kravis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-kravis/) > [In the large buy out space, which is where we (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) focus our efforts, there are relatively few firms with the capital,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-kravis/in-the-large-buy-out-space-which-is-where-we-kohlberg-kravis-roberts/) [Henry Kravis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-kravis/) > [A real entrepreneur is somebody who has no safety net underneath them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-kravis/a-real-entrepreneur-is-somebody-who-has-no-safety-net-underneath-them/) [Henry Kravis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-kravis/) > [The trouble, in my opinion, with corporate America today, is that everything is thought of in quarters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-kravis/the-trouble-in-my-opinion-with-corporate-america-today-is-that/) [Henry Kravis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-kravis/) > [As I said there is nothing wrong with failing. Pick yourself up and try it again. You never are going to know how good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-kravis/as-i-said-there-is-nothing-wrong-with-failing-pick-yourself-up-and/) [Henry Kravis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-kravis/) > [Look, don't congratulate us when we buy a company, congratulate us when we sell it. Because any fool can overpay and buy a company,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-kravis/look-don-t-congratulate-us-when-we-buy-a-company-congratulate-us-when/) [Henry Kravis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-kravis/) > [One, I love the creativity. I love the ability to create a capital structure that is appropriate for a company, no matter what field…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-kravis/one-i-love-the-creativity-i-love-the-ability-to-create-a-capital/) [Henry Kravis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-kravis/) > [You only have one thing to sell in life, and that's yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-kravis/you-only-have-one-thing-to-sell-in-life-and-that-s-yourself/) [Henry Kravis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-kravis/) > [I love the ability to work with very good managers, and to provide the right incentives for them, and truly become a partner with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-kravis/i-love-the-ability-to-work-with-very-good-managers-and-to-provide-the/) [Henry Kravis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-kravis/) > [It used to be that you would go in to see a CEO, and you would ask them, 'Is your company for sale?' and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-kravis/it-used-to-be-that-you-would-go-in-to-see-a-ceo-and-you-would-ask/) [Henry Kravis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-kravis/) > [To understand KKR, I always like to say, don't congratulate us when we buy a company. Any fool can buy a company. Congratulate us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-kravis/to-understand-kkr-i-always-like-to-say-don-t-congratulate-us-when-we/) [Henry Kravis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-kravis/) > [Our industry expertise (at KKR) enables the firm not only to make better investment choices but also to win the confidence of senior management…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-kravis/our-industry-expertise-at-kkr-enables-the-firm-not-only-to-make/) [Henry Kravis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-kravis/) > [But once you buy a company, you are married. You are married to that company.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-kravis/but-once-you-buy-a-company-you-are-married-you-are-married-to-that/) [Henry Kravis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-kravis/) > [We've got a portfolio of companies that range all the way from hotels to television stations and cable TV companies, oil and gas, consumer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-kravis/we-ve-got-a-portfolio-of-companies-that-range-all-the-way-from-hotels/) [Henry Kravis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-kravis/) > [Whales who come up and spout off get harpooned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-kravis/whales-who-come-up-and-spout-off-get-harpooned/) [Henry Kravis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-kravis/) [Explore all 35 Henry Kravis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-kravis/) ## More America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. 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