踏着坚定而自信的步伐，美的挥别2017，迎来了2018。在新年来临之际，美的集团董事长方洪波以一封新年献词，鼓舞全球美的人。
亲爱的美的人：
时代的年轮滚滚而过，我们踏着坚定而自信的步伐御风而行，终于来到了2017年的尾声。
2018年，我们将迎来美的创业五十周年。半世纪的峥嵘岁月，五十年的风雨兼程，美的以不变的变革力，静水流深，在时代洪流中砥砺前行。
1968年，在艰难的岁月中，何享健先生秉持让生活更美好的初心，开启了创业征程。1980年进入家电行业，2000年突破百亿大关，2010年跨入千亿门槛，2013年美的集团整体上市，并进行重大商业模式的战略转型，美的变革和创新的基因逐步深入骨髓。美的的每一次改变都是紧跟时代步伐和市场变化而进行，我们曾在中国改革开放的列车上一路高歌，也曾经历升级转型壮士断腕的痛定思痛；我们有过勇猛精进，也有过忐忑不安，唯一没有的，就是对变革与未来的恐惧。因为我们深信，居安思危，变者生存。
挥别2017，迎接2018，中国全面进入了新时代，美的也将迎来又一次历史发展机遇。今天的美的再一次站在了历史转折点，从传统家电企业，踏上成为全球经营的科技集团的变革之路。站在全新的高度，展望未来的十年、二十年甚至五十年，美的将肩负起全新的愿景、责任和使命。
美的的未来是确定的。以人工智能、大数据、物联网为代表的科学技术发展将颠覆传统消费体验，消费升级和供给侧结构性改革将驱动商业模式创新，美的唯有坚持以技术创新带动产品创新，发挥全价值链卓越运营的优势来实现在下一个五十年里的从优秀到卓越。
美的的未来是不确定的。企业的转型升级的征程犹如深海航行，充满了暗流与未知。研发投入巨大但精品打造存在诸多不确定性；精益管理永无止境且需要有日拱一卒的毅力；全球化进程就算有所反复但也容不得丝毫松懈。如果我们依旧陶醉于过往的辉煌，而不能快速实现以产品牵引、以效率为导向的内生式增长，就会被下一个巨浪击倒。
面对未来，我们唯有志存高远，坚定不移地遵循现代商业文明的基本发展规律，以国际化先进企业的高要求规范自身的经营和发展。我们要拿出比过去更加坚定果断的变革力，进行更深层次的自我否定和变革。
尤瓦尔﹒赫拉利在《未来简史》中说道：“历史唯一不变的事实，就是一切都会改变。” 变革力，让美的走过了五十年，也将是美的破茧前行下一个五十年，一百年……终将驶达理想彼岸的唯一力量。
此刻，站在2017年的终点，站在美的创业五十周年门槛上，五十年前那些向往美好的心声依旧嘹亮。我很期待，与你们一起创造一场关于美好未来的变革，与所有美的人一起畅想下一个五十年的美丽愿景！
又一个五十年，我们志存高远；
又一个五十年，美的人将风雨兼程。
方洪波
2017年12月31日
KEEPING OUR EYES ON THE STARS FOR ANOTHER FIFTY YEARS
My Dear Colleagues,
As time rolls by, we’ve finally come to the end of 2017, a year of keeping the wind at our sails with resolution and confidence.
We will celebrate Midea’s 50th anniversary in 2018. The past five decades have been a brave adventure, witnessing relentless efforts. Like still waters running deep, we’ve pressed forward against the current of the times with persistent determination to change.
With the aspiration to make lives better, Mr. He Xiangjian started his business journey in a time of difficulty. We made our entry into household appliance manufacturing in 1980. Our sales revenue reached RMB 10 billion (US$ 1.54 billion) in 2000, and ten years afterwards, this figure increased tenfold to RMB 100 billion (US$ 15.37 billion). Midea Group was listed in 2013, and with our strategic transformation of business models over the same year, the gene of evolution and innovation is now deep in everyone’s heart. Every change we’ve made is in response to the need of the times and the market. Along the way, we’ve made marvelous achievements thanks to China's reform and opening-up, and we’ve been through the painstaking transition of upgrading and transformation. There’ve been moments of adventure, and moments of uneasiness. The only thing we’ve never undergone is the fear of change and the future, as we’re firmly convinced of the notions of being alert in times of peace and survival of those who will keep changing.
China is now in a brand new era as we bid farewell to 2017 and look forward to 2018. For Midea, this is also an unprecedented opportunity for development. Today, Midea has once again found itself at the historic turning point --- a revolutionary road from a conventional household appliance manufacturer to a global technology group. Looking into the next ten, twenty or even fifty years at this new height, Midea will embrace its new vision, responsibilities and mission.
The future of Midea is certain. Technologies featuring artificial intelligence, big data and the Internet of Things will disrupt consumers’ experience. Moreover, consumption upgrade and supply-side structural reform will drive innovation in business models. Only when Midea continues its technology-backed product innovation and taps into the advantages of whole value chain operation excellence will it be able to bring into reality a breakthrough from outperformance to excellence over the next five decades.
The future of Midea is at the same time uncertain. The journey of upgrading and transformation is like a deep-sea voyage full of undercurrents and unknowns: Despite huge R&D investment, the making of competitive products poses countless uncertainties; lean management is in everything we do and requires persistent stamina; the process of globalization, even in its good days, allows not even the slightest relaxation. We will soon be knocked down by the next wave if we dwell on our past triumphs and fail to realize product-and-efficiency-oriented organic growth in a prompt manner.
To embrace the future, we may only keep our eyes on the stars. We’ll need to observe the basic development rules of modern commerce and steer our operation and development with the highest standard of a leading international company. In the days to come, we’ll also need greater determination to change than ever and to conduct more profound self-denial and transformation.
In his book Homo Deus：A Brief History of Tomorrow, Yuval Noah Harari said, “The only constant fact of history is that everything will change.” The mentality of evolution has enabled Midea to succeed over the past fifty years, and will remain the only power that would secure the next fifty or even one hundred years of Midea’s resolute voyage towards its final destination.
Right this moment at the turn of the year as Midea’s 50th anniversary approaches, the original aspiration of a better life still resonates loud and clear. I look forward to creating an evolution for a splendid future and to envisioning our next fifty years together with you all!
For another fifty years, we will keep our eyes on the stars;
For another fifty years, we in Midea will spare no effort in our quest for excellence.
With best regards,
Paul Fang
31st Dec., 2017
