Twenty years ago a good friend of mine bought a small wooden play system and a tool box in San Antonio, TX. He didn't initially seek out this play system or the rights to sell these play systems in San Antonio. He purchased these two things as an extra opportunity in a transaction to buy the rights to another small business venture in the efforts to supplement his blossoming landscape company. He was interested in providing excellent landscaping services and products, wowing his clients, and working hard. Now, twenty years later he is the largest distributor of Rainbow Play Systems in the world.
Today, my friend oversees 7 Rainbow Play System locations from Corpus Christi, TX to Austin. Two of these stores offer a wider variety of high-end outdoor products like Springfree Trampolines, Tuff Shed, Goalsetter Basketball Goals, The Big Green Egg, custom pergolas and pavilions, and 3 lines of mid to high-end patio furniture. His offerings are only of the highest quality and his vision is to fully enhance the outdoor lifestyle. So, when I was looking for my next opportunity after my service in the Navy, and my friend said he was looking for a innovator to manage his Homefield Outdoor Living Store in Corpus I got excited!
There is something extraordinary about quality leaders. They inspire. The results of my friend's (and now boss) efforts are undeniable. He has exceeded everyone's expectations of him (except his own of course). However, I chose to follow this guy for one main reason... he believes in what he is doing. He believes that no one offers the line up of quality products and services in Texas, and he is right. He believes he is on the cutting edge of innovation in a unique market, and he is right. He Believes, and he is right. He just needs a little help from a few trusted individuals who buy in to his beliefs to truly make his vision come to fruition.
Simon Sinek discusses this concept in his TED Talk presentation How Great Leaders Inspire. He discusses the difference between great men and great leaders, and the difference is in the WHY. Sink created his "golden circle" which consists of three rings. In the center is the WHY, followed by the HOW, and wrapped up with the outer ring of the WHAT. His argument is that people don't give a hoot about the what until they understand the why, and this is true for individuals as well as companies. Why sells, not the what. People won't run out to buy the best made pergola for their backyards, but they will seek out the company that is dedicated to providing shade in South Texas without sacrificing aesthetic beauty and driven to stand apart from other carpentry by offering shade structures they would proudly display in their own backyards.
Leaders live in the Why and work their way to the What. Managers, on the other hand, live in the What and work their way to the Why. Managers look to do things right. Leaders look to do the right things. Magical things happen when someone decides to play both roles at the same time. So, when my friend asked me to manage his store in Corpus Christi, TX I knew what he was asking was for me to do things the right way while finding the right things to do. There are so few opportunities out there to work with such a fine leader, yet there are infinite opportunities out there to lead. You just have to know the Why!
JP
Today, my friend oversees 7 Rainbow Play System locations from Corpus Christi, TX to Austin. Two of these stores offer a wider variety of high-end outdoor products like Springfree Trampolines, Tuff Shed, Goalsetter Basketball Goals, The Big Green Egg, custom pergolas and pavilions, and 3 lines of mid to high-end patio furniture. His offerings are only of the highest quality and his vision is to fully enhance the outdoor lifestyle. So, when I was looking for my next opportunity after my service in the Navy, and my friend said he was looking for a innovator to manage his Homefield Outdoor Living Store in Corpus I got excited!
There is something extraordinary about quality leaders. They inspire. The results of my friend's (and now boss) efforts are undeniable. He has exceeded everyone's expectations of him (except his own of course). However, I chose to follow this guy for one main reason... he believes in what he is doing. He believes that no one offers the line up of quality products and services in Texas, and he is right. He believes he is on the cutting edge of innovation in a unique market, and he is right. He Believes, and he is right. He just needs a little help from a few trusted individuals who buy in to his beliefs to truly make his vision come to fruition.
Simon Sinek discusses this concept in his TED Talk presentation How Great Leaders Inspire. He discusses the difference between great men and great leaders, and the difference is in the WHY. Sink created his "golden circle" which consists of three rings. In the center is the WHY, followed by the HOW, and wrapped up with the outer ring of the WHAT. His argument is that people don't give a hoot about the what until they understand the why, and this is true for individuals as well as companies. Why sells, not the what. People won't run out to buy the best made pergola for their backyards, but they will seek out the company that is dedicated to providing shade in South Texas without sacrificing aesthetic beauty and driven to stand apart from other carpentry by offering shade structures they would proudly display in their own backyards.
Leaders live in the Why and work their way to the What. Managers, on the other hand, live in the What and work their way to the Why. Managers look to do things right. Leaders look to do the right things. Magical things happen when someone decides to play both roles at the same time. So, when my friend asked me to manage his store in Corpus Christi, TX I knew what he was asking was for me to do things the right way while finding the right things to do. There are so few opportunities out there to work with such a fine leader, yet there are infinite opportunities out there to lead. You just have to know the Why!
JP
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