Henry Ford once said, “Thinking is the hardest work there is, which is probably the reason why so few engage in it.”  Obviously the CEO’s for the nations big three auto companies lost sight of Henry Ford’s vision last week, when they decided to fly to Washington D.C. in their private jets, asking Congress for a handout for 25 billion dollars to save their businesses from bankruptcy.  Lawmakers didn’t exactly welcome the car building tycoons with open arms.

    "There is a delicious irony in seeing private luxury jets flying into Washington, D.C., and people coming off of them with tin cups in their hand, saying that they're going to be trimming down and streamlining their businesses," Rep. Gary Ackerman, D-New York, told the chief executive officers of Ford, Chrysler and General Motors at a hearing of the House Financial Services Committee. "It's almost like seeing a guy show up at the soup kitchen in high hat and tuxedo. It kind of makes you a little bit suspicious." He added, "couldn't you all have downgraded to first class or jet-pooled or something to get here? It would have at least sent a message that you do get it."

    As a CEO on a bit smaller scale, I happen to agree. It is beyond me, how such smart individuals, Alan Mulaly of Ford, Rick Wagoner of General Motors and Robert Nardelli of Chrysler could think for a minute that it was a good idea to “wing it” into D.C. Noticeably, they didn’t consider the consequences for such a self-serving act.  Even if a jet is accessible to you and your wife as part of your current corporate package, don’t choose to exercise that right when you’re asking decision-makers for the people’s money to cover your own tails.  Part of your plea when you arrive should be, you have sold, or you’re in the process of selling, your $36 million dollar G5 corporate luxury jet to prevent closing more plants and cutting more jobs. How about agreeing to take a significant cut in pay from your 15 to 20 million dollar annual incomes as well?

    Perhaps, it’s time these tired corporate leaders woke up and realized they need to roll up their sleeves in order to help their cause! If rolling up their sleeves means flying coach with the rest of the common world, then they should get their hands dirty.  The “gravy train” has passed. Sadly, they’re probably so jaded from their past successes that they fall into the “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks” category.

    Henry Ford, who had an intense commitment to lowering costs, also once said, “You will find men who want to be carried on the shoulders of others, who think that the world owes them a living. They don't seem to see that we must all lift together and pull together.” He was the prolific inventor who put the American autos’ wheels in motion, revolutionizing industry. I really think he would have been embarrassed to read last week’s headlines regarding the leaders of this industry. Mr. Ford was an entrepreneurial trailblazer, not an egotistical jetsetter. Corporate America could use more leaders like him.