No one starts out as a President, CEO, or boss.
In fact, since over 99% of companies in the United States are small businesses according to the Small Business Association (SBA), I venture to say that most small business owners, CEOs, Presidents, or bosses never went to a business school to learn how to become a boss or a CEO.
On the job training is how most learn how to become a good boss or CEO. I distinctly remember serving a paper route in the most influential area of Baltimore City as a young teenager. Seeing the success of owners of homes and condominiums in Baltimore made me want to understand what it took to be successful in my future life.
I came from such a middle-class family that, when my parents passed, there was not even insurance money for funerals and burials.
I remember working from probably the age of 13 as a paperboy to a musician to an electrician to delivering groceries and working in a liquor store. At age 18, I joined the United States Air Force, and it was there that I learned about focus and discipline and leadership.
While the United States ended mandatory inscription, that experience in the military was without a doubt the best experience that a young man or woman can have.
For new hires at our company, we are focused on not whether they have experience doing a particular job but rather, are they focused individuals? Have they been successful in school, and what have they done to make the world a better place to live? By that I mean, are they giving back regardless of their age, are they giving back to society through their scouting activities, volunteer work, church activities, and on and on. These are all important indicators of a person’s true character.
I provide guidance to those that are re-writing their resume and suggest that they put front and center a response on their resume to the question “why you want me on your team?” This question allows the resume writer to stand out by using the word “team.” We are looking for new team members that are dependable and focused because we can teach them their skills, but they cannot be taught reliability, focus, or tenacity.
If I had the ability to talk to my younger self, I would still give the same advice and that would be to join the military and take advantage of everything the military has to offer.
Looking for a new hire, it is critical that the new potential hire understand that it is not all about money, it is not all about fame, it is not all about fortune, but it is about what you can do for your new firm and what you can do when you become accomplished to influence other young people to “pay it forward.”