My life mission gave me focus and I learned how to let go of the rest. I was defined by my own values and therefore was content and not jealous or wanting what others may regard as “the life”. I followed my own path, making the choices that lead me to my own definition of happiness.
The one piece of practical advice I would say is to follow your own path. You are here on earth for special reason, only you can do what you are uniquely born to be and do. Start from where you are now, one step at a time you can move closer to what calls to you from your inner being. Find what in your life gives you a deep sense of peace, what makes you feel content. Follow that. Live your life from that perspective and I promise you that you will be happier, healthier and more successful. Make a tiny step, and then another, soon you will be well on your way to achieving your dreams! And yes, pause regularly to give thanks for what you have; gratitude makes you happier because you are focusing on the good in your life.
SK: You’ve been the CEO of Aveda Corp, president of Reebok Apparel and Retail group, and vice president of Nike, Inc. What are some traits that make you successful?
MT: The opportunity and challenge with leadership is that you have to make decisions that have large ramifications. I’ve learned a process over time that has helped me know how to proceed when I am faced with management issues that have less than clear direction, which are most of them! I call this process PAGDE - Pause. Assess. Gather. Decide. Execute. What this process helps me do is to keep calm, check out the situation, collect information, come to a decision and then follow through with action. Basically PAGDE can guide you in any circumstance, whether it’s your work or personal life, you can benefit from using this.
You can read more about it in an article
I wrote about it for Huffington Post.
SK: What is the best business advice you’re received?
MT: When I was a young and starry-eyed assistant buyer at May Department Store, now part of Macy’s, I had an idealistic picture of what I should be buying. I thought I was there to raise the taste level of my customers; did my buyer teach me something! She told me that my job was to serve our customers, to find out what they wanted and do my best to anticipate, find, design and have made if necessary, so that I can offer them what would fit their needs and make them more than satisfied. She said that if they wanted toilet seat covers, then happily and proudly buy the ones that would suit their needs. It was not about me and what I thought was cool, it was completely about our customers. From that point on I realized that my work/duty is to serve my clients’ needs and to develop improved ways to fulfill what they are looking for.
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