10 lessons I hold dear to my core, essence, and leadership style.
Don’t quit your job until your “why” is nailed down, attributed to Simon Sinek.
Just don’t. It won't work.
Embarking with me on a corporate journey that spanned over a decade, I navigated the intricate shitholes of production management in three vastly different industries.
This diverse journey laid the foundation for my eventual leap into entrepreneurship.
In composite fabrication, I learned materials' intricacies and behaviors under various conditions, emphasizing the need to deeply understand existing processes before attempting any innovation.
I can’t stress this enough. Learn the process, master it, and then make improvements if necessary.
— Elon Musk said, “One of the biggest traps for smart engineers is optimizing something that shouldn't exist.”
I would change Elon’s quote to smart “people,” not just engineers.
This knowledge was critical in avoiding costly mistakes and ensuring product integrity.
Similarly, in roller coaster manufacturing, understanding the dynamics of each ride was key before proposing any design changes, as even minor adjustments could have significant safety implications.
While in the wire and cable industry, I witnessed firsthand the fallout of developing products that needed a clear understanding of market demand.
Companies' lack of market research often resulted in significant resource wastage, not just in materials and money but also in employee morale.
Millions of assets were tied up in copper wire.
Learning from these experiences, I conduct thorough market research before developing new products, ensuring alignment with customer needs and market trends.
My journey through lean manufacturing was a process of discovery and application.
I was introduced to lean manufacturing right out of college and am so happy I was.
I apply lean principles to almost every aspect of my life.
Implementing lean principles in the diverse roller coaster and wire manufacturing environments challenged me to adapt and tailor these principles to different production contexts.
One Off-rollercoaster part to mass production wire and cable.
This experience gave me a practical understanding of lean manufacturing, far beyond the theoretical knowledge.
My favorite book to give people who want to learn but don’t want to understand all the intricacies of Hanry Ford, W. Edwards Deming, or Taiichi Ohno is
2 Second Lean By Paul A. Akers, the guy is evangelical about lean.
Applying the 80/20 principle in composite fabrication, I identified key processes that contributed most significantly to production outcomes.
Take a task work or home-related. Layout all the ancillary parts of the task using Post-it notes. Trust me, use Post-it notes.
Start from the beginning of the task and break it down into single tasks.
Then, put them on a wall in order. A whiteboard is best, but a glass window works great, too. Take a dry-erase marker and bracket the most effective 20% of the task you enjoy doing. Then bracket the bottom 80%, and now you have which 20% you should keep and which 80% you should outsource or delegate.
This approach improved efficiency and enhanced the quality of the end products.
I learned to focus on critical tasks that yielded the most significant results, a principle I later applied to other areas of my life, including personal development and time management.
Eliminating the 80% involves three key strategies: discard, automate, or delegate.
The trick in delegation is not just to assign tasks but to find someone who enjoys and excels and is 1000% better at it than you.
This approach ensures efficiency and satisfaction for both parties involved.
For instance, assigning dishwashing to a child who enjoys it, compared to one who dreads it, makes a world of difference in household harmony and task completion and far less pre-teen drama.
In the context of eliminating the non-essential 80%, I developed specific strategies tailored to each industry.
In roller coaster manufacturing, automation played a crucial role in streamlining production, while in wire manufacturing, delegation was key to managing the extensive 24-hour, 7-day-a-week workload.
These experiences honed my skills in identifying and implementing the most effective strategy for each situation.
Reflecting on my corporate journey, I realized that the more I saved the companies in terms of cost and efficiency, the more responsibilities I was given, but without a commensurate increase in compensation or recognition.
The most life-changing and irritating book I’ve ever read is “Will Power Doesn't Work.” By Benjamin Hardy
Hardy uses the metaphor of a plate of cookies to illustrate the limitations of willpower.
He explains that if a plate of cookies is placed in front of someone every day, eventually, their willpower will falter, and they'll indulge in the cookies.
This metaphor highlights Hardy's argument that willpower is a finite resource that diminishes over time, especially when faced with constant temptation.
It underscores his point that creating an environment that supports your goals is more effective than relying on willpower to resist temptations.
Going the extra mile was my cookie plate. It was deemed as my “job.” It’s in my title, they would say, and I was just doing what was expected of me.
The irony that no one else did this with the same job title before me was lost on my bosses and HR.
Or worse, they had my job title before becoming my boss and didn’t see these inefficiencies or make the necessary changes.
This understanding led me to reassess my career trajectory, focusing on creating value for myself and not just for my employers.
As Hardy illustrates, you have to change environments to reduce the need for willpower.
I got so fat on those plates of cookies, both literally and figuratively, during my decade in manufacturing.
My pursuit of work-life balance often seemed like a chase after an elusive goal.
Realizing that true satisfaction comes from doing what you love was a turning point in my career.
This epiphany came after years of juggling high-pressure roles and family commitments, leading me to prioritize what truly mattered to me – my family and personal happiness.
Traditional time off in the United States is a joke.
1-year of service grants you paid time off (PTO) 5-10 days, 3-5-year? PTO is 10-15 days off and 10+ years. It is 15-20 days off.
So, after 10 years of hard work in manufacturing, you are awarded 15ish days off with 11-14 days off for federal holidays and some weekends. That means you are at work 232-284 days a year.
In my case, I worked an average of 12 hours a day, six days a week, so quick math: 284 days x 12 hours a day equals 3,408.
The salary only compensated me a standard 40-hour work week, which is 2,080 hours a year.
So, I was working over 1,300 hours uncompensated.
I missed plays, t-ball games, coaching kids' sports, first school days, parent days, birthday parties, anniversaries, and so much more.
I was so tired when I’d get home, I would nap just to be alert enough to have dinner with the family.
Then I would do kids' homework and go to bed only to be woken up 1-3 times a night from a work call 24-hour facility plus growth problems.
I was so tired I had to call my dad every day after work and stay on the phone with him during my 48-minute commute to stay awake.
When could I have the “work-life balance”?
The realization of the importance of family time came starkly when I noticed the toll my absence was taking on my family.
The long hours and constant availability required by my roles in corporate management meant missing out on precious moments with my loved ones.
This led to a conscious decision to change, valuing time with my family over career advancements.
Promises were always made on the spot by HR, CEOs, and corporations.
🍪 I got offered a 10k bonus to stay.
🍪 A salary increase of 15–20%.
🍪 HR offered to move me under a different manager.
🍪 A larger PTO package.
🍪 A higher position and better location.
🍪 I was even offered a severance package for three more months.
Each offer was just another cookie, revealing a truth wrapped in chocolate-chipped fear — my absence was more feared than my presence was valued.
I said no each time.
These moments were affirming, showing me that my skills and contributions were valuable, and this realization played a significant role in my decision to venture into entrepreneurship.
Discovering my “why,” as Simon Sinek calls it.
Define your why.
Why are you staying with this company?
Why should you venture out on your own?
It has involved introspection and reflection on what truly drives me. It was about creating a life that allows for meaningful engagement with my family and community.
This clarity of purpose has been my guiding light in navigating the challenges of entrepreneurship and maintaining a fulfilling personal life.
The lessons from my extensive corporate journey are more than just career insights; they are life lessons that have guided my entrepreneurial path and personal growth.
Each experience, each industry, and each challenge has contributed to a comprehensive understanding of business, leadership, and the importance of aligning my work with my values.
God>Family>Me>Community>Employees>Company>Clients
What is the proper order for your life?
Helium 10: Get 20% OFF for 6 months or 10% forever.
Manage By Stats Carbon 6: Amazon management software.
Wise.com Online Banking for any size business with global needs. Get 0% FEES for the first $600 transferred.
Fiverr.com Spend $30, Get 10% off!
reMarkable Tablet: Save $40 at checkout. Perfect for the person who needs less technology but more focus when drawing, writing note-taking, or calendaring.
My email address: hello@myretail-world.com
My LinkedIn: Follow Me
Some of these links are affiliate links, and I may receive a small commission if you choose to use the discounts. It won’t cost you anything, but means the world to me. Thanks for your support.
