has been crucial in building strong businesses, says Iribe. He strives to hire only candidates who are fully psyched to join his company. Iribe’s tactic to discover the most enthusiastic: “We see if we can turn them off, kind of scare them away, by telling them how much effort we all put into it and what the expectation is,” he says. Share your company’s work ethic, issues, and expectations with potential employees. Those who are still asking for a job will be pumped to work with someone who takes their work seriously.
Jim Koch
Founder and CEO of the Boston Beer Company
Following in the footsteps of his great-great grandfather, his great grandfather, his grandfather, and his father, Jim Koch, a three-time Harvard grad, decided to brew beer. Using his great-great grandfather’s recipe that established the Louis Koch Brewery in St. Louis, Missouri in the 1870s, Koch traded his management-consulting job in 1984 to brew what he called Samuel Adams beer in his Boston kitchen. Selling at restaurants and bars around the city, Samuel Adams won countless awards and after 30 years, became a popular choice among beer connoisseurs. He became a billionaire in 2013.
Koch’s tip: Ignore the numbers. Although Koch jokes about spending another 30 years to earn one more percentage of the U.S. beer market, his goals aren’t numerical. “Don’t dream in numbers,” says Koch. mistake to say, ‘I’m going to measure myself by hitting this number.’” He is simply concerned with making beer in the good ol’ U.S.A. that pleases his seasoned taste buds. When running your business, take Koch’s advice. Don’t judge your progress based on how much money you’re pulling in. Your profits will pour in gradually if your focus is the product or service.
John Jacobs
Co-founder, Life Is Good
Jacobs understands that life isn’t always stellar, but that never stopped him and his brother from spreading a memorable message through apparel with the phrase “Life Is Good.” The brothers started in 1994 by driving from college campus to college campus selling T-shirts featuring their own artwork. Their character, Jake, and the slogan “Life Is Good” propelled their business to success. Life Is Good is expected to hit revenues of $117 million in 2014.
Jacobs’ tip: Project positivity. Life Is Good makes sure to practice what they promote. To begin meetings, Jacobs asks his employees to share one good thing that has happened to them that day, the same tactic Jacobs’ mother once used every night at the dinner table. “This doesn’t mean we ignore issues,” says Jacobs. But the emphasis on the positive adds momentum to meetings and highlights what the company is doing well. So, the next time you’re in a meeting with employees or anyone that works for you, share your own happy/success-filled news and ask others to do the same. It will remind everyone of the progress they have made and will energize them to tackle new challenges.