Big Idea: Winning by Learning From the Past
Sharing a few great ideas from industry icons to educate leaders of today and tomorrow on how to be successful in their careers.
I started to think about this column rounding up great ideas almost two months ago.
You see, I had this a nagging uncertainty that everybody I knew in the industry had either sold their business, retired, or really and truly did not want to be interviewed.
Not being a quitter, I decided not to interview anyone from this group. Instead, I decided to go back to my archives and review what great ideas they’d shared in articles that I wrote decades ago.
A Wealth of Great Ideas
As I started to read what contributors back then gave as their best great ideas, I found myself being astounded by how good some of those ideas were, even by today’s standards.
Let me give you an example: Back in August 2007, I asked John Lombardi, who was president of CIA Security of New York and also a Central Station Alarm Association executive committee member when we talked, for his great idea.
Here it is: “In an informational technology age, information and education are of utmost importance. You can accomplish much of this by joining an association that will provide education, camaraderie and the combined experience of members who can help educate you.”
Lombardi eventually sold his company to a larger firm but still preaches his great idea. Reach out and ask someone in the industry a question you don’t know the answer to. Then, stand back!
The Golden Rule
Another great idea came from a close friend of mine, Rod Garner. At the time, also in 2007, I interviewed him and got this: “The best idea I have involves building relationships. In our company, we set ourselves apart by the relationships we have with our customers, our lenders and our vendors — everyone with whom we try to build a relationship.
We practice the Golden Rule, building our company success in relationships, friendships and honesty. In other words, we treat everyone we come in contact with as we would like to be treated!”
Garner died a few years ago, but two of his sons have taken over much of what he started. One ran a successful wholesale monitoring company, whereas another son took over management of the company Mountain Alarm in Ogden, Utah.
Both sons have proved worthy of their father. Eric’s company was acquired by Pye-Barker and grew so successful that, now, he is the president of the alarm operations throughout the country.
Also in 2007, I interviewed Tim Whall, who at the time was CEO of ADT and is now the interim CEO at Everon.
Whall’s great idea was simplicity itself: “Take care of the customer all the time! We measure customer service across five disciplines of the company. They are the sales team, the installation team, the central station team, the billing group and the service team. All those groups are responsible for some level of customer service satisfaction. I review every complaint or customer that comes under that grouping.”
Become an Inquisitive Manager
Whall went on to say this: “You must become an inquisitive manager, always asking questions. The answers to these can help you run a more effective business. I am a frequent speaker at regional, state and national association meetings, and you can always tell which participants are taking the greatest advantage of gaining others’ experience during the coffee breaks, meal breaks and social time after the events are over.”
I’ve known Whall since he was a boy and he hasn’t changed one iota. He went on to become CEO of several other large companies in the industry and today is considered one of the industry’s most successful businessmen.
As I was thumbing through the pages of past interviews, I came across one from Audrey Pierson. She told me this: “It always has to be about the customer. If you come at it from any other point of view, you will not be as successful as you would otherwise be if you put the customer first.”
Pierson is a first-class consultant, mostly working on the west coast. My company handled the sale of her company when her husband became ill, and it was sold successfully. Now, she’s helping other company owners by sharing her views of success. And, judging from the comments I’ve heard, she’s doing a great job with a lot of companies that have used her services.
One Last Great Idea
The last great idea that I’ll share with you this month comes from another great industry leader who died a few years ago: Mike Duffy. He was president and chief builder of Per Mar Security, a large regional firm operating primarily in the Midwest. His great idea was pithy and insightful: “Make sure you get your people in the right seats on the bus!”
So there you have it: Great ideas from the minds of great thinkers. Post a copy of these great ideas somewhere that you will see it often.
And I guess you could say that is my great idea for this month!
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