KEYS TO SUCCESS
Does Someone Else Hold the Keys to Your Success ? 10 Ways To Prove To Them You Are Deserving . BY : KEVIN DAUM , AUTHOR OF ROAR !
Every day you are being assessed . This successful CEO shares how to rise to the challenge ... always .
Although sometimes it appears to the contrary , most leaders , business owners , and entrepreneurs agree that no one really succeeds alone . Even the most talented and driven person benefits from having good mentorship and connections , or at least from having the occasional door opened . The big problem , as many ambitious people discover in the early phases of their development , is proving to gatekeepers that you deserve access and acceptance .
Marc Blackman has been proving himself for 24 years . You might think him lucky since he married the daughter of a successful entrepreneur . But making the marriage was insufficient to earn immediate respect in business .
The company was Gold Eagle Co ., a 60 + -year-old Chicago-based manufacturer of performance chemicals and surface treatments . Blackman obviously did not start out in the respected CEO role he holds today .
Blackman recalls , “ So I left a good sales career at E & J Gallo winery to join another family business .” He knew that all eyes would be on him from the start , waiting to see if he would become an asset or just dead weight . He would have to do more than anyone else to prove his worth , and he would have to do it every day . “ Nobody knew anything about me , except that I ’ d married into the family business .” Ten years later , he is running that business .
“ In the end ,” he says , “ It actually isn ’ t that different from earlier professional and personal experiences . There are a few simple practices that demonstrate your worth . Do them well and doors will open .” Here are Blackman ’ s 10 recommended practices for proving yourself to the gatekeepers of your success .
1 . KNOW AND SHOW YOUR STRENGTHS .
“ I knew what I was good at ,” says Blackman , “ I have approachability , friendliness , and inquisitiveness along with business acumen and knowledge of consumer product sales . “ He saw that Gold Eagle , a company with a powerful 85-year history in Chicago , wanted to stay true to the core values that it developed as a small storefront during the Great Depression . It also needed to chart a way forward . Blackman demonstrated how his people skills and business acumen could help them reach the future while honoring the past .
2 . BE GENUINE , AND SHOW THAT YOU DESERVE YOUR GOOD FORTUNE .
Early in his tenure at Gold Eagle , Blackman realized that some would see his role in the company as the result of plain luck . If he could show integrity , honesty , and passion , however , they might decide to appreciate him instead of resenting him . “ I can ’ t be anything other than me !” he quips , “ So I just tried to bring my best qualities to the table every day .” The better he was appreciated , the more his colleagues came to respect him and believe his good fortune was earned . 3 . KNOW YOUR STUFF .
Gold Eagle might be a family business , but it is a business-first family business . Blackman saw the need to quickly educate himself about all aspects of manufacturing . “ Every day is a chance to learn and to prove yourself ,” he recalls , “ I continually learn about chemical formulations , EPA compliance , research and development , human resources , packaging , operations , quality control , distribution , customer needs , and marketing .” Becoming an insider means developing insider information and expertise .
4 . SURROUND YOURSELF WITH STRENGTH .
There ’ s an old adage that says , “ We are the company we keep .” That includes the professionals you choose to surround yourself with at work and in your networks . “ Build strong teams , and empower them to do their jobs ,” advises Blackman , “ and remember that teams don ’ t exist on an org chart ; they thrive by trust , empowerment , autonomy , cohesiveness , and ultimately , daily fulfillment .” You will get more done , and the keepers of the keys will see that you attract worthy companions .
5 . LET CULTURE WEAR THE CROWN .
At a “ traditional ” manufacturer like Gold Eagle , cultures can collide within the organization at all levels , especially in moments of transition . As they recruited younger talent , adopted digital marketing , and gained competence in e-commerce , Blackman knew he could not take an
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