Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/1518149
"Best Ideas & Key Philosophies" from 2018 Business Leaders of the Year harder than you if you let them. (I learned this watching my Dad...The hardest worker I know) Woman Run… Don't be afraid to be proudly feminine in the way you run your business. Don't ever be afraid to make intuitive choices. Needing help is not a weakness. Do not let your pride of wanting to be a strong woman or Founder get in the way of hiring people that can help grow your company. On that same note: Know yourself, know your worth. I was a few years in before I realized how valuable my time was. And how much of it I wasting doing things someone else could do better and faster. Learn what you are good at and hire someone else to do the rest! Send Thank You Notes.. All my mentors all do this...so I now do this. Not everyone is your customer. This is one of the reasons we don't advertise. We don't want to have to sell you on why you should shop local or keep furniture out of landfills. If we believe in the same things... we will find each other organically. Last but not least... Prioritize personal relationships. My first few years in businesses, I was putting every waking hour in to my businesses. In my head it was the only thing that mattered. I annoyed friends with my constant obsessing over every detail about my business. I missed birthdays, holidays and family functions. Even when I did attend, I wasn't fully present. I knew that my passion for business was overwhelming my friends and family. I needed to slow down and make an effort to show those people that they're important. When I finally learned the balance, it ended up being so much more beneficial for me. My friends and family inspire me to be better every day. I need them to be my best self! Business Leader of the Year (Family) RACHEL LOPEZ President, Resource Management Inc. Always deliver what is promised. This must be executed at the employee level first. Once the employees know the importance of this principal, then they must be motivated to deliver the same for the clients. Employees are our greatest assets. We want to make sure that we provide an environment in which they can grow to their fullest potential. Only then, can we expect them to commit to excellence. Always surround yourself with the best in their field. Make sure that they are better than you in their core competency. Set goals, give everyone the tools to achieve and hold them accountable. Always be fair to employees and clients. Without these you have no company. Always be positive even when the circumstances may seem gloomy. Your positive attitude does make a difference. Be a leader by example. Do not expect your TEAM to do what you won't. Be modest and understand that you don't know everything. Be willing to embrace new ideas. Always share in the decision making. Participate in making your community better. Be persistent! All your goals can be accomplished if you know where you want to go and how to get there. Persistence will get you there. Worcester Business Journal Hall of Fame KEVIN CONDRON Chairman, The Granite Group n My ten 2 letter words: "If it is to be, it is up to me." n Chop the wood in front of you. n When faced with your toughest decisions, ask yourself what your mother would tell you to do. She would tell you to, "Do the right thing." Do it and you will always be right. Worcester Business Journal Hall of Fame BARBARA COTTER President & CEO, Struck Catering Reputation – Our reputation is built on our dependability, quality and our staff's commitment to create and serve. Respect & support your staff. Acknowledge & compensate staff for their commitment. Meet, Plan, Delegate – Always putting new ideas up for discussion – listen then act on viable ideas. Build a relationship with all vendors – if they know that you will only accept the best – they will respect that. Be a Community partner – Be involved, and have your staff join in if they would like. This builds a common bond between us. Know your business – Let your lead staff handle the job once they know what you would like. Let them take charge. Balance your life with outside interests. Be fiscally responsible, always. Love what you do, and do it well. Worcester Business Journal Hall of Fame EDWARD F. MANZI, JR. Chairman & CEO, Fidelity Bank Five Important Philosophies I Embrace: 1. Leaders should serve those they lead 2. If you value the differences in people, the differences will produce value 3. Always assume the best intentions of others 4. Always challenge conventional wisdom 5. Reserve the right to be smarter tomor- row Five Best Decisions I've Made: 1. To walk into Fred P. Otts' Night Club in Boston 30 years ago 2. To accept the CEO position at The Shirley Cooperative Bank 3. To develop our unique LifeDesign promise and caring approach to doing business. 4. To expand Fidelity Bank's LifeDesign business model to include commercial and small business clients 5. To develop the SHINE Initiative