Gathering professional and life lessons from great leaders around the world can open many doors. We simply need to choose which ones we walk through.
I’ve been blessed to learn from many leaders during my career. And, that’s why I included above the thought that’s often drifting through my head.
So, let’s continue with one of my favorite themes; the simplicity found in groups of three.
Several years ago I had the opportunity to chat with Greg Hicks, owner and founder of Impressions Catering in Cleveland, Tennessee.
Greg opened new doors for me.
Despite the rough and tumble catering world he works in, Greg has thrived. Like many of us, though, Greg had to learn some lessons the hard way. With a matter-of-fact style revealing hard earned wisdom, Greg shared, “I was busy, burned out, and broke.” Battered by the Great Recession of 2008, Greg made the mistake of saying “yes” to every client demand … and his strategy extracted a tremendous toll:
Greg was busy: Lacking focus, Impressions Catering chased every lead, accepted every client request.
Greg was burned out: Chasing one’s own tail is tiring. Greg’s health was suffering.
Greg was broke: Profit margin played second fiddle in Greg’s decision making process.
Greg summed up his failing business model beautifully: “I eventually learned you will be ‘nothing to nobody’ if you try to be ‘all things to all people.’”
This story has a happy ending. Over 20 years of owning and running a now extremely successful catering company has Greg extolling the virtues of remaining laser-focused on one’s strengths … and leveraging those strengths. “Not all business is our business,” said Greg as he shared with me how Impressions Catering remains true to its niche; the business of offering full-service wedding catering.
Greg gets it.
Although many doors open to us in our careers and lives, we don’t need to walk through each one.
Which doors will you choose to walk through … and which will you close?
