My “Why”
Simon Sinek, a great management consultant, introduced me to “why.” In my case, why did I start my management consulting business. It should be an easy question to answer, but it proved to be more soul searching and ultimately my “why” boiled down to four words – I help people succeed.
The journey started with my first job out of college. My life lessons were forged in the trenches with some high stakes wins and several lessons learned the hard way.
I have owned two companies, been the VP-Sales for a 300-person team and been in the boardrooms and on the shop floors of hundreds of companies. I’ve seen first-hand the disconnect between what is said, and what is actually done.
Fresh out of college I worked for a manager who kept me in a dead-end job. That experience of feeling undervalued and underappreciated was extremely frustrating.
Lesson learned: When employees are not valued, everyone loses—the individual, the team, and the company.
Later in my career I took over a struggling 300-person sales organization plagued by low morale and high turnover. I was the third VP – Sales in five years. To succeed, I focused on the “soft skills” of leadership. Within three years, the company had entirely changed:
- The company grew by 200 new employees.
- Both manufacturing plants moved to 24/7 operations to meet demand.
- We developed a “can-do” culture.
Lesson learned: People will work hard if you respect them, have honest communication, give sincere appreciation, and treat people equally.
Another company gave me an MBA-level education. While the position looked perfect on paper, the reality was a profound mismatch. The disconnect between leadership, expectations, and culture created a ripple effect of stress that touched me, my team, and my family life.
Lesson learned: There are hidden costs of a bad hire: lost time, drained energy, and eroded trust. Hiring mistakes and cultural misalignment can quietly drain life out of even the best companies.
Business is important, but I am most proud of my family, which includes my wife Carole, two daughters and seven grandchildren.
Lesson learned: Family makes everything worthwhile.
This may seem corny, but it is 100% true. I get up everyday to help people succeed. How can I help you?
jbishop@hiretocompete.com
314-651-1479