A walk in the Woods? No. On a mission, Yes.
Let me be the first to admit—I am no master of the English language. If you're looking for literary genius, you may need to look elsewhere. Blame it on the New York State English requirements from the '80s. Writing has never been my favorite pastime, and yet, here I am, launching a blog. Why, you ask? Well, I have a few compelling reasons.
First and foremost, I’m at a crucial stage in the evolution of my business. We’re growing from adolescence into adulthood, and with that comes the challenge of shaping a culture that aligns with our ambitions of building long-term enterprise value. I believe the act of writing—taking the time to slow down and articulate thoughts—has become more valuable than ever in a world filled with the noise of social media and fleeting trends.
This blog isn't a random stream of consciousness. Instead, it’s a real-time reflection of what I’m learning and thinking as I guide my company through its next stage of growth. It’s not just for me, though. My hope is that it offers value to fellow entrepreneurs, business leaders, and maybe even some aspiring CEOs. Who knows, maybe this will evolve into something bigger down the line—a book, or even a platform to share my views if I ever feel called to public service.
Right now, culture is the big topic on my mind. We’ve grown to over 40 full-time employees, and while there’s a lot about our current culture that I like, there are aspects that could use refinement. So, I’m using this space to define the “brand” of leadership and work that I want to foster within my company.
The Pillars of My Leadership
I’ve distilled the core values I look for in myself and my team into five key pillars:
Loyalty – Trust forms the bedrock of great work. When trust runs deep, the possibilities for collaboration and innovation are endless.
Courage – It’s about stepping up, taking initiative, and learning from mistakes by finding solutions.
Hard Work – Effort breeds opportunity. There’s no substitute for rolling up your sleeves and doing the work.
Innovation – When the path ahead isn’t clear, invent your way forward.
Adaptability – Personal growth and the ability to pivot, both in life and in business, are essential to survival.
My Busienss Philosophies
These principles shape how I run my business day-to-day:
- Bias for Action
- Customers and Employees First
- Path to Cash (Cash is King)
- Deliver Results
- Have a problem? Come with a solution
- Can’t make a sale? Make a friend, and build relationships when you don’t need them
- Build yourself, your business, and your community
- Network two levels up
- Watch for CEO disease
- Bet on people above all else
- Grow or die
- Pet Peeve asking for simple things once, or complicated things twice
- Is a decision reversible
These are just the starting points. This list will undoubtedly evolve as I grow, as the business grows, and as the world around us changes.
I’m not here to present myself as having all the answers—I’m here to share what I learn along the way. Hopefully, this blog will be a space for thoughtful reflection, open thinking, and continuous improvement, for me and for you. Let’s grow together.
- Ben, 9/2/2024
