Words of Wisdom: Greg Gathers
What have you learned since you were selected?
Since my selection, I continue to learn how important it is to have an executive and management team that share the vision of the company. I have, unfortunately, put people in a management role in the past that did not share the same vison, and the results were very costly. Team members that are in tune with the direction that the company is going are invaluable.
What do you know now that you wish you knew then?
There was a time when I was afraid of “failure”. Since my selection, I have learned to embrace failing and the lessons that accompany it. Fear of anything is the greatest inhibitor of success as it dangerously limits your own potential – paralyzing your ability to progress.
What advice would you give to aspiring young professionals?
There is so much I could write here. However, my slimmed-down advice to any aspiring young professional is to model yourself after others that have already achieved success. Take note of what they did right – but also pay close attention to what they did wrong. Focus on the things that are your strengths and activities or operations that are most profitable and delegate the things that aren’t - or simply don’t do them at all. If you want to be the best, you will consistently have to do more than everyone else. Whatever level you think your goals need to be set at, they need to be higher. However great you think your activity level needs to be, it will need to be greater. Whatever problems and obstacles you think you will face, there will inevitably be more. Don’t let any of this discourage you, because the rewards of success are well worth it!
