π INTRODUCTION
What separates a great leader from an average manager?
Many people assume success in leadership comes from intelligence, experience, authority, or strong decision-making skills. While those qualities certainly matter, some of the most respected leaders point to a different factor entirely: the ability to understand, support, and bring out the best in others.
This meditation testimonial shares the story of Kyung-soo M., Executive Director of the Daesan Plant at LG Chem, one of Korea’s largest chemical manufacturing facilities.
Although his career progressed successfully, he struggled internally with stress, judgment, competitiveness, and difficult workplace relationships. Like many executives, he focused heavily on performance and results but often found communication and trust difficult to build.
Through Master Woo Myung’s meditation method, he discovered something unexpected: the greatest obstacle to leadership was not other peopleβit was his own mind.
As he learned to let go of pride, judgment, anxiety, and selfish expectations, his leadership style transformed. Communication improved, employee trust increased, workplace culture changed, and servant leadership became a natural part of daily life.
This meditation testimonial demonstrates how inner transformation can create stronger leaders, healthier workplace relationships, and more effective organizations.
π¬ MEDITATION TESTIMONIAL: “MEDITATION THAT CULTIVATES SERVANT LEADERSHIP”
By Kyung-soo M. | Executive Director, LG Chem Daesan Plant
π “What Does It Take to Succeed at Work?”
The Daesan Plant of LG Chem is one of Korea’s major chemical manufacturing complexes.
The facility employs approximately 760 workers.
Whenever new employees join the company, I ask them one simple question:
“What do you think it takes to succeed at work?”
Most people answer:
- Hard work
- Talent
- Competitiveness
- Self-development
My answer is different.
“You cannot truly succeed without the help of other people.”
And how do you receive that help?
The answer is equally simple:
“You must help others first.”
Not strategically.
Not for personal gain.
But sincerely.
π± “Real Leadership Requires Letting Go of Selfishness”
Helping others genuinely is far more difficult than it sounds.
To do so, a person must develop:
- A positive mindset
- Freedom from selfishness
- Freedom from excessive greed
- Freedom from constant judgment
As long as we think:
- “I like this person.”
- “I dislike that person.”
- “This employee is useful.”
- “That employee is difficult.”
true leadership becomes impossible.
Instead of teaching these ideas through words alone, I try to practice them every day.
Over time, employees began saying that they felt respected, valued, and comfortable working together.
And that atmosphere changed everything.
π€ “The Workplace Atmosphere Completely Changed”
When LG Chem acquired the former Hyundai Petrochemical operation in 2005, morale was extremely low.
Employees had endured years of uncertainty and instability.
Trust was weak.
Communication was limited.
Motivation was lacking.
Yet within a few years, the culture transformed dramatically.
People began enjoying work again.
The greatest difference was not technology or systems.
It was mindset.
Previously, the common response was:
“That’s impossible.”
“We can’t do that.”
Gradually, the attitude changed to:
“If we sincerely do our best, we can accomplish it.”
Communication became stronger.
Cooperation increased.
People began solving problems together.
π “I Constantly Judged Other People”
Although my career progressed successfully, relationships remained difficult.
I cared more about results than people.
When employees failed to meet expectations, I became frustrated.
I frequently thought:
“Why is this person so lazy?”
“Why can’t they perform better?”
When performance dropped, I pushed harder.
Yet nothing improved.
At the same time, I lived with constant anxiety.
I wanted recognition.
I feared failure.
And I was always comparing myself to others.
I did not realize how much those thoughts controlled me.
πΏ “Meditation Helped Me Discover the Real Problem”
During a particularly stressful period, I encountered meditation.
In 2002, I visited a meditation center during summer vacation.
There, I began reflecting deeply on myself.
What I discovered shocked me.
Inside my mind were:
- Jealousy
- Competitiveness
- Pride
- Fear of failure
- Obsession with winning
I had always believed I was good with people.
But when I honestly reflected on the employees around me, I realized:
“There wasn’t a single person I viewed without judgment.”
For the first time, I understood something profound:
“The problem wasn’t other people. The problem was me.”
That realization changed my life.
As I continued letting go of resentment, fear, pride, and greed, emotions surfaced naturally.
Many times, tears followed.
π “Listening Changed Everything”
When I returned to work, my leadership style changed dramatically.
Previously, I spoke more than anyone else during meetings.
Now I listened.
Instead of immediately presenting my own solutions, I asked employees for their thoughts.
Something remarkable happened.
People began discovering solutions together.
Dialogue improved.
Collaboration increased.
Employees became more engaged.
Rather than competing against one another, they shared responsibility and success.
π “Meditation Helped Me Understand Servant Leadership”
When I was younger, I read many books about leadership and relationships.
I understood intellectually that leaders should respect and care for others.
But knowledge alone did not change me.
Real change only happened after I began letting go of selfishness itself.
As pride, judgment, greed, and rigid expectations disappeared, my perspective naturally widened.
Understanding others no longer required effort.
It happened naturally.
π “A True Leader Serves Others”
When LG Chem took over the plant, one philosophy was emphasized repeatedly:
Servant Leadership
Leadership is not about controlling people.
It is not about authority.
It is not about forcing others to follow.
True leadership means serving, supporting, and helping people succeed.
Meditation allowed me to genuinely practice that philosophy.
Because only when selfish motives disappear can we truly care about others.
Even today, I continue practicing meditation and self-reflection.
Through that process, leadership no longer feels forced.
It becomes natural.
And perhaps that is why I sometimes think:
“Meditation centers may be places that cultivate servant leaders.”
π CONCLUSION
Kyung-soo M.’s story demonstrates that leadership begins within.
By letting go of judgment, pride, competitiveness, and fear, he transformed not only himself but also the workplace culture around him.
Communication improved.
Trust increased.
Employees felt respected and valued.
And servant leadership became a practical reality rather than a management theory.
This meditation testimonial shows how personal transformation can strengthen leadership, improve workplace relationships, and create healthier, more successful organizations.
Santa Clara Meditation
Helping leaders, professionals, and organizations cultivate communication, servant leadership, emotional intelligence, and inner peace through the meditation method of Master Woo Myung.
