Business Quote by Thomas J. Watson
“Recently, I was asked if I was going to fire an employee who made a mistake that cost the company $600,000. No, I replied, I just spent $600,000 training him. Why would I want somebody to hire his experience?”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Business Leadership Talk, 1950s
A manager invests heavily in training rather than firing, valuing experience over immediate cost.
In simple terms: Invest in people, not just profit.
Prioritize employee development.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- HR decisions
- budget planning
- team building
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you balance training costs with risk?
- What metrics show training ROI?
Training may not guarantee future performance.