The Reluctant Entrepreneur: Turning Dreams into Profits

CHAPTER 9

LEADERSHIP: KEEPING YOUR VISION ALIVE

When Jack Welch took over as CEO of GE, he surprised shareholders and industry analysts by announcing that before the end of his tenure, the flagging industrial giant would climb back from near bankruptcy and become number one or number two in every one of its markets.

At the time, Welch’s claim was considered arrogant. But within 10 years, he had done just what he said he would do.

How did he achieve that spectacular feat? By creating a vision for the company—one his workers and associates could be proud of. And by communicating his vision so well that it became a corporate mantra.

As the leader of your company, your vision will change. The goals you work toward as a Stage One startup entrepreneur are different from those you work toward once you have a solid Stage Two business with $10 million in annual revenues. But even when your business grows beyond that—when you’re no longer actively running it—your primary job will always be to inspire your people with your vision for the future.

Along the way, of course, many other skills come into play.

Over the years, I’ve developed a lot of ideas about what makes for effective leadership—all of them based on personal experience and most of them contrary to what you’re likely to read in the popular business press.

Let’s take a look … 

“A leader is a dealer in hope.”

—Napoleon Bonaparte