I have worked for two people in my career who had a profound impact on me.  One, I want to emulate.  I like the way he does business and I’ve tried to do do it like he does.  The other taught me what I don’t want to do.  I remember thinking, “When it’s my turn, I’m certainly not going to do it like that.”  Both of those business leaders had a tremendous impact on how I do business today, but for diametrically opposed reasons.

The person I’ve tried to emulate has an abundance mentality.  He never worries about how much he’s going to make on the deal.  He knows if he takes care of his key employees, they will take care of him.  It’s true he doesn’t need the money, and much of his joy in business comes from seeing others succeed.  He provides the means and the opportunity and lets others run with them.  Funny thing, though, as others become more successful, so does my friend.  I guess it’s kind of like trying to find happiness in your life.  When you focus on you, happiness is quite elusive.  When you focus on others, it flows in naturally and abundantly.

The other person who taught me so much about business is the alter ego to the person I most look up to.  He wants it all, and he doesn’t want to share with anyone.  It’s almost like he’s saying, “Look, I guess I don’t need to have everything, but I don’t want you to have anything.”  Like my friend, this businessman also has no need of the money.  He’ll never be able to spend what he has now, but still he wants more — and not only does he want more, he wants you to have less.  It’s a way of keeping score.  Chock up one more for him, one less for you.  If he gives part of his winnings to you, then that means you are gaining on him and he can’t abide that.  This is a competition and he’s going to keep on putting distance between himself and you — he’s going to win no matter what the price.  He’s not going to do anything that gives you a chance to get back into the game.  It’s almost like he is trying to fill a hole in his soul with money, only to find out the hole just keeps getting bigger.

How do you see others?  Are you a team?  Succeeding together?  Or are they the enemy (as it were.)  Are you on the same team with your employees and managers or are you competing against them?  I learned a long time ago that for me, happiness in business was found in “taking everyone with me.”  I want us all to succeed — not just me.  It’s like fishing by yourself.  You catch a big fish and who cares?  With nobody there to share it with, it’s such and empty victory.

But maybe you have a different idea.  Let me know.