The Leader Within
This past week I attended two classes on leadership at Aileron (http://www.aileron.org/), an entrepreneurial mecca for those who desire to improve themselves and all aspects of their business. One class was aimed at insuring that, as leaders, we understand what kind of message we are sending/projecting to our respective organizations. The second discussed what it means to be a "Servant Leader." The classes were taught by T.D. Hughes, former CEO and now Chairman of the Board of LaRosa's (http://www.larosas.com/), a local pizzeria (OH, IN, KY locations) that has been in business since 1954.
After the classes a group of business associates and I gathered in a conference room to discuss our lessons learned. We then went on to discuss ways to expand our insurance businesses by way of recruiting. The gentleman at the head of the table exclaimed, "I'm tired of people wasting my time..." and before he could finish a flash of disdain undoubtedly appeared on my face which caused him to re-direct... he continued, "Come on Laura, you can't tell me you don't feel the same way." To which I replied, "I most certainly do not!"
The conversation got a little heated...
His statement struck me deeply as it is a passion of mine to help people seek the good and the positive in all situations and to take responsibility for their view of the world. For as the late Jim Rohn once said, "The highest form of human maturity is taking responsiblity for your own actions." If you hire someone that you believe is a drain on you and your resources, who is to blame? It's like feeding your child icecream, cake and candy for a year and then complaining that their teeth are rotten! Garbage in, garbage out! You can't hire a duck and expect them to turn into an eagle and be your shining star.
During the class T.D. had mentioned that leaders who complain about the fact that they can never find good people, need to start by looking in the mirror! And that, in my opinion, is what my business associate and friend did not grasp.
As I was reading You, Inc. by Burke Hedges he quoted Michael Gerber, author of The E-Myth and The E-Myth Revisited. Per Gerber, "Your business is nothing more than a distinct reflection of who you are. If your thinking is sloppy, your business will be sloppy. If you are disorganized, then your business will be disorganized. If you are greedy, the people around you will be greedy. So if your business is to change--as it must to be successful--you must change."
In short, stop staring out the window hoping and wishing for a better tomorrow and more success in your business. Go to the mirror and start from within to change the reflection and the person staring back at you. It can be done... but change starts with choice... choose wisely.
After the classes a group of business associates and I gathered in a conference room to discuss our lessons learned. We then went on to discuss ways to expand our insurance businesses by way of recruiting. The gentleman at the head of the table exclaimed, "I'm tired of people wasting my time..." and before he could finish a flash of disdain undoubtedly appeared on my face which caused him to re-direct... he continued, "Come on Laura, you can't tell me you don't feel the same way." To which I replied, "I most certainly do not!"
The conversation got a little heated...
His statement struck me deeply as it is a passion of mine to help people seek the good and the positive in all situations and to take responsibility for their view of the world. For as the late Jim Rohn once said, "The highest form of human maturity is taking responsiblity for your own actions." If you hire someone that you believe is a drain on you and your resources, who is to blame? It's like feeding your child icecream, cake and candy for a year and then complaining that their teeth are rotten! Garbage in, garbage out! You can't hire a duck and expect them to turn into an eagle and be your shining star.
During the class T.D. had mentioned that leaders who complain about the fact that they can never find good people, need to start by looking in the mirror! And that, in my opinion, is what my business associate and friend did not grasp.
As I was reading You, Inc. by Burke Hedges he quoted Michael Gerber, author of The E-Myth and The E-Myth Revisited. Per Gerber, "Your business is nothing more than a distinct reflection of who you are. If your thinking is sloppy, your business will be sloppy. If you are disorganized, then your business will be disorganized. If you are greedy, the people around you will be greedy. So if your business is to change--as it must to be successful--you must change."
In short, stop staring out the window hoping and wishing for a better tomorrow and more success in your business. Go to the mirror and start from within to change the reflection and the person staring back at you. It can be done... but change starts with choice... choose wisely.
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