How does it feel being No. 2, GM?

Does it matter who's no. 1?

GM Chief Executive Rick Wagoner said his company has room for growth worldwide and will forcefully defend its title. "I like being No. 1, and I think our people take pride in it," he told a small group of reporters at GM's headquarters. "It's not something we're going to sit back and let somebody else pass us by."

But why the obsession with being the Global leader in sales volume when your profits are down?

If Toyota does pass GM, Wagoner said he would not be pleased. "It won't be a happy day for me, but I've lost basketball games before in my life. You get ready and you learn and you go back the next day, and that's what we'll do," he said. "We're going to fight to keep the position, and if one day we lose it, we'll fight to get it back." All this said during an interview with AP on Jan 5 2007.

Now that Toyota edged out GM in Q1'2007 to become No. 1, Wagoner has cut his base salary by a quarter to $1.65 million in a gesture of support for the auto maker's turnaround efforts. GM Chief Financial Officer Fritz Henderson and product chief Bob Lutz also took pay cuts of 15 percent each, bringing their base salaries to $1.32 million each.

Ok, the point I want to raise is that being No. 1 is never easy. Being No. 1 for 73 years is a feat. But, look at the expense and sacrifices you had to make to be in that leader's position? So GM it's ok to be No. 2 for awhile, take the time to sort out your problems, consolidate your forces outside the US, concentrate on investing in your R&D to make the Chevy Volt a reality. Take a break. Breathe.

The ball is now in Toyota's court. Toyota. The paranoia has started, you desired to be the No. 1. You chased and trailed from No. 2, you finally caught up and won just by an inch. Get ready, coz now you'll have to watch your back.

Wait, isn't the American press so fond of GM bashing because they were No. 1 for so long? Well if you ask me, when the press sings praises about Toyota for too long, it gets boring. Toyota, whatever you do, say, produce, market, sell, your people, your products, your contribution would be scrutinized. Noone said being No. 1 was easy.