My “Why”
Simon Sinek, a great inspirational speaker, introduced the world to “why.”
Like “if” and “yes,” it is a small, powerful word that can help you find your “North Star.”
I spent the better part of a day thinking about “why” as it relates to my consulting business. I’ve owned two companies, been the VP-Sales for a 300-person team and been in hundreds of boardrooms and shop
floors. I’ve seen first-hand the disconnect between what is said, and what is actually done.
- Undervalued Talent:
Fresh out of college I worked for a manager who kept me in a dead-end job. That experience of being undervalued and underappreciated was extremely frustrating.
Lesson #1: When employees are not valued, everyone loses—the individual, the team, and the company.
- Changing Culture
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:
- We added 200 new employees.
- Scaled both manufacturing plants to 24/7 operations to meet demand.
- We developed a “can-do” culture.
Lesson #2: People will work hard if you respect them, communicate honestly, give sincere appreciation, and treat them equally.
- Price of a Bad Hire
Another company gave me an MBA-level education. While the position looked perfect on paper, it was a profound mismatch. The disconnect between leadership, expectations, and culture created lots of stress on me, my team, and my family life.
Lesson #3: There are hidden costs of a bad hire: lost time, drained energy, and eroding trust. Hiring mistakes and cultural misalignment can quickly drain life out of a company.
- Personal Motivation
Business is important, but I am most proud of my family, which includes my wife Carole, two daughters and seven grandchildren.
Lesson #4: Family makes everything worthwhile.
I’ve seen the view from the corner office and the shop floor. Today, my purpose is simple: To help people succeed. I use my work experiences to help companies deal with turnover, employee engagement and company culture issues.
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