In just the past week I had the pleasure of invest time with four successful CEO’s and getting their input and views on what has helped them to be successful.

 

Suppose these men just might have something for you?

 

I’ve taken their conversations and put the essence into five key areas for your review. Here they are……

 

1. Key one: Be entrepreneurial, create your own opportunities. This was the first on all four lists. You are responsible for who you become, not others.

 

·        Being overbearing and manipulative is not what is meant here. What is meant is to be independent in your thinking and stand away from the herd. You need to function and work with others, yet be willing to risk and try the new idea.

 

·        Opportunities are there every day, do we see them? Do we act on them? Do we help others to see them?

 

·        As Dr. Dan Schaefer says, “You are your own corporation, how are you going to run it?”

 

2. Key two: Knowing who you are!

 

·        What is your passion? If you have no passion, your success will be limited. He started out as an engineer, yet today touches none of that aspect in the business. Another has millions in debt due tomorrow, his passion keeps him focused on the solution.

 

Do you understand your passion? Do you have a passion? Are you willing to discover your passion?

 

·        Persistence, Ethics, Honesty, Integrity are all key elements exhibited by these four. Each gave examples of how they were personally tested more than once in each of these areas.

 

It was going through these personal tests that separated them from the herd and helped them to grow as a leader!

 

·        Being motivated by something; is there something more than just your passion motivating you along. Several of these men indicated the responsibility to their people or family as being a key motivator. One had borrowed money from his wife’s investments, every morning she asked what he was doing today to get it paid back. He indicated that look from that five foot woman got him out the door every morning!

 

·        Are you building yourself in some way everyday? Every one of them reads a minimum of a book a month if not a week! What are you putting into your head? If your not controlling what is going into your thinking, then who is? These men took control of their thinking and the ideas going into that thinking.

 

3. Key three: The value of others.

 

·        “People and how you relate to others is more important than what you know.”

 

·        I like this statement, “Breath through your nose, it keeps your mouth shut.” The ability to listen and understand others was a key element in all of the discussions. Without this ability none of the four would be where they are!

 

·        “Hire people smarter or better than you, and then get out of their way!” was stated by all four. They all realized they can not do it all themselves, they needed talented people to get things done. Oh how often I’ve seen and experienced owners and leaders unwilling to allow this to happen.

 

·        One talked about how their teams were so well run that they did not use annual reviews or evaluations! Yet one could be removed by the team, the manager or the owner. They have virtually no turn over. By the way, with hundreds of employees on staff the CEO tries to know everyone’s name! Is the focus on building people?

 

4. Key four: Be future oriented.

 

All of these men focused on the future the majority of the time. When you have good teams and let them function, you can focus on the future.

 

·        One man was introduced this way; “This is a man that lives in the future and occasionally visits the present.”

 

·        Please note there is very little “past” involved. All four indicated they learn from the past yet do not dwell on it.

 

·        Another had been asked if he ever failed or made a mistake; “Not really, I did have some very expensive and trying educational experiences though!”

 

·        Yet another had as one of his posted rules, “Westerday is past and forgotten, today is a new day.”

 

Being stuck in the past is not part of these men’s thinking. How about yourself?

 

5. Key five: Who are your supporters?

 

·        It is inevitable that there will be times when you may be out in the cold by yourself! The choice and decisions will be yours and yours alone!

 

·        Will your family support you? Not all understand or are willing to. How about your significant other?

 

·        One man talked about the importance of support from his wife through all the changes. Another indicated she was the one who kept him accountable. Alas one had three marriages and depended upon other support.

 

·        Do you have a trusting and understanding support of some type? Going it totally alone could be your Achilles heel! Find a trusting support with in or without your family.

 

There you go, the five key factors that comes from four successful CEO’s. Each is a stand out individual in their own right. Each has earned their place through work, creativity and persistence. Yet none has compromised their integrity, honesty or values to achieve their position.

 

It is my wish that you glean insight from this and apply it to your own success!

 

Want more of what these leaders have? We can provide skills and thinking strategies to get you there! Check out our programs and coaching services so we can team up together and write these kinds of articles about you!

 

www.busarconline.com  Harlan@busarc.com

 

To your success and till next week!

 

Harlan Goerger, National Director of Training

© Harlan Goerger, 4-2007