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FOOD FOR THOUGHT Leadership Lessons from
Millionaire Business Owners
Leaders are lighthouses, not weathervanes "Weathering changes at Primerica that
often lead to uncertainty and chaos helped me develop a leadership philosophy steeped in being someone my teams can turn to for guidance, even during the most turbulent times,” said John Addison, CEO of Addison Leadership Group and leadership editor of Success magazine. “Whether it was another leadership change or trying to save the company during the recession, my people could confidently say I would make the best decisions for their future, and stand firm on that decision, even if it wasn't popular with everyone.”
Addison added, “Being a weathervane twisting in the wind wasn't going to instil the confidence they very much needed, so I had to learn to be a lighthouse: someone they knew would still be standing strong once the storm passed. Thankfully, my mentor, Primerica founder Art Williams, demonstrated being a lighthouse for many years, and I was able to follow his example.”
"Through my writing, speaking engagements and position as the leadership editor for Success magazine, I am able to share my leadership message with a wider
audience and play a role in shaping future generations of leaders. My hope through sharing my message is that one day we will have more leaders who are lighthouses and far fewer who are weathervanes."
Create a family- friendly environment Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg made
waves in November 2015 by announcing that he would be taking a two month paternity leave. Facebook, it turns out, is one of the leaders when it comes to offering competitive paternity leave.
“Studies show that when working parents take time to be with their new-borns, outcomes are better for the children and families,” Zuckerberg wrote in a Facebook post. “At Facebook we offer our US employees up to four months of paid maternity or paternity leave which they can take throughout the year.”
Treat employees like royalty
“We treat our people like royalty. If you honour and serve the people
who work for you, they will honour and serve you,” said Mary Kay Ash.
Communicate effectively Warren Buffett has said, “You’ve got to be able to communicate in
life and it’s enormously important. Schools, to some extent, under emphasize that. If you can’t communicate and talk to other people and get across your ideas, you’re giving up your potential.”
Be a man or woman of the people.
Jim Sinegal, co- founder and former CEO of Costco, was beloved by his
employees. Why? Because not only was his salary $350,000 a year, he was down in the trenches with his employees fighting for them to have higher wages. He had a no frills office and everyone called him by his first name.
Contributed by Oye Jolaoso
PAGE 5 INSIDE ACCESS | JANUARY 2020 1ST EDITION