It happened in 1988, during my first year as a new employee at Samsung.
I was responsible for overseas purchasing. Whenever an overseas supplier delayed a shipment, there was a real risk that our production line could be disrupted. Back then, the atmosphere was driven by a single, relentless rule: the production line must never stop.
When something was urgent, I would send a fax. At the top of every page, in bold capital letters, was a single word: URGENT.
If there was still no response, I had only one option left: make an international phone call.
This was long before mobile phones or video calls. International calls could only be made from the telephone on my department manager’s desk.
Standing in front of his desk was intimidating enough. Having to speak English over an international call made it even worse. The truth was, I wasn’t confident in my English.
As I stood there holding the receiver, unable to dial, a senior colleague smiled and said,
“I’m not very good either. But somehow, it works when you do it. Just give it a try.”
So I dialed.
The connection was poor, and the other person’s voice was faint. My English was far from fluent. I couldn’t understand everything they said, and I wasn’t even sure they understood everything I said. At times, it felt as though we were each speaking our own language.
Yet, something surprising happened.
We confirmed delivery dates. Shipping schedules were adjusted. Somehow, I got the information I needed.
Looking back, I don’t think it was really about English.
Until then, I had never actually spoken with a foreigner in English. An international business call was completely new to me.
The only reason I made that call was simple. The production line depended on it, and I was the person responsible.
There was nowhere left to run.
So I picked up the phone despite the cold sweat. I listened as carefully as I could. I explained things with the limited English I had. Perhaps it was because I was desperate to solve the problem, but remarkably, things usually worked out.
Even now, thirty-eight years later, I still remember what my senior told me.
“I’m not very good either. But it somehow works when you do it. Just give it a try.”