A recent visitor to the roundtable said it best. When discussing cash management, operating margin specifically and the combination of using real estate as a tool inside the visitor’s particular business, here was his response.
“If I tried to talk about this stuff with my employees, they would freak out and shut down. Most of them don’t know how the money works or what it takes to keep the operation running. If I brought some of this up to them, they would not be able to handle it.”
This sentiment is shared by just about every member of the roundtable in the early stages of their participation. Every entrepreneur usually starts with a very small team of folks helping them to realize their vision and fulfill the very first orders. It can be tough to begin to let others “in” on the leadership, thinking, and design of the operation.
So our members really gave the guest an eye-opening perspective around having a group to bounce ideas/decisions and teammate assembly. Over time, the operation grows and the organization will need to attract stronger and more experienced leaders to manage the ever-evolving system.
While members are in the process of building out a leadership team that is capable and willing to have a mature discussion about the business’ finances and the management of the capital, leaders can often feel isolated and lonely. It’s great to have colleagues who are a little further up the mountain to get perspective and ideas from along the journey.
CBC has always been interested in the growth and development of the entrepreneurs in our organization. However, in this moment, it served as a powerful reminder of why CEO roundtables matter. Beyond the exchange of ideas and the pursuit of business opportunities, they offer something far more precious: a sense of camaraderie, mutual support, and shared humanity in the often solitary journey of leadership.
Looking forward to hearing your story about your journey soon! Find a group that resonates with you and that wants to hear about your successes and will challenge you in some of your toughest trials to persevere and push through.
Be great!