Anexcellenttalent
PersonalInformation
EastmanwasborninWaterville,NewYork,USA(Waterville)village.ItistheyoungestofthethreechildrenofMariaKilbournandGeorgeWashingtonEastman.Thevillageislocatedabout20milessouthwestofUticainnorthernNewYork.Eastman’soldhouseiswhereGeorge’sfatherwasborn.Georgespenthischildhoodthere.TheyoncemovedtotheGeneseeCountryMuseuminManford,NewYork,outsideofRochester.
Lifeexperience
WhenGeorgewas5yearsold,hisfathersoldthenurseryandmovedhisfamilytoRochester.Here,theoldEastmandevotedhislifetoEastmanCommercialCollege(EastmanCommercialCollege).Unfortunately,disasterstruck.WhenGeorgewas7yearsold,hisfatherdied,theschoolwasclosed,andthefamilyfinanciallyfellintotrouble.
Eastman’smotherisastrongwoman.Shedoesnothavemuchcultureandcanonlydooddjobsforotherstoearnmoney,butsheknowstheimportanceofeducationtoherchildren.Inordertoraisetheseexpenses,sheworksdayandnight.Workinghard,it’sraretotakeabreak.Eastmanfeltpainfulwhenhesawhismotherworkingsohard,butatayoungage,hecouldonlyrememberhismother'skindnessinhisheart.
Attheageof14,Eastmanneverwantedtogotoschoolanymore.Hecouldn'tbearhismothertobeartheburdenofthefamilyalone.Hewantedtohelphersharethisresponsibility.Hismotheropposedhisdroppingoutofschool,butEastmanwasdetermined.Hismothercouldonlywatchherchildentersocietysoearly.
Afterdroppingoutofschool,Eastmanbegantoworkasahandymaninaninsurancecompany.Hisfirstjobwasamessengerforaninsurancecompany,andhewaspaid3dollarsaweek.Itwasonlyincreasedto5yuaninthesecondyear.Inthisway,thesituationathomebegantoimprove.Ayearlater,hebecameastaffmemberofanotherinsurancecompany.Throughhisownefforts,hesoontookchargeofthefilingofinsurancepolicies,andeventhepreparationofinsurancepolicies.Hissalaryhasrisento$5aweek.Eventhoughtherewasonlysuchasmallamountofmoney,Eastmanstillregardeditasatreasure,carefullyaccumulatedit,andgaveitalltohismother.Atthesametime,healsodoespart-timebookshelfsales,andsometimesevenvisitshometosellknittingneedlesforsweaterstohousewives.Thesalespromotionworkisevenmoreshockingandoftensuffersfromcoldeyes,butforthesakeofhismotherandfamily,Eastmanenduredit.
In1874,afterfiveyearsintheinsuranceindustry,hewashiredasajuniorclerkattheRochesterSavingsBank.Hissalaryhastripled-morethan$15aweek.Afterseveralyearsoffrugality,hefinallyaccumulated$3,000.Asabankclerk,Eastmanhasenteredtheranksofwhite-collarworkers.
Preliminaryattempts
Backgroundoverview
Sincechildhood,Eastmanlikestotravel.Itturnedoutthattherewasnomoneyandtime,andfinallyhecouldgoeverywherein1879.Gone,the25-year-oldplanstogotoSantoDomingoonvacation.Whenacolleaguesuggestedthatherecordthetrip,Eastmanboughtasetofphotographicequipmentfor$94-includingacameraandvideoequipment,includingalltheequipmentneededforwetweather,andlearnedphotographytechniques.Beforelong,hebecamefascinatedbyphotography.
Butwhatbotheredhimwasthatthecamerawastoobulkyatthetime:thecamerawasasbigasamicrowaveovenandneededaheavytripod.Healsobroughtatentsothathecouldapplyphotographiclatexontheglasssheet,thenexposetheglasssheet,andthenwashtheexposureplatebeforeitdries.Therearechemicals,glassbarrels,heavyplateracksandajugofwater.Thefullsetofequipmentis"awholewagon",ashedescribedit.Tomakemattersworse,therearemanytroublesomestepsintheoperationofthismachine.Ifyoudonotstrictlyfollowthetechnicalessentials,theresultwilleitherleaklightorbecomeblurred.Moreover,learninghowtouseitfortakingpicturesalsocost$5.Ifthisgoeson,photographyisnotaburden,butaburden.Canitbringpleasuretotourists?Eastmanvowedtohimself:Wemustworkhardtoimprovephotographicequipment,simplifyshootingprocedures,andmakephotographictechnology"popular"-usingacameraisasconvenientasusingapencil,sothateveryonecanenjoythejoyofphotography.Hebegantodevotehimselftothedevelopmentoflightweightandconvenientphotographicequipment.
Makeupyourmind
Eastman’striptoSantoDomingodidnottakeplace.Buthewascompletelyfascinatedbyphotographyanddeterminedtomakethecomplicatedprocesssimple.Atthattime,thephotographictechnologywasstillinitsinfancyandtheeffectwasnotsatisfactory.Eastmanwasdeterminedtoexplorethepathofinnovation.Afterreturninghomefromthebankeveryday,heplungedintohisownresearch.Thekitchenathomebecamehislaboratory.Heboughtvariouschemicalreagentstodovariousexperiments.Asforchemistry,heisalayman,buttheso-calledpracticeleadstotrueknowledge.Throughvariousexperiments,manymysterieshavebeenuncoveredbyhim.Hismain"mentor"isaBritishphotographymagazinethathehasrippedapart.
Everytime,hecoveredtheroomtightlyanddidtheexperimentsthatseemedtobeneverdone.Whenhegottired,helayonthefloortosleepforawhile,andthenwentontoworkwhenhewokeup.Thiskindofendlessmonotonouslifedoesn'tfeelbitteratall,andhisheartisfullofthehappinessbroughtbycreation.
Inoneexperiment,hehadbeendoingSaturdaynightfromWednesday.Ithappenedthathisgirlfriendcameonthephoneforadate.Thetwoagreedtomeetatthestationat10o'clockthenextmorning.Afterhangingupthephone,Eastmanstartedhisownexperimentagain,butbecausehewastoofocused,hewasalreadythreepolesupwhenhefellasleep.Thissituationwastoonumeroustomention,andhisgirlfriendcouldnolongerstandit,soshebrokeupwithhim.Althoughitwaspainfulinhisheart,Eastmancontinuedtomakeinvention.
Successfullydeveloped
Afterthreeyearsofphotographyexperiments,Eastmanfinallyhasafeasibleformula.HereadinaBritishmagazinethatphotographersaremakingtheirowngelatinemulsion.Theglasssheetcoatedwiththisemulsioncanstillmaintainphotosensitivityafterdryingandfacilitateexposure.UsingaformulatakenfromoneoftheseBritishmagazines,Eastmanbeganmakinggelatinemulsions.In1878,Eastmaninventedafilmcoatedwithalayerofdrygelatin.Priortothis,photosensitivenegativeswereallwetfilms.Afterthewetfilmbaseiscoatedwiththeemulsion,itmustbeexposedandprocessedbeforeitisdry,whilethedryfilmcanbeexposedandprocessedatanytime.In1879,Eastmaninventedamilkcoatingmachineandbeganmassproductionofdrytablets.Hesoonrealizedthatitwaspossibletomakedryplatesandsellthemtootherphotographers.
Foundingacompany
Background
Eastman'sinventionbegantoattractpeople'sattention,andhisresearchbegantobesponsoredbybusinessmanStone.InApril1880,Mr.EastmanrentedthethirdfloorofabuildingonStateStreetinRochesterandbeganmanufacturingdryplatesforsale.Oneofthefirstequipmentheboughtwasausedengineworth$125.
"AllIreallyneedisahorsepower,"helaterrecalled."Thisistwohorsepower,butIthinkmaybeasthebusinessdevelops,twohorsepowerwillbeneeded.It'sworthatry,soIboughtit."
Developmentofthecompany
Withthecontinuousdevelopmentofthenewcompany,thecompanyfaceddisintegrationatleastonce,whentherewasaproblemwiththedryplateinthehandsofthedistributor.Mr.Eastmanrecalledallthesebadboardsandreplacedthemwithgoodones."Compensationforthoseeditionscostusourlastdollar,"hesaid."Butthemoreimportantthinglefttousisreputation."
"Thisideaisgraduallyformed",helatersaid:"Whatwehavetodoisnotjusttomakedryplates,buttomakePhotographybecomesordinary",orashedescribedmoreconcisely,"makesthecameraasconvenientasapencil".
Mr.Eastman’sexperimentaldirectionistousealighterandmoreflexiblefilmbasethanglass.Hisfirstmethodwastoapplyphotographiclatextophotographicpaper,andthenloadthephotographicpaperintothefilmholder.Thefilmholderisusedforviewfindercameras,insteadofglassholders.
Thecompany'sachievements
In1885,thefirstfilmadsloganwas"Anewtypeofphotosensitivefilmwillbelaunchedsoon,whichIbelievewillbeconfirmedasaglassdryingplateforoutdoorandstudiouse.Economical,convenientandpracticalalternatives."
In1886,Eastmandevelopedaroll-typephotosensitivefilm,the"EastmanFilm",whichendedthehistoryofusingwet,bulkyandfragileglassasaphotographicfilm.
Thephotographicsystemusingthefilmrackwasanimmediatesuccess.However,photographicpaperasamediumforemulsionsisnotcompletelysatisfactory,becausetheparticlesofphotographicpapermayreappearinthephotograph.
Mr.Eastman'ssolutionistocoatalayerofpuresolublegelatinonthephotographicpaper,andthenalayerofinsolublephotosensitivegelatin.Afterexposureanddevelopment,thegelatinappliedtotheimagepeeledoffthephotopaper,transferredtoasheetoftransparentgelatin,andthenmodifiedwithcollodion—acellulosesolutionthatcanformaflexiblefilm.
SocialEvaluation
Whileimprovingthetransparentfilmandfilmholder,Mr.Eastmanchangedtheentiredirectionofhisworkandlaidthefoundationforhissuccessinamateurphotography.
Helatersaid:"Whenwestartedtoimplementthefilmphotographyplan,weexpectedeveryonewhousedglasssheetstoswitchtofilm.Butwefoundthatrelativelyfewpeopledidthis.Inordertoexpandthebusiness,Wemustgetthesupportofthegeneralpublic."
ThebirthofKodak
Notsatisfied
TheinventiondidnotsatisfyEastman.Afterall,thereal"photographic"Popularization"hasnotyetbeenachieved,andfamily-oriented,portablehomecamerasarehisultimategoal.Eastmanputallhisenergyintotheimprovementofthecamera,studyinghowtomakethemachinesmaller,lighterandmoreconvenient.Aftercountlessfailures,thenewcameradevelopedbyEastmanin1886wasfinallyborn!Thisisagreatinventioninhumanhistory!Atthesametime,themostspecialthingaboutthiskindofcameraisthatafteralltheshotsarefinished,thecameraissentfordevelopmentintact.Thisstyleandsalesmethodisofepoch-makingsignificanceinthehistoryofphotography.Photographyenthusiastshavesinceendedtheeraofloadingphotographicequipmentwithhorse-drawncarriages.
Thebirthofanewproduct
Inordertogivehisnewproductauniquename,Eastmanthoughtforalongtime,andhecreatedanewwordthathadneverbeenseenbefore—"Kodak",helaterexplained:"Thisnameismyownidea,'K'ismyfavoriteletter,itbelongstothekindofcircumflexandcatchyletter.Buthowtomakethiswordstartwith'K'Andattheend,thisbecameaproblem.Aftersomanytrialsofmonograms,Ifinallythoughtof'Kodak'."TheuniqueyellowtradedressofKodakchosenbyMr.Eastmanisworld-renownedandthecompany'smostvaluableOneoftheassets.
InJune1888,thesmallpocketcamera"KodakOne"wasfinallylaunchedonthemarket,butatthebeginning,thesituationwasnotverygood.Becauseitwasanewthing,whenthecamerawasfirstlaunchedonthemarket,almostnothingPeopleareinterested.Lookingatthisstrangelyshapedthing,noonebelievesthatitwillproducegoodportraits.Afterall,traditionalphotographicequipmenthasoccupiedthemarketforsolong.Besides,photographyhasalwaysbeenatroublesomething.Manypeopleareafraidthattheydon'thavetheskillsandwon'tplaywiththisnewthing.
Facedwiththissituation,Eastmancameupwithanewideaandcameupwithaverygoodidea.Hepostedanadvertisementinthemedia:"Youonlyneedtopressthebutton,andwewilldotherest."Lessthanayearlater,thesloganbecameahouseholdname.Subsequently,advertisingmanagersandadvertisingagenciesrushedtoimplementhisideas,magazines,newspapers,showcasesandbillboardswerecoveredwithKodakslogans.
KodakproductshaveaplaceattheWorldExpo."KodakGirls"dressedinfashionableclothes,holdingcamerasthatchangeeveryyear,andshowingcharmingsmilestophotographersfromallwalksoflife.In1897,theword"Kodak"wasshininginTrafalgarSquareinLondonasanelectro-opticalsign-oneofthefirstsignsofthiskindusedinadvertising.
Today,companyadvertisementsappearallovertheworld,andthe"Kodak"trademarkcreatedbyMr.Eastmanhimselfisalmostahouseholdname.
In1892,Eastmanchangeditscompanynameto"EastmanKodak"Company.In1895,Kodaklaunchedapocketcamerawithapriceof$5onthemarket,whichmadeasensationallovertheworld-thedreamofthe"popularization"ofphotographytechnologyfinallybecameareality.
Technologicalinnovation
Overview
EveryadvancementofKodakistheresultofscientificresearch.Inordertobuildanexcellentbrand,fromthebeginning,EastmanItpaysgreatattentiontoscientificresearchwork.Tothisend,hesparednoexpensetorecruitmanytoptalentsandencouragedthemtoexploreanddevelopnewproducts.Kodak'sresearchanddevelopmentbudgetranksamongthetopoftheAmericanbusinesscommunity,withadailyinvestmentofupto1.5millionU.S.dollars.Theheadofficealoneemploysabout2,000engineersandscientistsforvariousresearchtasks.
Funfacts
Bychance,twomusiciansintheUnitedStateswerewatchingacolorshortfilmandinspiredtheideaofimprovingcolorphotography.Therefore,theydividedtheemulsionformulatedbyGermanscientistsintothreelayersandfinallydiscoveredthattheyhadaphotosensitiveeffectonthered,green,andbluecolorsofthelightsource.WhattheydidnotexpectwashowimportantthisdiscoverywastoEastman.
Incolorphotographyatthattime,photographershadtoinstallthreedifferentcolorfiltersofred,greenandblueonthelens.Thetoolswerecomplicated,thecostwashigh,andthecolorswerepaintedmanually,sotheeffectwasnotverygood.AssoonasEastmansawtheirnewresultsinthemagazine,hewaskeenlyawarethatthecontinuationofthisresearchwouldbringaboutarevolutionincolorphotography.
In1930,Eastmansignedacontractwiththesetwomusiciansandgavegreatsupportintermsoftechnicalstrengthandfunds.After3yearsofhardwork.Theworld'sfirstlight-sensitivecolorfilmthatcanusethetwo-colorprocessingprocesscameout.Soon,theyfurtherdividedthephotosensitivefilminto5layers.Sincethen,anyonewilluseKodakcolorfilmtotakephotos-todevelopbrightlycoloredphotos.
Excellentmanagementsystem
Inadditiontoadvancedtechnology,themostimportantthingisanexcellentmanagementsystem.Thatistodoeverythingwithacustomer-centricattitude,anduseitasthepillar.Nomatterwhatyoudo,Eastmanholdsthisattitudeandalwaysimplementstheideaofabandoningcomplexityandsimplifying.Eventhecompany'sname-"Kodak",isalsoderivedfromhisdesiretocreateanamethatdoesnotexistinanylanguage,butiseasytocatchinanylanguage.
Eastmanestablishedthispillaratthebeginningofthebusiness.Whenhefirststarted,herecalledabatchofdefectivephotosensitivematerialsandrefundedthecustomerinfull,althoughtherewasnolawthatrequiredhimtodoso.ButEastmanfirmlybelievesthatlosingthetrustofcustomerswillcausemoreseriouslossestoKodak.Heisoperatingthecompany'sbrandasacentury-oldproject.Tothisday,thisphilosophyhasbeenstrictlyfollowed.AtKodak,thereisnothingmoreimportantthanmaintainingthebrand.Whenformulatingeverystrategy,makingeverydecision,anddealingwitheverycustomermatter,wemustconsiderwhatkindofimpactthiswillhaveonthebrand.
Inaddition,therecommendedrewardsystemmustbementioned.Asearlyas1889,GeorgeEastmanreceivedaproposalfromanordinaryworker.Theproposalcallsontheproductiondepartmenttowipetheglasswindowsclean.Althoughthiswassomethingthatcouldnotbesmall,Eastmansawthesignificanceofit.Hebelieveditwasamanifestationofemployeeenthusiasm.Heimmediatelypubliclycommendeditandissuedbonuses,andsincethenestablisheda"Kodaksuggestionsystem."Thissystemhasbeenretainedtothisdayandhasbeencontinuouslyimproved.Thecompany'semployeeshaveputforward1.8millionsuggestions,andmorethan600,000havebeenadoptedbythecompany.Thebonusesforthecompany'semployeesformakingsuggestionsareaboutmillionsofdollarsormoreeachyear.WhatEastmancouldnotthinkofwasthatthe"KodakSuggestionSystem"heestablishedlaterbecamethetargetofothermajorcompaniestofollowsuit.
Benefitemployees
Introduction
Inadditiontohiscreativetalents,EastmanalsousesextraordinaryforesighttoincorporatehumanityatthebeginningoftheestablishmentofthecompanyAnddemocraticmanagement.Hebelievesthatemployeesshouldnotonlyhavegoodincome-thiswayofthinkingisfaraheadofthemanagersofhistime.
Atthebeginningofthecompany'sestablishment,Eastmanbegantoplantogiveemployees"dividends."In1899,hisfirstactionwastodistributealargesumofmoneyheearnedtoeveryemployeewhoworkedforhimfreeofcharge.
Later,hesetupa"dividend",inaccordancewiththeproportionofthecompany'sannualdividend,eachemployeecangetabonushigherthanthesalary."Dividends"isaninnovationthatrepresentsalargepartofthecompany'snetincomedistribution.
Compassionateemployees
Mr.Eastmanbelievesthatthecompany’sprosperityisnotonlyattributedtoinventionsandpatents,butmoretothededicationandloyaltyofemployees,andthededicationandloyaltyofemployeescanbeachievedthroughprofitTheformofsharingisconsolidated.
In1919,Mr.Eastmangiftedone-thirdofthecompany’sstock(marketvalueofUS$10millionatthetime)heownedtohisemployees.Later,hebegantoimplementplanstoestablishpensions,lifeinsuranceandwork-relatedinjuryinsurance,whichMr.Eastmanregardedashisownresponsibility.Withthesebenefitsanddividends,thefutureofemployeeswillbemoresecure.
ThebiographerCarlW.Ackermanwrotein1932:"Mr.Eastmanisacontemporarygiant.Thesocialphilosophyheimplementedwhenhefoundedthecompanyisnotonlyforwardthinkingthroughouthislife,butalsoManyyearslater,itwasgenerallyrecognizedandaccepted."
Givingbacktothesociety
Careersuccess
Eastmanisaninventorandasuccessfulentrepreneur.HeThewealthisrollingin.Hedoesnotneedtoproducecamerasallovertheworld,butcameramanufacturersallovertheworldhavetopayhimforanyuseofhispatentedproducts.Hetriggeredmanyrevolutionsinthemilestoneofphotographictechnology.Butmaybehiscareeristoobusy,maybeheistoofocusedonhisinvention,andEastmanisunmarriedforlife.ButEastmanwasnotwithdrawn.Hedevotedallhislaterthoughtsandwealthtocharity.
Mr.Eastman’scontributiontophilanthropyisalmostaswell-knownashispioneeringworkinthefieldofphotography.Inthisfieldasinotherfields,heworkswiththeenthusiasmofanavidfan.
Whentheweeklysalaryreached60USdollars,hebegantodonatetonon-profitorganizations-ofwhich50USdollarsweredonatedtothenewlyestablishedandstrugglingRochesterInstituteofMechanicalEngineering(nowRochesterInstituteofTechnology).
HeisanadmireroftheMassachusettsInstituteofTechnology,becausehehiredagroupofgraduatesfromtheacademy,wholaterbecamehismostcapableassistants.Aftercarefulconsideration,hedonatedanextremelygenerousgifttotheMassachusettsInstituteofTechnologytoexpresshisadmiration,andtheamountlaterreached20millionUSdollars.Thegiftwasgivenanonymouslyinthenameof"Mr.Smith".Later,theidentityofthemysterious"Mr.Smith"hasbeenspeculatedforseveralyears,anditwasevenshowninapopularsongbytheMassachusettsInstituteofTechnology.
Mr.Eastmanalsoshowedakeeninterestindentalclinics.HedevelopedacompleteplanfortheRochesterDentalClinicandraised$2.5millioninfunding.Thenalarge-scaledentaltreatmentprogramwaslaunchedforchildren.DentalclinicswerealsodonatedtoLondon,Paris,Rome,BrusselsandStockholm.
Whenaskedwhyheprefersdentalclinics,hereplied:“Spendingmoneyondentalclinicswillpaymoreinreturnthanspendingonanyothercharitableprogram.Ifit’scriticalTakegoodcareofyourteeth,nose,throatandmouthduringchildhood.Duringthechildren’slifetime,betterappearance,betterhealthandmoreenergycanprovidethemwithbetteropportunities.Thisisamedicalfact.".
Givingbacktosociety
Mr.Eastmanlovesmusicandhopesthatotherswillenjoythebeautyandhappinessofmusic.HeestablishedandfundedtheEastmanSchoolofMusic,atheaterandasymphonyorchestra."Itisrelativelyeasytohireskilledmusicians,butmusicappreciationcannotbeboughtbymoney.However,withoutalargenumberofpeopleenjoyingthefunofmusic,anyattempttodevelopmusicresourcesinanycityisdoomedtofail."Hesaidso.Therefore,thereisapracticalformulainhisplantoletthepublicbeinfluencedbymusic-tousetheachievementsaccumulatedbythepeopleofRochesterfordecadestosupporttheirownsymphonyorchestra.
WiththedeepeningofMr.Eastman'sworkandstudyinthefieldofhospitalsanddentalclinics,hisinterestinthisfieldhasbecomeincreasinglystrong.HeadvocatedandimplementedaplantoestablishamedicalschoolaffiliatedhospitalattheUniversityofRochester,anditisaswell-knownastheuniversity’sconservatory.RochestercanseeMr.Eastman'sepoch-makingmarkeverywhere,andhisgreatcontributiontoenrichingcommunitylife.
HeisveryconcernedabouttheeducationofAfricanAmericansandhasgivenalotofgiftstoHamptonandTuskegeeCollege.Onacertaindayin1924,Mr.Eastmansignedadonationof$30milliontotheUniversityofRochester,MassachusettsInstituteofTechnology,HamptonandTuskegeeCollege.Whenheputdownhispen,hesaid,"Ifeelbetternow."
Duringhislife,Eastman'sdonationexceeded$100million.Intheearly20thcentury,100millionUSdollarswasanextremelylargefortune.Explainingthesepreciousgifts,hesaid:“Theprogressoftheworldisalmostentirelydependentoneducation.IchosealimitednumberofrecipientsbecauseIwanttosupportcertaintypesofeducationandfeelthatthiskindofdonationisbetterthannochoice.Therewardsarefasterandmoredirect."
Mr.Eastmanoftenmakesbeneficiariesworthyofreceivinggiftsinsomeway,sothecollegewillhavetheconfidencetobeindependent.Forhim,hugewealthbringsgreateropportunities.
Amateurlife
Mr.Eastmanhasataciturnpersonalityanddoesnotliketosocialize.Itsoundscounterintuitivethatapersonwiththesamenameasthephotographerleftfarfewerphotosthanmanyotheroutstandingleadersatthetime.HewaswalkingonthestreetsofRochesterandnooneevenknewhim.
Mr.Eastman'soutlookonlifeis"thedecisionswemakeduringworkinghoursarewhatwehave;thedecisionswemakeinoursparetimedetermineourcharacter".Inhiscareer,heisatoughcompetitor,neversurrenderingandpragmatic,andgentleathomeoroutdoorentertainment.
WhenhevisitsEuropeeveryyear,hewillsystematicallyvisitvariousgalleries-evencyclingfromoneplacetoanother.Atthattimehewasabletobuyfamouspaintings,buthewiselysaid:"Iwillneverbuyapainting,Ijustletitsettleinmyhome."Theresult:hishomebecameoneofthebestprivatecollectionsoffamouspaintings.
Heisahumbleman...aninventor,businessman,visionary,philanthropist,andalmightywarrior.Mr.EastmancommittedsuicideonMarch14,1932,attheageof77.Duetothesclerosisofthelowerspinalcordcells,thedisabilitybecamemoreandmoreserious.Mr.Eastmanwastorturedbytheillnessandwasunabletofacelifepositively.Hebecameincreasinglydiscouragedandbegantospreadhiswealth."Mr.Eastmanmadeahugecontributiontotheeducationofthemodernworld,"commentedaneditorialintheNewYorkTimesafterMr.Eastman'sdeath."Hegavegreatgiftstomankind,andgenerouslygavebacktomankindtherewardshereceived;hecultivatedpeople'sappreciationofmusic,fundedschools,supportedscientificresearchandeducation,andstrivedtopromotehealthandreducehumandiseases,andhelplower-classpeopleStrivingforthelight,makinghiscityanartcenterandmakinghiscountrymoremagnificentintheeyesoftheworld."
Thesecretofsuccess
Alwaysdevoteourselvestopursuingthelatesttechnologicallevelintheindustry.
Alwaystakethecustomerasthecenter,withintegrityasthefirstpriority.