Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/1495967
keep us down. We need to know that when we make a mistake or face a setback, it is time for us to get back up, dust ourselves off and start making lemonade. As you can see, proverbs are very important to me. There are even more, as I haven't had a chance to talk yet about the need for hard work and for passion. But this is enough for now. The lessons these sayings hold have been key factors for me in becoming a more effective leader of our company and our leadership team. Hopefully they will be helpful to you as well. Business Leader of the Year (Nonprofit) STEPHANIE PAGE, Executive director, Abby's House 1. Love is a powerful force for change when it motivates what we do as leaders. You can be a light in the world if you act from a place of love and hope. 2. Leadership is about serving others. We exist to help one another, and we can all be leaders and help individuals and communities around us. 3. When you need help, look up and out and pull in resources to find a way to get something done. This is how breakthroughs often happen. 4. Leaders are not perfect and are always learning. Be willing to recognize your mistakes and learn from them, but don't let your mistakes inhibit your willingness to lead. 5. We are all fragile human beings and never know what another person may be experiencing. While we are resilient and have the strength to persevere through pain and adversity, it is wise to be gentle with yourself and with others as often as you can. 6. We each have unlimited human potential. It is a gift to help people to realize what they are capable of and to help people to experience it. 7. Believe in what you do and give yourself wholeheartedly to it, and your passion will serve you in many ways. 8. Don't forget that life is full of mystery and wonder. Take time to revel in the mystery of the ocean, a sunset, or a blooming spring flower. It will put perspective on whatever difficulty or challenge you may be facing in the moment and will help you through it. 9. Collaboration is powerful. Great things happen because people work together. Engage people in a shared purpose and accomplish great things together. 10. Hard work matters, and rest does too. Business Leader of the Year (Innovative) PAUL SELLEW, CEO, Little Leaf Farms There are many smart people in our country and the world we live in. Innovation requires multiple factors to succeed in our highly competitive fee market system. The important things are as follows: 1. Being open minded and curious – The world is a big and interesting place and paying attention and observing is a requirement 2. A good idea – It all starts from there. The idea needs to address a need and improve over the status quo; better product, service, business model or technology. 3. Courage of your conviction – There are a lot of ideas out there but what separates the good ideas from the rest is often an individual that acts on it and turns it into something tangible and real 4. Leadership – In order for an idea to be turned into something tangible it always requires a team of people to work together towards a common purpose. This can be the most challenging but ultimately the most important part of the innovation process. Business Leader of the Year (Family) MIRIAM, GREGORY AND EDNA HYDER, Co-owners, Ed Hyder's Mediterranean Marketplace • Always do the right thing, even when it means losing money. Honesty is the best policy. • Don't take things personally. Be open to criticism and feedback from everyone. • Embrace change. It can be scary, but you must do it to keep your business alive and well. • Have an open line of communication with your staff. Make them feel comfortable coming to you with ideas. All of our best innovations have come from employees. It keeps people engaged and raises morale when someone sees one of their ideas on display. • Understand the importance of community, and how you help shape it. Give as much support to your community as you can, through donation of your product, time, or expertise. • Spend time with as many business owners as possible-even those who you consider competitors. You will learn a lot from each other, and there is always an opportunity to collaborate. • Get to know your customers, and encourage your staff to do so. It will set your business apart, and will add to the experience of shopping with you. • Lift other businesses owners up. Reach out to say hi, or let them know you think they are doing a great job on a product they just launched. Today, it is as easy as a follow, a mention, or a message on social media. • Don't forget the people who helped get you to where you are. While your business may have changed over the years, don't close the door on your oldest customers. • "You don't know what you don't know." When we walked into our first day of the Interise "Small Business MBA" program five years ago, the graduates of the previous class were asked to give us one piece of advice. This line was yelled out in unison. Meaning, there is so much knowledge and information out there that you have no idea exists. Seek out information. Ask for advice. Join discussions. Read! There is no business owner who knows everything there is to know about sales, marketing, finance, and products. Be open to learning new things. • You have the ability to make someone's day, every day. Smile. Lend a listening ear. Go the extra mile. Don't have something a customer or client needs? Help them find it elsewhere. Something that took an extra minute of your time, will be remembered by the person you helped for years to come. Worcester Business Journal Hall of Fame LINDA CAVAIOLI, Executive director, YWCA Central Massachusetts 1. Family is first – everyone has one! (However they define it). 2. Want to make transformational change, embrace diversity, inclusively and equity. 3. Don't hire people like you – everyone has something to contribute. 4. Integrity is everything – it's only yours to lose. 5. Leadership is shared, not owned and is devoid of titles. 6. Know when to lead, know when to follow and know when to walk side by side. 7. Take risks – mistakes are not failures if you learn from them. 8. Admit when you are wrong. Say you are sorry. It allows others to own their mistakes. 9. Forgive yourself and others. Holding grudges prevents you from achieving personal and community goals. 10. Following your passion may not bring you financial wealth but will bring you a deeper meaning to your life. 11. Passion and negativity are equally contagious. Choose passion! Worcester Business Journal Hall of Fame KAREN A. KOLLER, President & CEO, RCAP Solutions, Inc. This is the toughest of exercises that the WBJ has asked. Being retrospective is hard. You go to work everyday and over a period of time all of sudden you have a voice. I chose to frame my voice with my executive team. The "quotes" is a real message from a member of the Leadership Team here at RCAP Solutions. I am so happy to say they are on point with my thoughts, but it is best to hear from them rather than me. Enjoy the sparkle. 1. SING, DANCE & HAVE FUN "she leaves sparkle everywhere she goes" …from my wonderful "Best Ideas & Key Philosophies" from 2020 Business Leaders of the Year